By: Victoria White

    Team captain Madison Steed's collegiate career has been brimming with success, so far.

    When SMU clinched the 2018 UEC Championship last year, Steed was recognized with Most Outstanding Player (MOP) accolades in Reining. In addition to earning Academic All-America honors three years in a row, the Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, native, was also named Reining Freshman of the Year in 2016. This summer, Steed even won the Collegiate Reining Championship at the 2018 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby in Oklahoma, becoming the first Mustang in program history to capture the title.

    Preceding the No. 3 SMU Mustangs' home match up against No. 10 Fresno State Bulldogs at the Dallas Equestrian Center this Saturday (Oct. 27), the senior Western star answered questions about her history in the sport, favorite memories with teammates and some personality questions, too. 

Q: How long have you been involved in equestrian, and what is your favorite early memory in the sport?
A: I believe I started reining over 10 years ago now. And I have been riding since I was four (I think). My favorite early memory of riding was probably the time I spent at the barn when I first started out. I used to do English and rode a horse named Peaches. She taught me how to jump. I fell off too many times to count but I still love her.
 

Q: What do you love most about the sport?
A: The challenge of figuring out a horse and how they think. Also, when you have that moment, and it just clicks with a certain horse. And the showing aspect of it – and the feeling you get when you walk out of the arena knowing you did the best you could on that horse whether that's a 75 or a 65.

Q: What equestrian accomplishment are you most proud of? 
A: I think when I won the youth 14-18 North American Affiliate Finals at the Futurity. My most recent one being when I won the futurity in Tulsa – it's a pretty big show and I was very proud of my horse and how he wanted to go be a show horse.
 

Q: Why did you choose SMU?
A: It was a leap of faith. To be honest, I didn't know much about SMU before I was recruited, not because it's not a good school, but because I am from Canada, and the NCEA isn't a 'thing' up there. I signed before I even came on a visit. I just took a chance on coming down here (from Canada) knowing that I've always loved "the south" when I came down before to compete.
 

Q: What is special about being a part of the SMU Equestrian Team?
A: We are a team. I can say that with the utmost honesty. We are a team who knows how to work together and work hard. Do we have our moments where there is tension? Yes, but at the end of the day, I can turn to any one of my teammates knowing that they have my back and I have theirs.
 

Q: What was the moment like when the team won UEC Champions last year and how'd that day go overall?
A: It was a blur – my favorite thing was getting to pour PowerAde on the coaches. Even better, that it was all caught on camera – the photos are priceless.
 

Q: Can you describe some of your favorite memories or funny stories with your teammates?
A: The travel bus we took to UTM – those always have good memories. Also – this year we did a bareback spinning challenge – I got on Moe thinking he would be really good bareback. Then, I had the bright idea of taking the bridle off. Needless to say Moe figured out the situation and I had no control over anything at that point.

Q: Who is your favorite SMU horse?
A: Moe Money. He's been a long time favorite of mine. He's one of the originals and Ashley and I fight/joke/fight some more that we are going to have joint custody over him once he retires.

Q: What advice would you give your freshmen and sophomore teammates?
A: This gig is up in four years. Make it the best and don't sweat the small stuff. You can fail exams and still make it through college (just don't fail all of them). And whether you like it or not, this whole being on a team thing grows on you. It's a family. Sometimes a dysfunctional one, but it's your family. Be there for your teammates because at one point you're going to need their help as well.
 
ALL ABOUT MADISON

• Favorite class subject: Anything Sociology – love studying people
• Favorite quote: "We are going to m'giver our way through this one" (A Canadian thing)
• Fav pre-meet meal: Sleep
• Favorite emoji: 💃💃The dancing lady – bc she's sassy
• Favorite TV show:  The Blindspot
• Favorite book: HA HA – sociology research papers
• Favorite movie: Any of the fast and furious – they are the only movies I can watch more than once
• Favorite Disney character: Shrek ..?
• Favorite animal: Horses and DOGS
• Favorite thing about SMU: How small the campus is
• Fav thing to do in Dallas: Go to the house of blues
• Dream vacation: Switzerland 
• My nickname is: My trainer calls me MD – no idea why
• One word to describe me when competing: Calculating
• One word to describe me when not competing: Tired
• The person who has had the greatest impact on my athletic career:
  • My mom – she's my sport psychologist and at this point, someone just needs to give her a degree in it
  • My very first trainer – Gregg Lauder. He taught me a lot by not doing a lot. The things he taught me, or the things he said to me, still have an impact on how I ride/compete today
• Best pump-up song: Any rap/hip hop. Run this town by Jay-Z/Rihanna, it gets me every time
• When I was little, I dreamed of being a: vet
• Early bird or night owl: In season – early bird. Out of season – neither, I like my bed time to remain 9:30 p.m., but wake up when I wanna
• Few people know that I:
  • Have an irrational fear of things blowing up.
  • I have a FEAR of jumper cables
• My best non-athletic talent(s): My boat parking skills are untouchable
• My most prized possession: My horse Jac – he's my child
• Three things on my bucket list are:
  • Win the level 4 NRHA Futurity
  • Travel the world for a year
  • Own my own company
• After I graduate, I plan to: I just want a job that I really love and pays enough to support my horses.
• My dream job is: Owning my own breeding farm and raising my own horses to train
• I am most thankful for:
  • My horse Jac – he is the one who taught me how to show with style and was the most consistent show horse. I trusted him and he always gave 110%
  • My mom and sister we are a close family and they have always been there to either support me or knock me into place