By Kasaundra Hahn
Senior special education major Emily Seguine serves as one of two captains on the KU equestrian team. There are two styles of riding- English and Western. Seguine serves as the English captain. Seguine has been on the team for the past four years, balancing her time between class, riding and going home to Union Township, NJ to spend time with her family and friends while also working as a bartender or helping at her father’s excavating company.
Born in Clinton, N.J., she spent the first 18 years of her life in the same house her parents bought after getting married.
She attended North Hunterdon Regional High School where she became a multifaceted athelete, playing volleyball, basketball and track.
“I loved high school and had a great experience,” she said. “The teams I participated on won a variety of state and county championships.”
She decided to attend KU because the proximity to her house provided the flexibility to go home on the weekends. Seguine cited her mother as having the greatest impact on her life to date. It was from her mother that she learned to be determined and independent.
“I do not rely on others to help me with things, and if I am asked to complete a task, I will find a way to complete [it] without asking others for help unless necessary,” she said.
Even though she is taking six courses this semester, she was able to adjust all of her courses to later in the day to manage a morning riding schedule in New Tripoli, P.A. with her teammates.
Seguine has been riding horses since the age of six. Although she did not consistently ride throughout high school, her time at KU has renewed her commitment to the sport.
“I love riding horses,” she said. “I enjoy spending time with all my teammates and having a lot of opportunities to go to the barn as an escape from school.”
Despite her love for horses and competing, she did admit the early mornings and traveling on weekends do take their toll.
Upon graduating from KU, Seguine would like to pursue occupational therapy in graduate school. Eventually, she would like to manage her own equine-assisted therapy clinic that specializes in therapeutic riding. She feels her special education degree from KU and a future graduate degree in occupational therapy would prepare her to lead a successful facility.