Elise Stephens is a Dartmouth sophomore from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. In her freshman campaign, she was a mainstay in the Big Green's lineup, finishing the regular season with a 5-2 record over Fences. She went 3-1 in the event during the postseason and was named Fences All-ECAC as well as was named Ariat Honorable Mention All-American. Stephens is a Politics, Philosophy, and Economics major at Dartmouth.This is her story.

Although I did not come from a necessarily “horsey” family, I cannot remember a time when the sport wasn’t in my life. And, although I have always enjoyed competing, I think it still holds true today that my absolute favorite part has been building meaningful relationships with my horses, as cliché as it sounds. I think they are pure magic, and I have always returned to that as my motivation at any stage of my career.

My junior career in hunters, equitation, and jumpers taught me a great deal, extending beyond my riding and horsemanship lessons into aspects that I carry with me in every part of my life. I had to learn to balance activities, manage my time, communicate, and especially how to juggle competing priorities and pressures without wearing myself down. However, I have always been very fortunate to be surrounded by a group of people who know me very well and have made everything possible for me, along with the best horses (in my biased opinion). My final two junior years were the most meaningful and memorable, as our achievements were a reflection of the hard work and dedication of everyone I was lucky enough to have on my team. I had some highlight moments: getting to represent the USA twice in the Youth Nations Cup Final in Belgium, winning gold the second year, winning the SJHF Junior Jumper classic at Devon, and earning an individual medal at NAYC, but there were also a lot (!!) of lows in between these events. I had bad days and bad weeks, burnouts, falls, and losses, and everything in between. For example, a few weeks before I was set to participate in the 2024 USEF Horsemastership Training Series, which had been a goal of mine for a long time, I broke my arm in a freak accident. I was disappointed to miss the clinic, but ultimately, I had to remember my intentions for the WEF season and focus on recovering strength quickly enough to be successful, rather than dwelling on what I missed. I ended up being back in time to compete in the U25 series for the first time and even surpassed my expectations by qualifying for the final. In this sport, I think there will always be days when it doesn’t feel worth it and what seems like countless setbacks, but in retrospect, it has always been these moments that made the successes so much more rewarding, and that taught me the most.

Throughout high school, it was always very important that I prioritized my academics. I attended high school at home in Milwaukee and would travel back and forth to shows on the weekends. To be honest, I was never super interested in pursuing the recruitment process at NCEA schools; I wanted the chance to be able to focus fully on college, both academically and socially, rather than having to sacrifice time at school to be competing. In the fall of 2023, I heard about Dartmouth and its developing D1 program, and I recognized that my now teammate and friend, Sam Takacs ‘27, whom I knew from years of shows, was their first-ever recruit. I emailed the coaches and continued to learn more about the team. I visited the school in the spring of 2023, and I eventually received an offer to be an athletics-backed applicant, our version of a recruit, in the fall of 2024, just a few days before the Early Decision deadline. 

Being on Dartmouth’s NCEA team has been very meaningful. We just recently became part of the NCEA as a Division 1 team, so in a lot of ways, the team is still developing, and it has been exciting to be a part of that. We have gone from never having qualified for a National Championship match to winning last year's Single Discipline National Championship title, as well as being ranked #1 at numerous points throughout the past two seasons, which was incredibly rewarding to see our hard work paying off. However, the path did not come without challenges, and I also have learned a lot about advocating for myself, my teammates, and the horses, even when it created uncomfortable situations. But I think Dartmouth Equestrian, under the right leadership, can continue its positive momentum and achieve great success in the future. Being on the team has given me so many opportunities to try new things, take away new lessons, and continue to learn so much, even within a sport I’ve been a part of for my entire life.
 
Compared to a lot of other NCEA schools, the Dartmouth team is quite small, with only 11 athletes rostered this season. This means that although I deeply appreciate the relationships and friendships I have made with my teammates, there is also the opportunity and necessity to branch out. I feel as though I can be 110% dedicated to the team and my academics, never missing any commitments, while also being involved in other campus activities. Not only does this help with my professional future, but it also keeps me engaged as a well-rounded and mentally fulfilled student athlete. I say this because I think it shows how every team and college is different, and finding the right balance is an individualized process, but in my eyes, essential to an athlete’s life in the NCEA.

I’m very grateful for the opportunities that the NCEA and Dartmouth have given me to learn and grow, and I know that my experience as a student-athlete has already shaped me in ways that extend far beyond the show ring. The sport has taught me resilience, perspective, and the importance of patience, and those lessons continue to influence how I approach challenges academically, athletically, and personally. My motivation remains the same as it has always been: a deep appreciation for the horses and the relationships built through this sport, and I am excited to continue embracing the magic these creatures bring to our lives.