By Jeff D'Andrea

Franc rides to glory, looking for NCEA championship repeat

Mar 16, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Prince Albert’s Haley Franc is coming off a 2017 National Collegiate Equestrian Championship victory with the Texas A&M Aggies, and hopes to repeat the achievement this April.

Looking back, Franc said she almost didn’t go to Texas A&M in the first place. When head coach Tana McKay reached out to Franc directly, Franc at first declined, as she was looking into the possibility of the apprenticeship program with the National Reining Horses Association. But, when she learned she was a year too young at the time to get into the program, Franc eventually took the offer and went down to College Station, Texas and joined the Aggies equestrian team to compete in reining during the 2015 season.

“That was kind of a rushed, big decision,” said Franc, who is now in her junior year at Texas A&M taking animal science. “Obviously I wanted to have something to do that would keep me riding while I was in school. I knew I’d have to go to school eventually, and it’s hard to keep showing and keep being at the level I was at in high school while going to university, so that was the big deal-breaker. Obviously joining the team would help me with that, and it also benefits my showing experience.”

Despite not competing in her freshman year (a common practice at big schools like Texas A&M), Franc rode to glory with the Aggies last year, winning the 2017 NCEA National Championship. She said they surprised everybody with their accomplishment, including themselves.

“I don’t think anybody really thought we could pull it off. In the SEC Championship, our conference, we had really strong rides, but the judging probably didn’t go the best way for us,” Franc, the lone Canadian on the team, said. “When we got to nationals, we started on a new slate, did our jobs and we all probably peaked really good together there. It all came together. It was incredible. It was crazy.”

Battle ready

Predators set to defend title as new PGLL season approaches

5h ago

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

10h ago

Weekend hockey

PAGC set to host largest Senator's Cup tournament to date

10h ago

This year, she said the Aggies are hoping for a repeat. When Franc returns from spring break she’ll have the SEC championships on March 31, then the NCEA championships April 18-21.

“We’re all getting ready to build ourselves back up again,” Franc said. “Obviously everyone wants another championship. That’s what we’re striving for right now. We have a really strong team this year; it could happen, for sure.”

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW