The University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team has been a part of athletics for more than a decade. Over the years, the team has earned dozens of awards, championship titles and honors, with many members receiving national recognition.

The team will be in action for the first time this season during the Blue and Orange Scrimmage on Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex. Unlike rodeo, where athletes bring their own horses to campus, the horses of the equestrian team belong to the university — and while the riders often take the spotlight, the backbone of the team, its horses, deserve their own introduction.

Story by Rylee Wells, agricultural-business communications major. 

First, meet Winnie, a bay gelding used for Western discipline events. Every team needs a sweetheart or two, and Winnie fits the role. He lives his days carefree and easygoing, willing to do whatever task is asked of him.

But, you can’t have sweethearts without having some spice. Dreamy, a feisty bay mare, brings that character to the team.

Olivia Wynn, a senior cell and molecular biology major and team captain, says that Dreamy is the most dramatic mare on the team, often speed walking around to show off for the other horses. Dreamy even has her own pasture, limiting her time to mingle with or bully other geldings.

Wynn also notes her favorite horse on the team is Jim, a black gelding.

“He’s not everybody’s cup of tea…he’s definitely a challenge, but when you have a good ride, it’s really gratifying,” said Wynn.

And what’s a team without some quirks? Cobra, a sorrel gelding, has a unique solution to his own. Cobra loves being around his horse friends, and when kept in the stall barn, he experiences separation anxiety. The solution: a stuffed animal to keep him company, a small comfort to help him stay calm.

Of course, there is always drama with any team, and for this team, it comes in the form of a broken friendship. Pickles, a bay gelding, and Finn, a chestnut gelding, were the best of friends and lived together in the same pasture. But when a new mare was introduced to the pasture, their friendship was never the same.

Iris, a chestnut reining mare, quickly became the focus of Pickles’ attention. As their relationship grew, Pickles and Iris began bullying Finn. Even after Iris left the team, the friendship between Pickles and Finn never fully recovered.

Finn is also the favorite horse of Kate Mills, a senior mass media and strategic communication major and team captain. Finn competes in both flat and jumping events in the English discipline.

“He’s a good boy; he’s very fun,” said Mills. “I love him.”

Horses play a special role in the UT Martin equestrian team and in the lives of riders everywhere. Finding a “heart horse” is even more meaningful. Alumna Aubrey Malone experienced this during her time on the team.

Malone graduated in May 2025 with a degree in mass media and strategic communication. She served as a team captain and consistent starter. Her heart horse, Shiner, a sorrel mare used for reining, stood out for her personality.

“She’s picky about her people; she really just liked me,” said Malone. “Most of the time she won’t let people catch her, but she always let me catch her.”

Shiner is also picky about her treats. Malone says sour rainbow strips are her favorite, with sour watermelon gummies as a close second.

Special connections like this are common among the team. Frappe, a bay gelding, spent his life with the UT Martin equestrian team. He passed away December 2025, leaving behind a lifelong legacy.

Mills described him as “iconic” to the team, noting his multiple Most Outstanding Performance titles and his presence in the Martin community. He appeared at Quad City events, meeting community members and accepting treats. He even once walked across the street to attend a UTM football game.

In March, the team honors Frappe with a memorial 5K run, serving as both a tribute and a philanthropic fundraiser to give back to the community.

All the horses of the equestrian team play a large part in the sport, each bringing a different personality to shape the team’s identity.