Focused. Decisive. Driven. Full of energy and enthusiasm.
Tell us about some of your achievements while growing up in Madisonville.
My years at Madisonville High school were full of activities including student council, honor society, Beta club, and serving as class president while graduating third in my class. I played varsity softball for four years and was named MVP and First Team All-District pitcher.
As a skilled horseman, you must have started riding early in life. At what age did you begin and through whose inspiration?
By age four, I had a herd of stick horses, all corralled in my closet when I was not riding them round and round the house. Then Santa Claus, seeing my love of these high-spirited and frisky “animals,” brought me my first “real” horse. I named him after my boyfriend at the time, a fellow preschooler named Ty Theiss. So I had two Tys in my life at age four. Then a family friend, Lana Wells, seeing my absolute love and passion for riding, became my mentor and provided encouragement and guidance for me through these early years.
Explain to our readers how youth and collegiate competitions work and how your family was involved.
At the hobby level, which in college we horse people refer to as the “real world,” a child showing has a “youth career” which is age groups 18 and under. That is a broad range though, and it is usually not fair to find an 18 year-old competing against a 10 year old. So, the associations split the classes up between novice youth exhibitors and youth exhibitors by a point system based on the rider. In that youth career at the bigger shows (aside from the youth world show), most of the classes are split between 13 and under, and 14-18. Most kids become the most competitive during their 14-18 years of showing. Once you hit the age of 18, you have three options: 1) continue showing as an amateur, which we call our “amateur career”; 2) you can go pro and become a trainer; or 3) you can ride in college, which we call “collegiate riding.” Once you show collegiately, you can simultaneously show in the amateur events, or show in the amateur events after collegiate riding, or you can go pro after college. However, you aren’t allowed to compete at the pro level until after you’re done being a college athlete.
You made the decision to go to Auburn and be on their Equestrian Team. What made you choose this university?
The University of Auburn is a very unique and special place, one that is actually hard to describe. I can characterize it best by saying that the Auburn experience is truly a family experience. The Auburn family offers a very nurturing environment in which one can grow to be yourself and become the best you can be. I had all I needed to excel in both academics and the equestrian program. The equestrian team comradery was second to none, and I grew to love my Auburn team sisters. We supported and encouraged each other on a daily basis.
You have won many awards as a horseman. What awards do you consider most prominent in your collegiate level career?
As a team, we were two-time National Champions, as well as SEC Champions. Individual achievements in my time at Auburn included NCAA Academic and Athletic All-American, and the All SEC Academic and Athletic team. I was 2016 SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year and hold all three of the western horsemanship records at Auburn. These three awards include Most Career Wins – 37, Most Single Season Wins–14, and Most Meets Competed–65.
Wow, Griffin! Such an impressive list of accomplishments! I assume these were won competing on a horse that you had trained for several years and took to Auburn with you.
I can certainly see the challenges presented in that situation to you as the rider. What about these horses? How did they fare overall?
There are a couple of different riding styles. Can you briefly describe the type of equestrian style in which you competed?
I ride Western style, which includes reining and horsemanship skills. Horsemanship is the control of the body position while performing maneuvers on the horse. A week out from the competition, we were given a random set of maneuvers on which we would be judged, including stops and transitions. Reining involves sets of maneuvers that are performed in eight separate patterns. These maneuvers would include (among others) stops, spins, circles, and speed transitions.
You have now graduated from Auburn, complete with a horse trailer full of equestrian and academic honors and trophies. What is next on your agenda?
What advice do you have for our readers, especially young people who would appreciate guidance from a highly motivated and accomplished Auburn graduate as yourself?
Work hard, be focused, and be persistent. Know yourself. What I mean by this is that you should identify your abilities and those interests for which you have a passion, and develop yourself in these areas. My passion was riding horses, so my time and energies were spent developing the skills which brought me success in this area of my life. I will now pursue my future in law with the same commitment and look ahead to the challenges and successes it will bring. We are all faced with failures and disappointments at certain times along the way. Don’t let those halt your progress. Learn from them and move on. Success is ahead of you!
Thank you for our time together, Griffin. You are such an inspiration and a delight to be with! We look forward to how you as a focused, decisive, and driven young woman will continue to make your family and Texas proud. Thank you for being the Texas Talent that you are. Take the reins and Go, Girl!