University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Madison Newman
March 19, 2019 | Equestrian, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Unlike her teammates Maddy Darst, Maddie Fiorante or Madison Anger, Georgia equestrian rider Madison Newman's nickname is far afield from her actual name. While Anger is often called "Maddle" because of a poorly written name tag a while back, Newman is called "Hoops."Â
A senior Equitation on the Flat rider from Wellington, Fla., Newman explains her nickname, how she's turning pro after this season and so much more during a fun, wide-ranging Quick Chat. Here's some of what she had to say:Â
Frierson: How did you get started riding?
Newman: I was probably on a horse before I could walk. My mom, dad, my whole family was in the horse industry of buying and selling horses.
Frierson: When did it before more than just a hobby or just what the family does for you? When did it really connect with you and became a passion that continues to this day?
Newman: Honestly, from a really early age I absolutely loved it. I was fortunate enough, I had my ponies in the backyard and I would ride before school even, when I was in elementary school.Â
Looking at the college process, I switched to online school so that I could travel more and keep up. And I plan to go pro after school, so I'm sticking with it.
Frierson: What can you tell me about what that means, to go pro in equestrian?
Newman: I was going to do the real world stuff and my dad actually does equine insurance, and I'm a risk management and insurance major, I plan to do that on the side as well, which is very convenient. But I've gotten a few offers so I'm going to ride horses for other people — I'll get them ready, I'll get to show a little bit and just keep going and see where it goes.
Frierson: Will that take you all over the country?
Newman: Yes, my plan is right after graduation I'll drive to New York for the summer and our winters are typically in Wellington, Fla., which is where I'm from and my whole family lives.
Frierson: Tell me about Wellington, which I've read is a big equestrian area.
Newman: It has the largest winter equestrian festival in the States for show jumping. It's huge, the biggest riders from all over the world come to compete there. I've lived there basically my whole life, it's always been home to me, but it's pretty quiet and dead during the off months. But come December through April it's pretty busy.
Frierson: If you could go anywhere in the world on somebody else's dime, where would you like to go?
Newman: I think I'd really like to go to Scotland. I've traveled a lot of places in Europe riding and that's one place I've been wanting to check off for a while now.
Frierson: So where have you ridden or competed in Europe?
Newman: I lived in Belgium one summer and Holland another summer, and from there we showed and traveled to Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, kind of all over the place. It was absolutely amazing.
Frierson: This may be a dumb question but is there a difference between, say, an Italian horse and an American horse?
Newman: Not really, we actually import a lot of our horses from Europe to the States. A lot of our top show-jumpers are typically not bred in the United States, even though it's getting more popular now. We usually go over there to buy and bring them over and sell them here.
Frierson: Interesting — it's a whole world I know nothing about. Doing what you do, Equitation on the Flat, what are the skills needed to do that well? And how do those skills differ from the other riding events?
Newman: For college riding, I think most importantly you need to be able to ride lots of different horses, you're going to come across every type, and I think you have to be good about getting to know them in a quick amount of time. Keeping your poise, showing off, but being effective at the same time.
I also think a lot of it is just quick thinking — you have to make adjustments everywhere. Especially for Flat, I have to have every maneuver calculated and planned really for in advance and just go with it.
Frierson: Is there one part of that that you really find compelling or challenging or satisfying?
Newman: I love the horses, for sure. In the Flat, I love the thinking aspect of it. You want to be super accurate to get the highest scores and just really planning every step of the ride. It's like you can just go in and kind of go with the flow when you're always making adjustments based on what you're riding.
Frierson: Is that reflected in the rest of your life as well, that attention to detail?
Newman: It definitely is (laughs). Time management, everything's pretty planned out.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Newman: Probably pasta of some sort. Literally any type of pasta: Bolognese, pesto, Alfredo, all of them.
Frierson: Who's the funniest person on the team?
Newman: I know a lot of people have said Sam Gastelum, and she 100 percent is, but I've gotten really close with Hayley Mairano this year and she cracks me up in every single practice. It's really fun practicing with her and just seeing her in day-to-day activities.
Frierson: Is she trying to be funny or is it just who she is?
Newman: A little bit of both (laughs). Definitely a little bit of both, her and her weird sense of humor. I love it.
Frierson: Do you go by Madison or Maddie or do you have another name?
Newman: On the team I go by Hoops, but Maddie typically.
Frierson: Where does Hoops come from?
Newman: My freshman year, one of the seniors thought my Instagram name was Madison Hoops when it was Madison Hope because that's my middle name. And my teammates just made it stick. It's year four and it's completely stuck with me. I don't think anyone on the team calls me Maddie or Madison anymore.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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