On The Plains: Holland Barnett

Senior Holland Barnett has spent nearly her entire life in the saddle, but her journey to Auburn began with a simple childhood decision that changed everything.

Barnett, a Jumping Seat rider from Lexington, Kentucky, didn’t grow up in an equestrian family. Instead, she fell in love with the sport after watching her friends ride when she was just five years old.

“My friends started riding, so I started doing it, and all of a sudden I just loved it,” Barnett said. “I’ve done it my whole life ever since.”

Her very first lesson wasn’t even in the discipline she rides today.

“I remember my first lesson was a Western lesson,” Barnett said. “I do Jumping Seat now, so it is totally different. After a couple of lessons, I changed disciplines and loved it.”

Now in her final season with Auburn Equestrian, Barnett is soaking in every moment.

“At the same time, I am very excited but also very sad,” Barnett said. “These are some of my last meets, but I am excited to be with my teammates and just have fun.”

Her years at Auburn have shaped her into both a better competitor and a better person.

“Being on this team has made me grow as a person. It has made me mature,” Barnett said. “Being a senior has definitely taught me leadership skills. I feel like I’ve grown into someone people can feel comfortable coming to.”

She credits Auburn’s coaches and staff with helping guide her along the way.

“All of my coaches have helped me,” Barnett said. “I’ve grown closer with them each year, and I can go to them whenever I have a question or need anything. They give me tips and advice.”

Outside of the barn, Barnett has fully embraced the Auburn community she now calls home.

“I love Auburn—it feels very homey,” Barnett said. “The people here are awesome. I love all of the traditions, like Toomer’s Corner, and I love going to football games. I would love to live here after graduation. I just love it.”

When she was younger, she imagined she might stay in the “Horse Capital of the World” and attend the University of Kentucky.

“Being from Kentucky, I wanted to go to Kentucky for a long time, but they didn’t have a riding team,” Barnett said. “I started looking at more schools, and I saw that Auburn had a team. It stuck out to me, and I really wanted to visit. Now, here I am.”

When she thinks about what she’ll miss most after graduation, the answer is immediate.

“I am definitely going to miss my teammates the most,” Barnett said. “I think of them as my family. My past teammates who are older—I love them and miss them every day. I’ve grown up with them, and I’m going to miss the little goobers.”

Barnett looks back fondly on her time at Auburn, but one memory stands out above the rest.

“I got injured sophomore year, and I couldn’t travel to the SECs,” Barnett said. “When we won and the team came back home, I got to go to Toomer’s Corner and celebrate with them. I felt like I had been there the whole time. I just felt really happy and supported.”

After graduation, Barnett hopes to pursue a career in counseling, a path inspired by personal experience.

“I’ve gone to therapy for most of my life, and I think it is very interesting,” Barnett said.

As she reflects on her four years on the Plains, Barnett says the program has shaped her future in ways she never expected.

“This team has made me grow as a person and figure out who I am,” Barnett said. “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do after graduation, but this team has led me to the path I need to be on. I’m really grateful for Auburn.”