When the Aggie football team takes the field in 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ Health Stadium this season, the first student-athlete onto the field is one wearing bright blue and gold chaps. And sheβs on horseback.
Kendal Scheiner is entering her second season as Maggie the Aggie, the student in flashy western wear who fires up the crowd by riding onto the field on horseback, waving an Aggie flag and calling to mind 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪβ longstanding veterinary medicine and agricultural connections.
βThe adrenaline that hits in that moment is so amazing,β Scheiner said.
2 sports, both on horseback
She competes on the equestrian team in reining, a type of western-style riding that pits riders against each other in their ability to control horses in fast turns, skidding stops and more. And while she has been involved in showing horses before crowds since she was 7 years old, she said nothing compares to riding out onto a football field in a stadium full of cheering fans.
βHaving that loud and booming sound β you feel it through your whole body,β she said.
This season she will either ride her own horse, Vinny, who is boarded on campus, or her motherβs horse, Boo Boo, who makes the trip to campus from Scheinerβs hometown of Novato.
ANIMALS ON THE FIELD
A frequent photo op
Scheiner and her horse are also a major draw for attendees of home games. After leading the team onto the field, Scheiner makes her way onto the concourse, where she and her horse greet fans and pose for photos.
βItβs really sweet,β she said. βI appreciate everyone taking time to come meet me.β
Scheiner, a senior, often chats with fans about her major β communications β or future equestrian team meets.
Maggie the Aggie debuted in 2019, .
When Intercollegiate Athletics staffers asked if anyone on the equestrian team would be interested in succeeding Burris, Scheiner jumped at it. So far the two sportsβ schedules havenβt conflicted, although last year she did have to go directly from competing to running out onto the football field and then back to the equestrian competition. She even had to switch horses, because during meets, both home and visiting teams use horses owned by the host university.
Scheiner said she is grateful for the opportunity to participate in football games, adding that it shows another way 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ is a close-knit school, despite its large size.
βTo be able to represent 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ with the logo on my back is really cool,β she said. βI love 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ and Iβm really happy with my decision β itβs cool to be able to resemble that.β
NEXT HOME GAME
- WHAT: , featuring a rally towel giveaway
- WHEN: 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23
- WHERE:
- TICKETS:
- READ MORE: Info on broadcasts, tailgating and more
Media Resources
Cody Kitaura is the editor of Dateline 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ and can be reached by email or at 530-752-1932.