It's time to meet the Auburn equestrian freshman class as we bring you Q&As with the newcomers.
We're featuring Horsemanship rider, Caroline Fredenburg! The Straughn, Indiana native is majoring in biomedical sciences and has competed in every meet so far this year for the Tigers. She holds a 4-3 record in Horsemanship with a career-high 78 on the year.
Q: Why Auburn?
A: "I chose to ride for Auburn because the school is very strong academically and has a small-town campus feel. This team is a group of extremely hard-working girls that share my drive to be competitive."
What is your major and what do you hope to do with it after college?
"I am majoring in biomedical sciences on a pre-medical track. My goal after receiving my bachelor's degree is to attend medical school and become a physician."
What is your favorite Auburn tradition so far?
"My favorite Auburn tradition is rolling Toomer's Corner after a big win. It is so special to be able to celebrate with teammates, family, friends, and other Auburn fans."
What are you most excited about this season?
"I am most excited to experience the post-season with this team. It is a time of tremendous pressure, but the competition will be fierce and I cannot wait."
How are you managing being on the equestrian team and your class load?
"I will admit, I struggled to keep up with my schedule the first couple of weeks. The longer I stuck with it, the easier it became. I am definitely very busy between practice, workouts, and studying, but it has gotten so much more manageable with the help of my advisors and teammates. My advisors set me up with tutors and helped strategize my class schedule. My teammates help me take care of my things at the barn when I have to run to class."
What is your favorite thing to do in Auburn?
"My favorite thing to do in Auburn is to attend football games. I am a huge football fan, and the gameday atmosphere is unmatched."
What was your favorite class you took this past semester?
"My favorite class that I took this semester was Chemistry I. It is one of my favorite sciences to take and am very excited to take more chemistry classes in the future."
What horse is your favorite to ride for Auburn?
"My favorite horse to ride is Matt. He reminds me a lot of a horse I have at home."
What is your favorite memory with the equestrian team thus far?
"My favorite memory with the team this far was our first meet of the season at Georgia. It was my first meet experience and cheering with my teammates made the win so much better."
What does 'War Eagle' mean to you?
"'War Eagle' is a term that I associate with the compassion and connectedness of the Auburn Family. I love getting a 'War Eagle' from a stranger when I'm in an airport or away from school. It really goes to show how strong Auburn's support system is."
What has been your favorite memory of riding?
"My favorite memory of riding was when I was third in the equitation at the Youth World Show with Suddenly Sophisticated. He is one of my favorite horses of all time. When we bought him, he was very green. My goal had always been to make the equitation finals, which made this accomplishment even more rewarding."
Where has been your favorite place you've shown at?
"My favorite place to show is at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. The competition, food, and vendors at the Congress make the atmosphere so enjoyable."
How has it been growing up with three younger brothers?
"I have loved growing up with my brothers. We all like to bond over things like sports and fishing; one of them even shows with me. I definitely have some wild stories from the three of them!"
