By Alex Riley
Special to SMUMustangs.com
DALLAS – Freshman year of college is usually a time for making new friends, navigating an unfamiliar campus and diving into life outside of the home one grew up in.
Taylor Griffiths-Madden's experience has been slightly different.
During the summer, the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped her first semester in Dallas. Before the start of the 2020-21 school year, SMU announced that remote learning options would be available. Additionally, the fall portion of the equestrian season was eliminated, meaning the Mustangs will start competing on Jan. 29, 2021.
That left Griffiths-Madden and her family with a choice. Ultimately, a situation that looked tough turned into an easy choice.
"When I was first looking at which school to go to, SMU didn't offer online classes, so we knew it was going to be a little difficult to finish my last junior year in the equitation and having to fly back and forth from Dallas," Griffiths-Madden said of her original plan. "When they presented us with the opportunity to go fully remote, we knew that that had to be our decision, because I've worked my whole life for this last couple months. It kind of worked out in my favor, so I'm really happy that they were able to have fully remote for this semester."
Virtual learning meant Griffiths-Madden could engage in class as long as an internet connection was available. This allowed her family to travel the country and take part in high level equitation competitions.
After several weeks showing in Michigan, the family headed to Ohio for the Capital Challenge Horse Show, which had been relocated from Maryland. Griffiths-Madden picked up a runner-up finish at the event, setting the tone for what was to come.
A week later, Griffiths-Madden captured the USEF Medal National Championship in North Carolina, an event normally held in Pennsylvania. Griffiths-Madden became the eighth rider her stepfather, Frank Madden, has guided to win the prestigious title.
"Those four finals are like the most prestigious things you can possibly win and to be able to put my name on that trophy is a dream I never thought could possibly happen," Griffiths-Madden said. "It was really special for me because my [step]dad, Frank, he never won it with his own child. He was just teaching other kids how to do it. So, for him it was a really special moment and it just made it even more special for me. When my parents started crying, that's when I started crying."
Griffiths-Madden followed that performance with a strong showing at the USET Finals despite not being able to ride her own horse, then a runner-up showing at the McClay Finals in Kentucky.
The hard work and recent success have helped Griffiths-Madden build up an abundance of confidence, something the SMU coaching staff is excited to welcome to campus in January.
"We are ecstatic to see Taylor's success this fall amidst the pandemic," assistant coach Amber Henter said. "With our competition season being canceled, Taylor was able to focus on capping out her junior career in the best way possible. Taylor represented SMU with flying colors and we could not be more proud of her recent accolades."
With her time as a junior competitor ending, Griffiths-Madden is now focusing her attention on competing at SMU. She's looking forward to building relationships with her teammates, venturing out on her own and giving college – the traditional kind – everything she's got.
"Everyone's like, 'I promise it will actually be fun when you get there.' Right now, it's not so fun. It's just all school work," Griffiths-Madden joked. "I've been planning (for college) since June. I've got everything for my dorm and I'm excited to live on my own and start a new chapter."
