Equestrian Student-Athlete Learns Professional Side of the Industry

Having an internship that gives you practical hands-on experience is great for your resume and having an internship with one of the top professionals in your field can be as valuable as a semester in the classroom. South Carolina junior equestrian Tyler Petrie has the good fortune of such an internship this summer as she is working with renowned horse rider and trainer Peter Pletcher.

“I knew I wanted to intern with someone in the horse world, and because he is so well known and knowledgeable about the industry, I asked if I could do my internship with him over the summer,” Petrie said. “He told me he would help with whatever I needed. I’m a working student with him. I ride and help out around the barn. If they need to get a horse ready to get to the ring, I help with that. Whatever they need, I do.

“He’s very well known in the industry and has a very successful barn. He has won everywhere from the Devon Horse Show and the Derby Finals. You name it, he has won it. He has also trained a lot of riders who have won at a lot of places.”

While Pletcher’s personal barn is based out of Magnolia, Texas, Petrie’s internship has taken her to different parts of the country.

“This summer I went with him to Lexington, Kentucky, and Traverse City, Michigan,” Petrie said. “I’ll go back with him to Lexington later for Derby Finals and Pony Finals, which are two national horse shows that you have to qualify for.”

“They’ve all taught me something new every day.”
– Tyler  Petrie

While the travel is exciting, learning the professional side of the industry has made a big impact on Petrie.

Pletcher and Petrie

“I’ve learned so much,” said Petrie, who is studying Sport and Entertainment Management. “I want to become a professional and run a barn, hopefully as successful as Peter. I’ve learned how to organize and how to manage. We have 30 horses on the road and all that traveling can get hard. You have to stay on top of things and learn time management. He has a great manager who is on top of things in telling him where he needs to be and at what time. Organization in the horse industry can be really hard, especially with all the horses they have on the road and managing the horses’ wellness and the clients.”

Petrie competes in equitation over fences and equitation on the flat for the Gamecocks, and she feels that this experience will not only help in her professional future, but also for the upcoming season with South Carolina.

“Peter has given me multiple opportunities to ride his horses and some of his clients’ horses,” Petrie said. “These are horses that I don’t know, so every time I get on one, I learn something because they’re all so different. That’s similar to what we do during our season when we compete. You get on a horse, and you have no idea who that horse is. You get four jumps to warm up or four minutes on the flat, and you have to go and show it. That’s what I’m doing with these horses here that I’ve never ridden before.”

Petrie noted that the best part of the experience has been the connections she has made within the industry.

“I’ve met a lot of people who have taught me a lot of things, whether they are clients or trainers,” Petrie said. “The people that work for Peter, such as the grooms, they’ve all taught me something new every day. It has just been a great experience.”