Ali Black was the Junior Queen of the Washington State Horseman's Association before coming to Stanford. She is now proud to say she represented Stanford at the IHSA Nationals in 2019. During her time at Stanford she is learning how to find that perfect balance between riding for the Equestrian team and her class work. This is her story.

I am from Seattle, Washington and have played sports the entirety of my education. When I was younger I did a wide variety of sports, like soccer, basketball, etc. In high school I focused mostly on volleyball and ultimate frisbee. Although, my biggest athletic passion has always been horseback riding. Throughout high school I competed in jumping competitions and other horse sporting events with my local hunt club. I also dabbled in western riding and became the Junior Queen of the Washington State Horsemen’s Association.  

I chose Stanford for a variety of reasons, but primarily for the breadth of renowned academics and for the opportunity to meet remarkable peers and professors. My major is Symbolic Systems with a concentration in AI, but when I came to Stanford I intended to major in biology.

My club sport is the Stanford Equestrian Team, where I ride for both the hunt seat and western squads. I am drawn to it for the same reasons I am drawn to Stanford, the amazing people (both teammates and staph), and for our fantastic herd of horses. For me, riding on the team is the perfect blend of rigor and calm. We are competitive and practice meticulously, but at the end of the day our sport is about connection to the animals and our teammates. 

I have been on team sports all of my life and I love having an activity, out of the classroom, where I am working with others to achieve success. I also appreciate having the structure of practices to add structure to my day. The hardest thing is competitions on the road preclude me from partaking in other on campus events. What a great “hard thing” to have: too many wonderful opportunities. I wish Club Sports had a better financial aid program to allow more students to partake in our teams. 

I was proud to compete in IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association) Nationals last year and to qualify for postseason in both hunt seat and western this year…alas, COVID-19 thwarted further competition.

Throughout my time at Stanford and being a part of the Equestrian team, I have learned the following life lessons; Keeping a level head keeps everyone (horse, rider, and trainer) happier. Don’t get stuck on what went wrong, learn from your mistake and do better the next time. Lastly, if you fall, get back on the horse!

I am so grateful for my wonderful teammates and the opportunity to ride at the Red Barn. Through this team I have built long-lasting friendships, achieved my goals, and been able to pursue one of my lifelong passions. Thank you Vanessa and the rest of the time from making SET what it is.

- Ali Black, 20'