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California Riding Magazine • March, 2010 On Course with Zazou by Zazou Hoffman |
Dear Future College Applicants, While many of you may devote every living, breathing moment of your life to the sport of show jumping, you will soon find out just how difficult it is to convey that to admissions officers who have no previous knowledge of the sport. And if that weren’t enough, try doing it in 1,000 words or less! On this latest essay I think I came pretty close to nailing it, so I would like to think that there is hope. I tried my best to channel my passion into my descriptions, even taking time to study the autobiographies of riders such as Ian Miller. I will update everybody on my college plans as the months go on, but for now, good luck! Here’s how I answered the riding-related questions in my UC Berkeley application: Describe the special talent you included among your list of extracurricular activities or mentioned in your personal statement on the UC application. I close my eyes every day and relive being announced as the 2009 National Champion at the ASPCA Maclay Finals in Syracuse, NY. That day turned out to be the most emotional day of my life, from the pre-competition nerves, to the grit and determination as I pushed my way to the top, to finally, the greatest explosion of joy I have ever experienced. As tears rolled down my face for the following hour, I tried my best to explain to interviewers what that day meant to me, but it is only now, after three months of reflection that I am able to explain without sobbing that being the National Champion at the Maclay Finals was the culmination of 15 years of dedication to the sport of show jumping. Show jumping is one of the few sports that recognizes two athletes in competition: the horse and the rider. Both parties require the physical ability, the focus and mental stamina, as well as the element of trust and empathy. When I started developing these skills on my geriatric pony at age 5 at the local riding ring, little did anyone know that I would be named the national champion years later. I slowly progressed to other ponies and horses and developed relationships with knowledgeable people who recognized that I had talent and set about shaping it. In 2006 that talent and hard work was rewarded when I received the Ronnie Mutch Working Student Scholarship, allowing me to train in Wellington, FL for two weeks with one of the most highly respected trainers in the world, Missy Clark. Missy was the first person to instill in me the confidence I needed, and expressed that by inviting me back to her farm in Vermont to become a full time working student. For me, being a working student would help make up for the lack of financial means needed to support myself in the sport. I traveled to the East Coast to train and flourish with Missy when my academic schedule permitted, but in 2008 I made the decision to take all of my classes (including honors and AP classes) online through my high school’s Independent Study Program. Day in and day out I worked in the barn slaving away to learn all that I could and completing my studies at night. It was like having a full time job and being a straight-A student, all without the support of parents and teachers. This certainly got hectic at times, but there was always some part of me that just knew I was doing it for a reason. I can confidently say that I am one of the few lucky people that knew what they were passionate about by 10 years old. That passion helped me push on during the toughest of times. As I grew in this exclusive training setting, I began to place in the national finals and develop the sense of horsemanship that can only be acquired through hours and hours around horses. Down to my final year as a “Junior” rider, the pressure was really on to capture a win. The fall championship tour began on a low note in Gladstone, NJ where I experienced a communication error with my horse when I should have been completely prepared to be a winner. From there I continued on to Harrisburg, PA where I placed second, moving down from first in the final test when my horse experienced an unexpected injury. This was quite disappointing to me because I could feel how close I had come but it was a situation that was out of my control, reinforcing the aspect of the horse in the sport. As the pressure built and built, I moved on to Washington, D.C. with a still semi-injured horse. There I fell apart under the pressure and got a low eighth place ribbon. After that competition I had an epiphany, realizing that I needed to bring my A-game that I had practiced all year and shove it to the judges with all I had. So at the 2009 ASPCA Maclay Finals in Syracuse, NY, I did exactly that. That Championship title will always be mine, marking my mastery of the Junior level of show jumping. While I am currently lacking the horse to further my competition record, I have been declared professional so I can begin developing future horsemen and give back to the sport that has created the person I am today. The next step for me will be finding the partner to start competing internationally representing the United States Equestrian Team. My talent has created unimaginable opportunities for me as a student and an athlete that I will endlessly appreciate. Because it is such a special sport, I know that horses will forever be a part of my life, long after I hopefully compete in World Cups and Olympic Games. What impact, if any, has your pursuit of your special skill/talent affected your academic achievement? My pursuits of the mastery of show jumping and horse care have only furthered my academic achievements. The discipline I have developed from being an equestrian has greatly influenced my study habits, and my dedication to excellence has made me strive for only the best grades. Fulfilling a commitment to write two published monthly columns in equestrian magazines about my adventures as an aspiring rider additionally strengthened my writing skills. I put this skill to good use in my Honors and AP English classes at school. This also turned me on to the nonfiction field of writing, which I plan to continue in college. My transition to online school due to riding commitments turned out to be one of the best things to happen to me academically. With influences from students from all over the world While, no doubt, I did school at odd hours, in unconventional locations (the plane, the barn, the trailer ride to the next competition, etc.), my academic experience was only enhanced, and my personality as a student was developed because I was simultaneously committing time and focus to being an accomplished equestrian. How would you further develop your talent at Berkeley? With many top equestrian facilities in the Bay Area I plan to keep riding, when time permits, so I can continue to strengthen my show jumping skills. Berkeley offers me the chance to study subjects that will help me understand the mind of the horse and rider in more depth. Studying Psychology and English at Berkeley would allow me to gain insight into how the winning riders minds’ work, as well as write about and publish those findings for the equestrian world to read. Additionally, with the size and scope of Berkeley’s student body, students must develop the ability to navigate the system to get the courses they want or to speak to professors they like. These people skills will eventually help me approach people and companies for the sponsorship needed to support the next phase of my show jumping career. So, that was my best shot at summing up how riding has shaped my life as a prospective college student. Wish me luck!
After a junior career capped by her win of the 2009 ASPCA Maclay Medal, Zazou Hoffman is now riding and teaching as a professional. She is available for lessons, clinics and private consultation, as well as Grand Prix sponsorship. Based in the Los Angeles area, she can be reached at zazouhoffman@gmail.com. |
