Madyson "Maddy" Buchanan is part of the 2026 class for NCEA Distinguished Alumni, being named to the Young Alumni category.
"Maddy’s quick rise to professional success is no surprise to TCU," said the Horned Frog coaching staff. "As a student-athlete, Maddy was incredibly driven and dedicated to achieving not just her personal goals, but the goals of program and of her teammates. Maddy’s commitment to SAAC demonstrated her commitment to serving others and ensuring that her peers had a voice and opportunities to find success not just in their sport but in life after college athletics. Maddy has transferred that passion and commitment to the clients that she serves with Educated Rider. There have been several recruiting consultants that have worked on behalf of prospective student-athletes, but none have made the profound and immediate impact in the lives of these young ladies more than Educated Rider. Maddy has shared her experiences as an athlete with prospective student-athletes and has provided assistance and support as they navigate the recruiting process with schools throughout the NCEA. Maddy’s expertise in marketing and digital media have also served Educated Rider well. The creation of
WEQ Weekly has increased the NCEA’s exposure nationally and has served as a resource for prospects and parents of prospects. Her commitment and passion for the sport of collegiate equestrian has provided her the opportunity to help others reach their goals and achieve their dreams. It is more than impressive to see what Maddy has accomplished in the 2 quick years she has been away from TCU. I have no doubt that she will continue to excel not only with Educated Rider but with the other companies she is working with as well. Her impact is more than noticeable and we are so excited to see where her talents, passion and commitment lead her next. Maddy is an exceptional representation of what a NCEA Alumni should be and we are so proud to call her a Frog."
Academic Success
- Maddy was an academic powerhouse at TCU. As a freshman, she was named to the Academic Big 12 Rookie Team, followed by a place on the NCEA All-Academic honorable mention list, 3 times on the Academic All-Big 12 second team, and two nods on the NCEA All-Academic first team.
Athletic Success
- Maddy was a four-year starter for the Frogs in the Reining event representing them in the regular season as well as the postseason, helping to lead TCU to the Big 12 Championship Round as well as the semi finals of the NCEA Championships in 2023. Her career high score of 76.5 ranks in the top group of Reining scores for the Frogs.
Service
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While at TCU, Maddy was an active member of the SAAC group where she served as the President, Media Manager and Athletic Event Lead. She was also selected to represent TCU at the Big 12 Conference level. In her time working with SAAC, Maddy lead initiatives to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion, promote mental health awareness, and elevate the student-athlete experience across TCU Athletics. She also contributed over 15 hours of community service each season she was part of the TCU Equestrian Team.
As an alumni, Maddy has remained connected to the NCEA through her professional connections with Educated Rider, a recruiting service and sponsor of the NCEA.
Maddy is also a member of the TCU Frog Club and has found her way back to TCU to support the Frogs on many occasions.
Postgraduate Success
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As a young alumna, Maddy embraced the experiences and opportunities TCU and the NCEA provided, launching her career in marketing and brand strategy. Prior to her senior year, she was selected as one of just 1% of more than 34,000 applicants for the prestigious Nike Internship and spent the summer in Beaverton as a Brand Marketing Intern for the SNKRS team. In this role, she conducted audience research and presented data-driven insights that informed marketing strategies and strengthened Gen Z engagement. She also supported high-impact brand activations within NBHD partner communities, collaborating with influencers, artists, and athletes to produce in-person events and digital campaigns while coordinating agency partnerships and content production to ensure cohesive messaging across platforms.
After graduation, Maddy joined Paradigm Boats, a boutique boat manufacturer, as a Marketing Manager, where she helped grow the startup and establish its brand presence in a competitive market. In this role, she supported a range of marketing initiatives, including national event execution, brand development, digital marketing, and customer engagement, contributing to a cohesive brand identity during a critical growth phase.
In 2024, Maddy also began working with Educated Rider, the leading collegiate equestrian recruiting and consulting group in the NCEA/collegiate equestrian space, where she now serves as Head of Western Recruiting and Marketing Manager. In this role, she helps aspiring collegiate equestrians navigate the recruiting process by crafting personalized outreach strategies informed by her firsthand experience as a former Division I athlete.
Maddy has also played a key role in expanding Educated Rider’s brand visibility. She has grown the organization’s Instagram following by 350% and increased engagement by more than 8,000%, resulting in 20+ new clients. She was instrumental in launching the company’s weekly podcast, WEQ Weekly, where she and founder Raegan Rast preview upcoming NCEA competitions, share recruiting advice for prospective athletes, and interview coaches, athletes, and industry pros. Now in its second season, the podcast has reached more than 6,000 listeners. Through her media and marketing strategy, Educated Rider’s social media presence has grown organically to more than 9,000 followers, including a viral reel with over 300,000 views that further expanded visibility for collegiate equestrian worldwide.
Through Educated Rider’s work, their riders have secured more than $1.5 million in scholarships and received offers from 14+ universities.
In addition to her work with Educated Rider, Maddy currently serves as a Growth Marketing & Business Development Associate at US Neuro, a national private-practice group providing neurodiagnostic services and industry-leading IONM and EEG support. In this role, she helps drive brand alignment and awareness while supporting customer acquisition and retention through strategic marketing and business development initiatives.