BHS alumni Avery Bergan is now a Jackrabbit at South Dakota State University. Bergan is continuing her horse riding career in South Dakota. She has been riding for as long as she can remember and keeping her career strong.

“As a young girl riding collegially was always a dream of mine,” Bergan said, “Although it was a lot of work and took a lot of grit to accomplish my dreams, I would not change it for the world.”

Riding in college is much more different than riding in the AQHA and has also been challenging.

“Riding in the AQHA industry is very different from riding collegially,” Bergan said. “I was used to riding the same horse five times a week and knowing all his buttons.”

Now Bergan has to get used to riding different horses every day and having to learn everything about the horse.

“You never know what horse you may draw,” Bergan said, “but that’s what I love most about it because it keeps it very exciting and interesting.”

Bergan has been very busy off at college for her riding career, she also had to leave her original riding horses back home to start riding the collegially way.

“Other than the obvious of missing my horse from back home, I love riding collegially,” said Bergan

With all the history Bergan has behind showing horses she’s also been able to form bonds with the people she works around along with the animals.

“I love everything about showing horses,” Bergan said. “I have always enjoyed the bond I create with the animals I am showing in the ring. I can never get bored with riding because every day your horse can act differently and feel different underneath you.”

“Along with that riding has always given me a routine and instability which I love to have in my daily life,” Bergan said. “I cannot imagine my life without riding because it is a part of me and I would not be the same without it.”