Grit, Glory, and Goodbyes

Saying farewell to one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs a Texas Tech student can have.

By Texas Tech University

April 20^th, 2023

"Being the Masked Rider has truly been a dream come true. It is a full-time job and a full-time responsibility, but it truly was worth it every single day. Don’t get me wrong, there were hard days throughout the year, but Centennial reassured me and helped me know that it was going to be ok. No matter how sad or down I was, he would greet me when I would walk into the barn and whinny and make me feel much better. Being able to represent this university in an extraordinary way was the best feeling. Meeting new people, fans, and especially kids who said they wanted to be the Masked Rider when they grow up was such an amazing feeling. Seeing this program touch so many lives brings so much joy."

"The realization of being the boss is definitely a shock, but you ease into it. Coming into the job, you know that you are the sole caretaker of the horse, and it still brings so much excitement and goosebumps knowing that I was the 61st Texas Tech Masked Rider."

"I really had no idea what to expect, and I just told myself that it was a 30-step process. As long as we could make it step by step, we would make this year one to remember."

"I still remember before our first run, I was constantly petting him and letting him know what was about to happen. He did absolutely phenomenal, and I couldn't have asked for a better run. Honestly, I was not super nervous because I trusted him, and knew that if we both stayed calm, we could do it."

"Every person has a different year whether they are on the same horse or not. I think mine was different as I was introducing a new horse into the program with a pretty short turn around. It has been amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else."

"It was definitely hard. Not knowing what the year would hold or how he would react on gameday was a struggle in itself. Having a horse training background, I tried to use the many tools I had to welcome Centennial into the program in the most relaxing and most prepared way possible. We had our ups and downs throughout the year, but so does any horse owner. They can change daily, and I trusted in my riding, my training ability, and trusted Centennial. We have both come a long way... together."