SIGNEE SPOTLIGHT: Claire Pound
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian head coach Boo Major has announced the addition of Claire Pound as a Reining rider with the Gamecocks as a part of the 2019 signing class.
Background
Pound joins Carolina from Columbia, S.C., where she is currently a senior at Hammond School. There, Pound is a part of the National Honors Society and has earned the Columbia College Scholarship Award.
Equestrian Accomplishments
Pound trains at McMIllion Farms and Susman Reining Horses with both Joy McMillion and Gilad Susman. Pound has been a four-time qualifier for the IEA Nationals competing as a Horsemanship rider as well as a Reining rider. She has also been a seven-time regional qualifier in both Horsemanship and Reining. Pound is a six-time South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) State Champion. Last year, she was nominated for a National Sportsmanship Award within the IEA.
Pound was also the 2017 Virginia Reining Horse Association (VRHA) Green L1 and L2 Reserve Champion. In 2017, she was also the VRHA Green Youth Champion. Pound also was in the Congress top-10 and top-15 in 2017. In 2018, Pound was in the VRHA Youth 14-18 top-5 and has won multiple youth and youth rookie championships at various shows.
At Carolina
Once at South Carolina, Pound will join the Western group for Reining with assistant coach Ruth Sorrel. Pound intends to major in sport science and has the career goal of being a physical trainer.
Quotable
Head coach Boo Major
On Claire Pound joining the program:
“We already know we’re getting a great one with her. She comes to a lot of our meets, comes and visits at our camps, and just comes and visits. We’re ready to welcome Claire and can’t wait for her to get here.”
On what Major sees from Pound:
“The fact that she has a lot of experience in the IEA, as well as a lot of experience in the NRHA, I think she’s going to really be able to help us as far as the Reining is concerned. Coach Sorrel is very high on Claire and we certainly think she’s going to be able to come in and have an impact on the team.”
Claire Pound
On choosing South Carolina:
“I chose South Carolina because after my unofficial visit I fell in love. The school, the facilities and most importantly, the people made me feel at home. Even with living in Columbia my whole life, USC showed me a whole different side to a city I thought I knew everything about.”
