Tessa Downey is a International Affairs major with a minor in Classics & Comparative Cultures at the University of Georgia. A junior from Houston, Texas, Downey has earned a host of awards at both the conference and national level, including SEC Freshman Fences Rider of the Year and NCEA Championship All-Fences Team. She was also a key member of UGA's 2025 NCEA National Championship title. This is her story.
If there is one thing horses teach you early on, it is resilience. Not every ride is perfect, not every distance works out, and sometimes the path forward requires more patience than expected. But the beauty of riding is that every challenge teaches you how to pick yourself up and try again.
My journey with horses began at Sam Houston Equestrian Center, and from the moment I first climbed into the saddle and took a walk/trot lesson, everything snowballed from there. The first pony I owned was named Bringing Home Blue or “Tinker” around the barn, and she was responsible for taking me from the crossrail classes at Great Southwest Equestrian Center to the small ponies at the Washington International Horse Show. Tinker introduced me to the rhythm of riding and the partnership that makes this sport so special. My medium pony was named Anisette, or “Settie” in the barn, and she helped me win the 2018 Pony Finals, and become champion at the 2018 PA National Horse Show and 2018 Washington International Horse Show, as well as be successful at my first winter circuit in Wellington.
When I was fourteen I moved up to my first horse, HH Moonshine or “Moo” in the barn. I was partnered with him through my last junior year, and was one of the most impactful partners I ever had. Moo was the horse who took me from the THIS Medal Finals to the 2023 USHJA Gladstone Cup win and multiple top placings in all the major 3’6” equitation finals. He taught me patience, confidence, and how important the partnership between horse and rider really is. Horses like Moo are the ones who make riders fall in love with the process, not just the results. It was rounds on Moo at major events like indoors and WEF that led me to be recruited to UGA.
Isabelle came along when I was sixteen years old, and was my junior jumper. She herself was more experienced than I was, having jumped internationally for years before I started working with her. She was strong, had a mind of her own, and required discipline and patience to succeed. After a bit of a learning curve, she and I helped Zone 7 to the top of the podium at the 2022 Prix des States Championship, and her and I travelled to Opglabeek, Belgium in August of my freshman year at UGA for the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final where we competed for the Junior Team.
As my riding career developed, I was incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most talented people in the industry. I began training with Peter Pletcher when I was ten years old and have continued working with him ever since. I would be a shell of who I am today without his wisdom, wit, and expertise. When I was fifteen, I also began training with Ken Smith and Emily Smith for the equitation. Ken and Emily partnered me first with Quite Cassini and then Efendi, two horses who had illustrious careers long before I took up their reins. Working with Cassini and Efendi taught me how to deal with the pressure of living up to what these horses had proven they were capable of–when to lean into this pressure and when to ignore it. Being surrounded by trainers like Peter, Ken, and Emily and horses like Moo, Cassini, and Efendi pushed me to grow as a competitor and helped shape the foundation of my career.
Those experiences eventually led me to the University of Georgia, where I now compete as a fences rider on the equestrian team. My recruiting process was unique in the sense that I only visited two schools prior to committing to the University of Georgia. I fell in love with everything the school had to offer – the stunning campus, amazing professors, a great football team, and the overall atmosphere. It was important to me that I liked the University of Georgia outside of the equestrian team. The top-notch academics and athletic programs sealed the deal for me, and it was ‘Go Dawgs’ from there. Riding at the collegiate level has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my journey. Collegiate equestrian is unique in that every ride contributes to something bigger than yourself as an individual. When you walk into the ring, you’re riding for your teammates, your coaches, and your school.
I’ve also been incredibly lucky to be guided by an amazing coaching staff during my time at Georgia. Head Coach Meghan Boenig, Jumping Seat Associate Head Coach Anna Becker, and Western Associate Head Coach McKenzie Lantz Breuker have been incredible stewards of my collegiate riding career. Their leadership, knowledge, and commitment to the program have helped shape my experience as both a rider and a student-athlete. Having coaches who care so deeply about both the horses and the athletes makes a huge difference in navigating the challenges and opportunities that come with competing at this level. It has been rewarding to share great memories with this staff, like winning the 2025 NCEA National Championship.
But over the past year and a half, I began experiencing symptoms like stiff hands when I woke up in the morning for 6am lift, or difficulty moving my fingers after I had them holding reins. In early August of this year, I was given an explanation. I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune condition that affects the joints.
While the diagnosis initially came as a surprise, it also brought a sense of relief. For the first time, I had an explanation for the symptoms I had been experiencing. Understanding what was happening internally has allowed me to approach my training and recovery more thoughtfully while continuing to pursue the sport that has meant so much to me.
Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful for the people and horses who have shaped my journey—from my early days with Tinker to learning from trainers like Peter Pletcher, Ken Smith, and Emily Smith, to being supported by the coaching staff and teammates at Georgia.
Riding has taught me that setbacks are simply part of the story. What matters most is how you respond to them. And in this sport, the most important thing you can do is get back in the saddle and keep moving forward.
Horses have always been a source of perspective. When you step into the ring, you have to be fully present—for your horse and for the moment in front of you. The partnership between horse and rider requires trust, patience, and resilience, and those same qualities become just as important outside the arena.