Lisa Helfer's passion for horses started with something a little smaller.
"I got a pony when I was eight and I just fell in love with it," Helfer said. "I don't think my parents ever expected that a free pony would lead this far, but I just became very passionate about horses at a young age and it stuck with me."
Helfer was promoted last week from assistant coach to associate coach of the equestrian team, and her experience comes from many places.
"I worked in Florida and Pennsylvania--working within the industry training and giving lessons," Helfer said.
"I have been to different states, but collegiately just Miami-Ohio and Auburn."
The team won the equestrian national championship last year with Helfer contributing her knowledge to encourage the team's development.
"We've had winning season every year since I've been here," Helfer said. "We've been ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll every time it has been released in the fall."
A 1998 graduate of Findlay University in Findlay, Ohio, Helfer has spent most of her life around horses.
"It's a school in Ohio that specializes in equine studies," Helfer said. "It's probably the No. 1-ranked equestrian school in the country."
With her recent promotion, Helfer says Auburn is the place to be.
"I love it here at Auburn, and if I could stay here forever I would," Helfer said.
"But as an emerging sport, we really are trying to expand equestrian. We have to get another 17 teams to add, and so we're really campaigning to get equestrian out of emerging status and into a true NCAA sport."
Helfer's first situation with a pony marked not only the beginning of her career, but a passion that has grown to see the team and the sport expand.
As of the beginning of the semester, the equistrian team added five new riders, explaining Helfers drive for a successful program.
With her passion for equestrian expansion, Helfer said if an opportunity arises to better the sport in the future, she may take it.
"If that happens, if there are schools in need of coaches, I would take a head coaching position to help promote the sport," Helfer said. "But as of now, I love Auburn and plan on staying at Auburn."
The equestrian team currently has a NCAA best 6-1 record under coach Greg Williams and has been ranked number 1 in the country since, with 4 back-to-back winning seasons.
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