Jimena Garcia Nunez is majoring in Biology on a Pre-Med track at Bridgewater College and riding on the NCEA squad. A junior, Jimena is an international student from Spain, now studying and riding in Virginia. She had an average score of 73.8 on the Flat this season. This is her story.
I was raised in a family that wasn’t particularly involved in horses. My mom has always been a bit scared of horses, and my dad blindly supported whatever I wanted to try. I was part of Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in Spain, where I also used to play field hockey, but my parents encouraged me to give riding a try when I was 3. At first, I wasn’t particularly excited, but the moment I mounted my first horse, I knew this was going to be my favorite sport. From that day on, I haven’t stopped riding, and show jumping quickly became my passion. I spent many years at that riding facility, learning and growing as a rider, until I decided I wanted to compete at a higher level, which led me to join a more professional show jumping team.
My early riding career saw me traveling to different places across Spain, competing on sale horses with a sport horse team. It was a fast-paced environment that taught me to adapt quickly, ride different types of horses confidently, and develop trust with horses I barely knew. I learned so much in those years - more than I could have imagined.
During my last two years of high school, I made the decision that I wanted to settle with one horse. That change allowed me to build a true relationship with the horse and enabled me to compete almost every weekend. However, I had a serious fall that broke my collarbone and three fingers during a jump-off. I couldn’t ride for over a month and had to go through serious physical therapy and rehabilitation. The day the doctors cleared me to ride, I was immediately back on a horse. My excitement was stronger than the fear, I couldn’t imagine being away from riding for any longer. This experience taught me resilience, courage, and affirmed my deep love for the sport.
As my senior year of high school approached, I started looking to studying abroad in the United States. I wanted to search for a place that offered a strong academic foundation for a pre-medical path while continuing to ride competitively in a high-level program. After research of colleges on the East Coast that offered great academic programs and equestrian opportunities, I discovered Bridgewater College. The team welcomed me to their NCEA program, which has a strong reputation and offers a high level of competition. I felt it was perfect for me: a small team size with a lot of opportunities to ride, and the good program structure which gave me a chance to develop as a rider while balancing school.
Joining the NCEA was both exciting and challenging. I arrived with an idea of how collegiate equestrian worked, but it was very different from what I was used to in Spain. Flat work was a completely new world for me, and I had to put in many hours of practice to get better with all the movements and improve my riding skills. I also had to learn how to balance academics with my riding schedule. But all the effort paid off. Riding amazing collegiate horses, competing against talented riders, and learning from every round expanded my skills and confidence as a rider.
My freshman year can only be described as “incredible”. The team welcomed me with open arms, and I felt supported both as a rider and as a student. I learned so much just by watching my teammates and being part of a new environment. Traveling with the team gave me opportunities to visit new places and gain valuable experience in competition. One of my favorite moments was earning my first point in jumping at my very first meet against Sweet Briar College while riding Kobe.
That year I was also given the opportunity by my coaches to compete in both flat and jumping at Traditional ODAC Championship at Hollins University, which exposed me to a different style of competition and challenged me in new ways. Overall, it was truly a season of learning in both inside and outside the ring.
Sophomore year was more difficult; I wasn’t riding at my best, and sometimes the stress of academics and athletics overwhelmed me. I started the year feeling very confident, even winning my first MOP on the flat with a score of 83 while riding Bridgewater’s Winston. However, as the season went on, I slowly lost some of that confidence and found myself battling my brain while in the ring.
Despite that, my coaches continued to believe in me and gave me another opportunity to compete in jumping at the Traditional Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships at the Virginia Horse Center. That support meant a lot for me and reminded me that even during difficult moments, I still had the ability to keep moving forward.
By junior year, I regained my confidence. I began to ride with more freedom and focused more on growing and learning rather than the pressure of riding on a team. I started to enjoy every round again, which made all the difference in my performance. At the same time, I was also focused on my future beyond riding: working on organic chemistry and biology research and studying for the MCAT in addition to my team responsibilities. During this year, I was named APHA All-Academic First Team and had the opportunity to attend academic conferences, which allowed me to expand my knowledge and prepare for my goal of attending medical school in the United States, then becoming a doctor here.
Now, as I get closer to my senior year, I feel proud of how far I’ve come. Being on the NCEA team of Bridgewater College has given me wonderful experiences I never imagined: traveling to new colleges and universities to compete, making lifelong friends, learning from my incredible coaches, Beth Howard and Luanne Leonard, and my amazing teammates, and balancing academics with high-level riding. I know that when I’m older, I’ll look back on these four years with deep gratitude, as they have truly been unforgettable.
Looking ahead to my final season, I’m excited to make the most of what’s left of this year and am thankful for everyone who has been part of this journey. These years as a collegiate athlete have shaped me not just as a rider, but as a person. Having the chance to continue my education while doing what I love the most, riding, has meant everything to me, and I’m determined to finish this chapter strong. I will always be grateful for the journey that started in Spain and brought me to this point.