AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 3 Auburn equestrian team is kicking off the 2025-26 season in October and welcomed nine fresh faces to the squad—let’s get to know them!
Today is Caroline Olsen!
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Sherborn, Mass.
Discipline: Jumping Seat
Prior to Auburn: Grand Champion at 2025 Junior Hunter Finals … Ninth at 2024 USEF Talent Search Finals … Qualified for Junior Jumper National Championships … Top 3 in the Maclay, WIHS, and USET at Devon … Top 25 at USEF Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals … Finished seventh at Gladstone Cup … Champion at Split Rock Equitation Grand Prix.
Q: What made you want to go to Auburn?
A: “I felt immediately at home when I came to visit! I loved all the girls on the team and their relationships with each other. It felt like one big family!”
Q: How long have you been riding horses? What was the name of your first horse?
A: “I have been riding horses for my entire life. My mom is a trainer and got me into the sport. My first pony was a three-year-old pony named Shadow!”
Q: What’s the biggest lesson horseback riding has taught you about yourself?
A: “The biggest lesson this sport has taught me is to never give up. It is such a mentally and physically challenging sport with many ups and downs, and I learned to keep pushing and to not give up.”
Q: What is the most challenging part about balancing academics and being a student-athlete?
A: “The most challenging part of balancing my academic and athletic responsibilities is time management. It is very easy to put all your focus on athletics, and it is important to make sure you are making plenty of time for academics.”
Q: What are some hobbies and activities you enjoy doing outside of riding?
A: “I really enjoy cooking and baking!”
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give younger riders who want to compete in college?
A: “I would tell younger riders to always being the hardest worker in the room. Whether it's in college or at your barn at home, it’s especially important and will always get noticed!"
Q: Describe the Auburn equestrian team in one word.
A: “Resilient.”
Q: If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
A: “If I could ride anywhere in the world, it would be Aachen, Germany, because it is one of the biggest and most challenging shows in the world.”
Q: Who or what inspires you most when you ride?
A: “What inspires me most when I am riding is the horses. I want to be the best rider I can be for them."
Q: What’s one thing about Auburn equestrian that most people don’t know?
A: “One thing most people wouldn't know about Auburn equestrian is how organized everything in the barn is on a day-to-day basis. Everyone always knows what to do to get the work done efficiently.”