The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team has a slogan that they proclaim before every meet. 'A-U-E-T work, hard work!' is shouted prior to competition because that is what the team embodies. Hard work pays off.
For senior Ericka Koscinski, that is a mindset she brings to the Auburn University Equestrian Facility each day.
Growing up in Center Moriches, New York, Koscinski has spent almost every day of her life with horses. As a part of her family business, she learned at a young age what it took to not only care for the four-legged athletes, but how to successfully manage and run the events they take part in.
"My mom and aunts all taught me how to do everything on my own," Koscinski said. "I always took care of my own horses and got them ready for the horse shows. We even ran horse shows at our farms. I learned when I was about 5 years old how to stand at the end gate and let the horses go into the ring, get them out and prepare them to show."
As she grew older, Koscinski was consistently asked to take on larger roles in the horse industry. That included dealing with animals that weren't afraid to show off their difficult personalities.
"I started working at bigger barns as a kid and would ride whatever they gave me," Koscinski said. "These horses were always difficult, and they were never easy for me. But I learned a lot during that time. I learned how to work hard and run a bigger business in the horse world. And I also learned how to take a green horse and make sure it's ready to perform when the time came. How to get to know a horse and deal with their quirks. I take a lot of pride in that ability."
The satisfaction of working hard and doing whatever it takes to be successful as a team is what the Auburn program prides itself in year in and year out.
"We always look to recruit student athletes that fit our program athletically but who are also willing to work harder than anyone else and put their teammates ahead of themselves," associate head coach Jessica Braswell said. "Every person on our team contributes to the wins in their own way. Some of the most important roles on meet day are preparing horses and making sure they are set up to perform well in competition.
"Ericka's riding ability and understanding of riding different horses is outstanding, but her work ethic and desire to jump in and make her teammates better is what really stands out," Braswell added. "It is very competitive here and that is a challenge Ericka wanted to take on. At the end of the day, the opportunity to win as a team was and still is her No. 1 goal."
Koscinski came to the Plains in the fall of 2018 and her skills both in the barn and in the arena were noticed immediately. A leadership role was instantly established and the upperclassmen took her under their wing.
"As a freshman I had really great upperclassmen to look up to in Caitlin Boyle, Hayley Iannotti, Mackenzie Michaels and Ashton Alexander," Koscinski said. "They were so supportive of the knowledge I had in this business and had faith in me even as a freshman. That gave me the confidence to know that I fit in here and can make a difference."
As the seasons have gone on, her leadership within the program has continued to grow and develop. From handling the everyday tasks in the barn to being Braswell's right hand during meets, Koscinski has established her place in Auburn history.
"It is going to be tough not having Ericka around next year," Braswell said. "We love how she helps to prepare horses and prepare her teammates. One of the greatest things about her is that the underclassmen have gotten a chance to learn from her. They have seen what happens when you buy in to the team and work towards a common goal. I think watching her has prepared them to step up in her absence next year."
It's that 'work, hard work' mentally that has not only allowed Koscinski to excel, but helped the Auburn program climb the ladder of success in collegiate equestrian.
"I think we've been so successful because the work we do every day has brought us together as a team," Koscinski said. "I take pride in getting the horses ready for meet day. Others take pride getting the tack ready and bathing the horses to make sure they are taken care of. We set our own jumps course prior to meets and we love looking back at it after it's complete and taking pride in how it looks. When you work as hard as we do, the rewards continue to come."
Koscinski is on track to graduate this May and plans to work in the horse industry for a year before heading to dental school. Now that her time is drawing to a close, the hours dedicated to hard work and the time spent with her team will be moments she'll hold on to.
"This has been an unforgettable experience," Koscinski said. "It has been the best four years I could have asked for. I've made so many great friends and have loved everything about being in Auburn. It's surreal that it's almost over, but I'm so thankful to have been a part of something so extraordinary."
The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team closes out the 2020-21 season this week at the 2021 NCEA Championships in Waco, Texas, April 15-17. The Tigers are looking to capture their third straight national title and seventh overall.