AUBURN, Ala. – Just like in most collegiate sports, equestrian provides opportunities to become a professional after your career on the Plains is through. For a handful of Auburn alums, these opportunities have come to fruition and they are enjoying the sport the love on the next level.
Quincy Hayes (2011-14) finished her career with 24 wins in Equitation Over Fences and earned All-SEC recognition in 2014. Hayes took time from her very busy schedule to catch up with AuburnTigers.com.
Q: You're a professional in the horse world. For the unknowing equestrian fan, what does it mean to be a professional in this sport?
A: In the equestrian industry, there are many different ways that one can be a professional. For me, I run and operate my own business. That means that I ride and train horses for my customers, as well as help them on their own horses. I also manage their horse from top to bottom, from what it eats, what classes it is entered in, and everything in between. It's not a typical 9-5, Monday to Friday job that is for sure.
Q: What has been your biggest win since becoming a professional?
A: I've been very lucky to have some very nice horses and opportunities since turning professional. I think my biggest win would be being the Under 25 National Champion at the Royal Winter Fair in 2016 on my own horse Calgary. I had quite a few top placings with him in FEI events throughout the past few years, but that was for sure one of the most memorable.
Q: What are some of your goals for the remainder of the show season?
A: Being a professional with my own business means having a different goal for every horse and for every customer. For example, I have an incredibly nice hunter named Paisley Park owned by Dani Baran that had great results in WEF of this year and I'm excited to build on that and see if we can continue that success. I also own a jumper of my own that I've started in some bigger 1.40 and I would love to be able to try some FEI classes by the end of the year. With each horse I show, I have small goals that may take me from week to week and others that may span a few years. That is what is so great about our sport.
Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment as a pro aside from winning?
A: Since becoming a pro, I have had quite a few customers buy young horses that we have developed together. I love being able to see the progression of the young horses from knowing so little to winning with their owners in the ring.
Q: What made you choose Auburn?
A: I immediately fell in love with Auburn on my recruiting trip. The girls who hosted me and were currently on the team made me feel like I was already a part of the team and that was a huge factor. I also fell in love with the campus and the overall atmosphere of Auburn. It felt like home from the first visit and I was instantly hooked.
Q: What was the best part about being a student-athlete on the Plains?
A: The best part would have to be the friendships I made with other student-athletes. Being a student-athlete is like having a full time job. Between workouts, classes, practice and study hall, you got to spend a lot of time with other athletes doing the exact same thing. Naturally, you start to develop friendships and I've been lucky enough to stay friends with a lot of those people despite graduating a few years ago.
Q: Can you describe a moment that could be described as a "War Eagle" moment while on the team?
A: There were so many moments that I could classify as a "War Eagle" moment so, it's hard to pick just one. I think my favorite one would have to be getting our National Championship rings in Jordan-Hare Stadium at halftime of a major SEC game. A lot of hard work, camaraderie, and perseverance all culminating in the middle of the field surrounded by the entire Auburn family (about 80,000 people) is something I will never forget.
Q: Who impacted you the most during your time at Auburn?
A: I had two people who greatly impacted me and they were fellow teammates Grace Socha and Elise Fraza. They were both girls who I could look to when I had any questions big or small, and they became like sisters to me at my time at Auburn.
Q: What is your favorite Greg Williams quote?
A: I think my favorite quote would have to be 'you are planting a seed for a tree you won't shade under.' Being a part of a team means putting in a lot of work that you won't reap the benefits of, but it doesn't mean that it is any less important to put in the necessary work. My second favorite would have to be 'you are your sister's keeper.' I think without that one I would have gotten into a little more trouble.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to current and future Auburn equestrian athletes, what would it be?
A: I think the biggest piece of advice I would tell someone is that you need to soak up every minute of every experience while you are at Auburn. It's the quickest four years of your life so you have to cherish it and appreciate it as much as humanly possible while you are there.