The Daily Gamecock

Kelly Dasch finds her home on the equestrian club team

One thing that Kelly Dasch searched for when coming to the University of South Carolina was a place to call home.

After moving one state away from her hometown in Alpharetta, Georgia, Dasch did not know a single soul. After much consideration, she discovered that she wanted to become part of the equestrian club team.

Dasch has always had a passion for horses since a very young age as it runs in her blood. Her mother, Daryl Dasch, also has a love for horses and Kelly would always be alongside her at the barn while she rode. 

Ever since the fourth grade, Kelly would ride three times a week and began to show her ownership and ability to take care of a horse. This was just the start for Dasch, as she was able to purchase her first horse in high school named William. William's show name was "Watch Me Now," and that is something that Dasch took a lot of pride in.

When it came to William, the thoroughbred racehorse, he was a "green broke horse" that did not have much experience with someone riding him. As a result, she had to take on an even bigger task of training him more and learning the key to patience with horses. 

Unlike many of her friends, Dasch was unable to show William as much, but she found comfort in taking on the challenge. Although she spent the time preparing him, she had to sell William after three years to prepare for college and gain more experience in jumping and showing to compete.

The process of trying out for the equestrian club team at South Carolina was not an easy process and quite competitive. Dasch tried out for the team her freshman year and overcame her big fear of not having a place to belong. 

Although it took her daughter time to find her place, Daryl recalls the time she heard how happy her daughter was, which was two weeks after Kelly made the team.

"'Oh mom, I'm so thankful,'" Daryl said of her conversation with her daughter. "I'm so blessed that I made the team because this is my family." 

For Dasch, this was only the start of her journey as a Gamecock. The amount of time and commitment put into this sport is sometimes unnoticed, which was something Dasch had to learn.

Dasch spends her Monday evenings at the barn getting lessons by her two trainers in Blythewood, about 30 minutes from campus. This is where Dasch really focuses on her riding skills and gets comfortable with each horse. 

“It’s a lot different riding in college because going from high school to college," Dasch said. "In high school, I was riding like six days a week because I had a horse who had to be ridden, and here we only ride twice a week.” 

Each time she rides a new horse, there is a new challenge set ahead because Dasch isn't always competing with the same horse. On Fridays, Dasch spends her time riding by herself and really connecting with the different horse. 

Going out to the barn throughout the week became Dasch's favorite way to get off of campus and relax. She loves being able to be around the horses and she uses it as a type of therapy. This is something that even her mother notices she's been doing and can tell it helps Kelly. 

“In the beginning, it was more of, I think, just a networking and finding her niche," Daryl stated. "And now there’s weeks where, I’m sure, she goes there to escape, just to decompress.”

Not only has Dasch made the transition with finding a name for herself, but also has been able to advance her talent and skills from freshman year. Since then, she has moved up to the intermediate level, which has been a direct result of her experience. 

Dasch started at the lowest level because of William's capability, but starting there helped Dasch show how competitive and willing to work she was. Even then, Dasch went to regionals her freshman year and things began to spark even more. 

"Canter leads and horse show nerves, especially trusting new horses she doesn't know," South Carolina equestrian trainer Angela MacFawn said. "Kelly has become much better at figuring out different horses and that has made her more comfortable in the show ring."

As a third-year now, Dasch is able to help new team members adjust to the inconsistency of riding and learn how to overcome those challenges she faced when she first joined. Now she is also the social media manager where she posts updates about her team and schedules tryouts and meetings. 

This has been an eventful and very successful journey so far for Dasch, but there is still more to come. As a result of being a reserve champion at regionals, she is moving on to zones for novice flat at SCAD and then has the potential to move to nationals. 

“Being able to ride for the University of South Carolina is a lot of fun even though we're considered club. But, at the shows, it is a team sport, like yeah you are getting points individually, but ... all of those point riders' points add up to your overall score as a team," Dasch said. "So that’s a lot of fun because like there are shows when our teammates get down about how they have placed and stuff, but we all just remind each other that it is a team sport and we are literally riding horses. Anything could happen.”


Comments