June 15, 2017
By: Margaret Hurt
In 2013, Anna Becker graduated from Auburn University with a degree and three championship rings, something few student-athletes leave college with.
Raised by a horse trainer who rode in college and coached intercollegiate teams, Becker's mom introduced her to the horse world practically as soon as she came home from the NICU.
"...I think she'll probably tell this story," Becker said of her mother, "that as soon as I got home from the hospital after being born that they put me on a pony."
After successfully competing at a high level throughout middle and high school, Becker impressed the Auburn coaches with her talent and work ethic and was invited to become an Auburn Tiger. Becker said the way she saw Hunt Seat and Western, starters and non-starters work together and put others first is what made Auburn stand out over other programs. Becker also "had a good feeling about winning at Auburn," and her gut proved to be right.
Becoming a consistent piece in the starting lineup her freshman year, riding predominantly in Flat, Becker spent her four years competing with the mindset of team first, self second.
"No one's going to remember what individual ride you had," Becker said, "They're going to remember what the overall outcome was...By my senior year I just realized there's more to it and it's about the team and not myself. "
Becker's freshman year closed out with a Southern Equestrian Conference championship title, but was followed by a loss against Georgia in the finals of the national championship. The next year, Becker and her teammates came back full force, again winning the SEC championship and facing off against UGA in the final round of the national championship, this time leaving with the title.
After the team finished with an 8-3 regular season record her junior year but lost in the post-season, Becker's senior year ended with another national championship. The team returned to The Plains for a bittersweet homecoming and rolled the original Toomer's Oaks one last time before they were removed in late April 2013.
"I know they've tried to do other things but there's no replacement for that tradition and what that was," Becker said, "I was really proud to be the last team to roll it.
It's so much fun when you're the reason that you get to roll the trees. It was really sad but really exciting at the same time, it was a bittersweet moment."
After earning her degree in marketing, Becker planned to become the graduate assistant for the former equestrian team at Kansas State University, but an opening lead to her becoming the Hunt Seat coach. Becker coached at KSU for two years before deciding to attend New York University for graduate school. Graduating this past spring with her Master's in sports business, Becker is now the Operations Coordinator for the Washington International Horse Show in Washington, D.C.
Reflecting back on her time at as a Tiger, Becker feels Auburn played a large part in her success and has helped her get to where she is in her career. A combination of the Auburn family and her four years on the team resulted in personal growth and life-long friendships.
"It just taught me so much about myself," Becker said. "It helped me as a person, it helped me get where I am in my career and gave me opportunities and it's just incredible. And I obviously highly suggest it for anyone to join any collegiate team."