Name:
Ali Fuller
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Major: Biological Sciences; Minors in Chemistry and Spanish
Organizations: Chi Omega
When did you start riding?
I began riding at the age of 5 when I tricked my parents into letting me have a pony since they promised me a reward for getting good grades.
Did anyone in your family ride?
Nobody in my family rode until I began riding. My father and brother rode briefly; my mother still rides when time permits.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is probably when I got my dog, Peanut. She is an 11 year-old Australian shepherd but is still as energetic as when she was a puppy.
What has been your biggest accomplishment within your riding career?
My biggest accomplishment was placing in the top 5 in Hunt seat equitation and winning my hunter under saddle classes at the AQHA Sun Circuit show before coming to SMU.
When did you decide you wanted to ride in college?
I decided during the end of my junior year in high school that I was not ready to abandon my life-long hobby during college.
How did you decide on SMU?
SMU appealed to me because of its rigorous academic standards and the livelihood of Dallas. I was considering other schools but wanted to put some space between myself and my hometown; Dallas seemed like the perfect adventure.
What would you say your role on the team has been?
I believe that my role on the team has been to be a role model to those who have a vision for themselves outside of athletics, or those who have a desire to go onto graduate studies. I think I have had a positive influence on those who are not on the roster, especially with reminding them of all of the attributes that make them special and important to this team.
Who is your favorite SMU horse?
My favorite SMU horse is Jackie, because she is a strong defensive player and does everything that we ask of her with sass and style.
What is your favorite experience from being on the team?
My favorite experience was learning that if I can survive doing suicides at 5 AM on the football field while it is sleeting, then I can survive just about anything that college may challenge me with—as long as I am surrounded by my teammates.
What was your biggest accomplishment at SMU?
My biggest accomplishment was probably being accepted into Colorado State's College of Veterinary Medicine, hopefully proving to other student-athletes that it is possible to be an athlete and accomplish your career goals. I also received academic accolades for accomplishing my goal of receiving a 4.0 GPA last spring.
What is your biggest take away from your SMU experience as you move into the next stage of your life?
My biggest take-away is that regardless of the hand that you have been dealt, it is possible to create an experience for yourself that you enjoy, and to find the positivity in every situation.
What advice would you give to incoming athletes about the team and college experience?
I would tell incoming athletes to make the most of their time here, because it moves very fast. To quote one of my favorite characters, Ferris Bueller: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Give 200% to your team, but let yourself have fun on occasion, and allow yourself to discover your talents both within and outside of athletics.
What do you plan on doing when you graduate?
I will be attending Colorado State's College of Veterinary Medicine to study generalized veterinary medicine, with an emphasis on equine lameness, regenerative medicine, and comparative medicine.
What will you miss the most about SMU?
I will definitely miss the people! I will miss all of my teammates, coaches, faculty, and athletic staff.
Favorite memory on the team:
My favorite memory was when all of the horsemanship girls and some of the reining girls were warming up horses at one of the meets and Allen bucked off Madison and she just hopped up out of the dirt like it was nothing. Truly inspirational.
