I believe Coach Schaefer (sic) had the best intentions for our team, and it is unfortunate that she is no longer our head coach.

We have to acknowledge that the equestrian team has made drastic strides from where we were two years ago.

Former coach, Jenny Passow, resigned two years ago leaving our team unorganized. Passow had only recruited one player for the following season, and our roster decreased in size. At this time, the team had no coach or a place to practice.

Then Steve Orsini became the new athletic director, and it was a miracle that our team had a coach and horses just days before the new NCAA season.

To Schaefer’s (sic) credit, she was able to come in on such short notice and organize  matches.  She recruited talented girls, and our team has never been so lucky to have our parents standing behind our team.

Orsini also shares the same enthusiasm, and is sincere about improving our team.  We have girls on our roster that have been nationally ranked, and an adjustment or two could make us a winning team.

–Kathryn Garvie, junior equestrian rider

SMU head coach Ashley Schaeffer was terminated Monday.