Aug. 9, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major added Waxhaw, N.C., native Maddy Parker to the 2016-17 Gamecock roster on Tuesday. A hunt seat rider, Parker was trained by Don Stewart and Robert Stucky.

“We’re very, very excited to have Maddy Parker join us in the fall,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “We first saw Maddy when she was one of our camp attendees several years ago. She really struck us as someone who has a very good working knowledge of riding on the flat and going over fences, so we think she’s going to be able to help us tremendously in both of those areas.”

Parker is a graduate of Laurel Springs High School in Ojai, Calif. She is the daughter of Jason and Gerri Parker and has one sister, Emily.

Parker qualified for the Hunterdon Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and competed at the Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal Finals in 2014 and 2015. She has also participated in the Maclay Finals and was the IEA Open Zone Champion in 2014.

“Maddy has a ton of mileage, both on the equitation side and on the hunter side,” Major said. “We’re really excited to have her join us, and we think she’s going to have a big impact on us come the fall.”

While in high school, Parker served as president of the Equestrian Club and was also a member of the Debate Club. She was an honor roll student, and she plans to major in biology at the University of South Carolina.