“It took me going away from Auburn to love Auburn.”
Isbel (Izzy) Litkenhous grew up in Auburn. After high school, she dreamed of going away and experiencing new things and meeting new people and because of that desire, she began her collegiate career at Ole Miss. The destination she selected to make her dreams come true.
However, after a year at Ole Miss, she decided to return home and transferred to Auburn.
“Being away made me realize how much I actually loved Auburn,” Litkenhous said when describing her decision to return home.
Litkenhous decided to withhold her transfer application from her parents until after submission.
“I kind of just applied to Auburn and didn’t tell my parents that I applied until after,” Litkenhous said. “I didn’t want to get told no.”
She completed her sophomore season as a normal student. Between her sophomore and junior season, an opportunity popped up to tryout for the Auburn equestrian team. And so she took it.
“It’s kind of always been somewhat of a dream of mine,” said Litkenhous when discussing the decision to join the Auburn equestrian team. “I couldn’t really pass up the opportunity when it was offered in front of me.”
Litkenhous has learned many things from her teammates and coaching staff during her time on the team, but most notably she’s learned the value of hard work.
“A lot of days it’s like ‘how am I going to make it through the day?’” said Litkenhous when sharing the daily challenges she faces. “But at the end of the day, it’s always very rewarding knowing that I can still balance this much on my plate while doing the things I love, studying a degree that I love."
She knows the value of hard work and effort. This hard work and effort set her up for success far after her time with the equestrian team.
“I think perseverance pushes you and makes you a better person and endurance does as well,” Litkenhous said when telling of the lessons she learned at Auburn. “Pressure makes diamonds.”
Litkenhous knows her time on the team is coming to a close so she’s soaking in every last moment with her teammates.
“It’s been kind of bittersweet, knowing the season’s coming to an end,” Litkenhous said. “This chapter is coming to an end, but I’m also looking forward to the next chapter ahead of me.”
One of the things she will miss most is the memories she makes with her teammates.
“I really love my teammates,” Litkenhous said. “I’m going to be sad not seeing them every single day."
She shares that one of her favorite memories with her teammates was the SMU meet on February 21, 2026. The Tigers conquered the rain and defeated the Mustangs, 13-7.
“We had a torrential downpour in the middle of our meet and were soaked,” Litkenhous said. “We can laugh at it now because it builds that relationship with each other and those memories with each other. And 10 years, 20 years down the road, we’re going to look back on it.”
Her main piece of advice for future Auburn equestrian teams: soak it all in and make all the memories.
“Take the time to go get dinner with a teammate, take the time to go hang out and do something out of your comfort zone,” Litkenhous said. “Make every possible memory you can and just soak it all up.”
The animal science major will graduate this spring and has a desire to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales in veterinary medicine, focusing on equine science.
“I’m a big advocate for animal welfare and support especially in the equine industry as well as the support horse industry,” Litkenhous said. “I think it’s important to promote the best care for your horse.”
Litkenhous will remain in Auburn for another year after graduation and plans to get married next summer to her high school sweetheart. She also plans to attend future meets and support the future team and her former teammates.
Litkenhous firmly believes that “if you love Auburn, Auburn will love you back.” She’s seen it firsthand from the opportunity to join the team to her major and her classes.
“Auburn University is a great place and so is Auburn equestrian," Litkenhous said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Litkenhous is living proof that “if you love Auburn, Auburn will love you back.”
So yes, it took Litkenhous a year away to love Auburn. But she returned with a newfound appreciation for the city, campus and community.
“I was just happy to come home.”
On The Plains: Isabel Litkenhous
