Tatum Milley travels to South Africa to compete with Team USA in the 2023 International Invitation Saddle Seat Competition  

By Simon Alipalo, STAFF WRITER

SANFORD, Maine – Tatum Milley, a senior at SHS, is traveling to South Africa from on Dec. 8 through Dec. 19 to compete with the USA equestrian team. 

Milley has been riding horses her whole life and has competed all across the country. She annually travels to Oklahoma to compete in the National and World championships, winning five world titles and nine national titles. 

This past summer, Milley was invited to compete with the US International equestrian team in New Orleans. Her team was awarded the silver medal at this competition. Her team was then invited by the South African team to compete this December. 

“Saddle seat equitation looks easy to someone without a trained eye.  The easier it looks, the better the rider,” said Leigh Drummey, Milley’s mom. “Saddle seat equitation is the art of positioning your body from head to toe to allow your horse to perform to its fullest potential.  Pressure on the horse from different points of your body signals different things to your horse, so you have to constantly have control of your muscles.”  

Saddle seat equitation is judged on multiple facets when competing, one of those being individual pattern work, according to Milley.  Equitation riders are asked by judges to perform patterns to further evaluate the riders.  These patterns consist of multiple elements that require memorization once that is announced by the judge.  All of the above require physical and mental strength.    

“Riders in the United States Saddle Seat Association (USSSA) International competition are truly testing their abilities, as they are competing on horses they have never seen before,” said Laurie Nelson, USSSA board member. “All teams will choose a horse at a random draw and that team has one 20-minute practice session on the horse before competition.  Each team will be scored by a three-judge panel points system.  Team scores will be combined to determine final placing.” 

Riders were selected for this team from all over the United States.  Milley’s team competed in June 2023 against Canada in New Orleans, LA.  From that competition, the teams were selected to compete in South Africa in December 2023. 

Milley will be staying at the Afridome in Parys, South Africa with Team USA while the families of riders stay outside of the event center.  This allows for team bonding and time with coaches. 

Congratulations and good luck to Tatum.