University of Georgia Athletics
Zawisza Enjoying 'Another Day Riding'
March 26, 2026 | Equestrian, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Abbey Zawisza was about 14 years old when she got Bo, the all-around horse that she rode for years as she was competing in and winning multiple major equestrian championships.
"He took me all the way to college," the Georgia junior said. "He was my one and only, and he was super special."
Zawisza, from Findlay, Ohio, sold Bo when she left for college, because "it was really expensive to have a horse at home that I wasn't ever riding." Bo passed away last year, but Zawisza will always cherish her memories of riding him and taking care of him.
"He was awesome, and he lived the coolest life," she said.
Zawisza is living a pretty cool life, too, as a member of the No. 3-ranked Georgia equestrian team. She is a Western rider who competes in Horsemanship, and heading into this weekend's SEC Championships at Auburn, Zawisza has Georgia's top three scores this season, with a 78, a 77.75, and a 76.5. She's also tied with teammates Alyvia Dixon and Kendall McClintock with seven wins, the most among Horsemanship riders.
Zawisza's mother had a horse when she was young, but never competed. Zawisza first got interested in riding when her older sister took riding lessons.
"I was like, I want to do it, too!" she said. "I took lessons just for fun and loved it. I did it just for fun until I was about 14, when I started to get pretty good and started having some success. Then I was like, I want to do more of this."
It wasn't all horses all the time. Zawisza also did dancing, soccer and volleyball, but when the time came to choose one to focus on, there was no doubt that it was going to be riding.
"I just love it," she said.
Before coming to college, Zawisza started to get into Reining. They're both Western disciplines, but quite different. Competing in Horsemanship, Zawisza said, "is very much like you have to hold your position perfectly — you have to make it look effortless. Reining, you've got to be all in; you've got to go for it.
"They both have their different difficulties, but they're both so fun to me. I love them both," she said.
Zawisza's time playing team sports like soccer and volleyball made the adjustment to being on Georgia's team a lot easier.
"Equestrian outside of school is such an individual sport, and being a part of all those other teams really helped me when I got here," she said. "Most people aren't used to that, and it's hard. Coming in and having to be with everyone else can be a bit difficult, because you're so used to just competing for yourself."
After not competing as a freshman during the 2023-24 season, Zawisza competed in all 15 meets as a sophomore. She did Reining in one meet but otherwise just competed in Horsemanship. In the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Championship final against SMU, with a title on the line, Zawisza produced a then-career-high score of 77.3. It was a great ending — the Bulldogs won the program's eighth national title — to what had been a challenging season.
"Last year was my first year starting, which was hard for me. I struggled, and, honestly, I think 90% of it for me was mental. I know I can ride, but a lot of times, I just got so in my head. Being my first year as a starter, it was like I just felt like I needed to prove something to everyone, so then I wasn't riding like I knew how to," she said.
"This year, coming into the first meet of the season (in the fall), I was just like, You need to go out there and do what you know how to do."
And that approach has led to better scores and more fun.
"I feel like every time I go out there and compete, it's just another day riding," she said. "It's a great feeling."
After the SEC meet, Zawisza and the Bulldogs will begin preparations for the NCEA National Championship starting April 16 in Ocala, Fla.
Staff Writer
Abbey Zawisza was about 14 years old when she got Bo, the all-around horse that she rode for years as she was competing in and winning multiple major equestrian championships.
"He took me all the way to college," the Georgia junior said. "He was my one and only, and he was super special."
Zawisza, from Findlay, Ohio, sold Bo when she left for college, because "it was really expensive to have a horse at home that I wasn't ever riding." Bo passed away last year, but Zawisza will always cherish her memories of riding him and taking care of him.
"He was awesome, and he lived the coolest life," she said.
Zawisza is living a pretty cool life, too, as a member of the No. 3-ranked Georgia equestrian team. She is a Western rider who competes in Horsemanship, and heading into this weekend's SEC Championships at Auburn, Zawisza has Georgia's top three scores this season, with a 78, a 77.75, and a 76.5. She's also tied with teammates Alyvia Dixon and Kendall McClintock with seven wins, the most among Horsemanship riders.
Zawisza's mother had a horse when she was young, but never competed. Zawisza first got interested in riding when her older sister took riding lessons.
"I was like, I want to do it, too!" she said. "I took lessons just for fun and loved it. I did it just for fun until I was about 14, when I started to get pretty good and started having some success. Then I was like, I want to do more of this."
It wasn't all horses all the time. Zawisza also did dancing, soccer and volleyball, but when the time came to choose one to focus on, there was no doubt that it was going to be riding.
"I just love it," she said.
Before coming to college, Zawisza started to get into Reining. They're both Western disciplines, but quite different. Competing in Horsemanship, Zawisza said, "is very much like you have to hold your position perfectly — you have to make it look effortless. Reining, you've got to be all in; you've got to go for it.
"They both have their different difficulties, but they're both so fun to me. I love them both," she said.
Zawisza's time playing team sports like soccer and volleyball made the adjustment to being on Georgia's team a lot easier.
"Equestrian outside of school is such an individual sport, and being a part of all those other teams really helped me when I got here," she said. "Most people aren't used to that, and it's hard. Coming in and having to be with everyone else can be a bit difficult, because you're so used to just competing for yourself."
After not competing as a freshman during the 2023-24 season, Zawisza competed in all 15 meets as a sophomore. She did Reining in one meet but otherwise just competed in Horsemanship. In the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Championship final against SMU, with a title on the line, Zawisza produced a then-career-high score of 77.3. It was a great ending — the Bulldogs won the program's eighth national title — to what had been a challenging season.
"Last year was my first year starting, which was hard for me. I struggled, and, honestly, I think 90% of it for me was mental. I know I can ride, but a lot of times, I just got so in my head. Being my first year as a starter, it was like I just felt like I needed to prove something to everyone, so then I wasn't riding like I knew how to," she said.
"This year, coming into the first meet of the season (in the fall), I was just like, You need to go out there and do what you know how to do."
And that approach has led to better scores and more fun.
"I feel like every time I go out there and compete, it's just another day riding," she said. "It's a great feeling."
After the SEC meet, Zawisza and the Bulldogs will begin preparations for the NCEA National Championship starting April 16 in Ocala, Fla.
Assistant Sports Communications Director 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.
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