Annie Moultray receives our Most Improved Award for 2021-2022.  Annie came to us in the spring semester of her junior year as a Novice rider.  She took a pandemic leave of absence for what should have been her senior year, so that she could return and ride with the team for that one more year.  She worked so incredibly hard on her own during that leave-of-absence year, and upon her return to Pratt when we were allowed to resume practicing, that she was moved up to become a Limit rider. 
Congratulations, Annie, and all good wishes for your upcoming graduation!

Ayse Ozkan was an Introductory Rider on our team, and an Architecture major with a Sustainability minor, who gradated in May 2021.  She ultimately became a Co-Captain on the team, and she's now Pratt Equestrian's alumni coordinator, helping to keep our alumni riders informed of the team's activities and progress.  We're delighted to catch up with Ayse about the career she's begun since graduation, and to ask about her memories of riding on the team while a student at Pratt.

Can you tell us what went into your choosing Pratt as your college?  
 
Pratt has one of the best architectural programs in the country, so it was easily on the top of my list. Visiting the campus and seeing the atmosphere and those famous Pratt Cats also had an impact.
 
 
Can you share a few examples of particularly important or memorable moments in your courses?
 
Oh, so many I wouldn’t know where to begin. I would say Pratt is well known for many of its departments, but the Sustainability Department is very under rated. Some of the most eye-opening and interactive courses I took were for my Sustainability Minor. I had the opportunity to interview brands, learn how to calculate life cycle assessments for products, and look at a product beyond its intended use. As designers, our main courses feed our creative side, but by taking classes that dive deep into the production, end of life , and economic forces behind the designs teaches us the physical and social impact of a design.  
 
We’d love to hear what being on the equestrian team meant to you, in a large-picture kind of way.
 
My absolute best memories of at Pratt where on the team. Every minute on the horse was a minute I wasn’t stressing about school work. My grades went up after I joined the team. As an equestrian, you have to take care of yourself to then take care of the horse. For the first time, eating full meals and sleeping well, at least before a ride, became a priority. I hope to carry that life work balance into my career. 
 
We always tell everyone that our team is a close one. Can you share a memory that you treasure?
  
I joined the team with no experience, so our first show, with about 10 lessons back then, was probably one of the most intimidating things I’ve done. I’d never been in a ring without my teammates and as soon as I mounted, I had stress nausea just thinking all the ways I could mess up in the next few minutes. As my horse and I were  walking around the ring, I realized that my small team of eight had completely surrounded the ring. One of them whispered as I walked by “I’ll tap my head if you’re doing something wrong.”  Trotting around, I would see a big smiles and a bunch of thumbs up every 15-20 feet. I won my team a third-place ribbon that day, and didn’t get a single head tap. This was the day I realized how we are a team sport, even though we almost never compete in the ring together. 
 
Can you also tell us about the work you’ve been doing since graduating from Pratt, and how you think your Pratt education prepared you for that?
 
I’m currently working at MV+A Architects as an Architectural Designer. Pratt prepared me to question every design decision I make, to remember that there’s more than one way to approach a problem. Critiques at Pratt, like any respectable architectural program, are no walk in the park. By the time you graduate you will have experienced the best- and worst-case scenarios of getting feedback. You learn, process, adjust, and apply that to any work-life scenario. 
 
Looking forward, what hopes or plans do you have for your future?
 
I’m currently studying for my Architectural registration exams! For the long run I hope to specialize in sustainable design methods and green buildings. And, of course, I hope to continue riding and competing in the IHSA’s Alumni Division. 
 
What advice can you give recruits as they join the team?
 
Everything you do and learn on this team will help you navigate the real world. Our sport is all about communication, take advantage of that skill. 
 
Any last words for your former teammates and those who’ve joined more recently?
 
 I love and miss you all so much! I’m training for our next home show and can’t wait to make the trip up to cheer you on next year! 

 
Lindsay Belkin was a Novice Rider on our team (that initial jumping level is now named Limit) and a Digital Arts major with an emphasis on 3-D Animation & Motion Arts, who graduated in May 2020.  We're delighted to catch up with her about the career she's built since graduation, and to ask about her memories of riding on the team while a student at Pratt.


Can you tell us what when into your choosing Pratt as your college?

I toured a lot of schools, most of them were regular colleges because my parents were unsure about me going to an art school. In the end I narrowed it down between Drexel, which had an equestrian team (back in 2016 Pratt didn't have one), and Pratt. Ultimately, I picked Pratt because their 3D program was far better than any other school’s, and that's the most important thing. And it all worked out because I got to go to an amazing art school and be a part of an equestrian team!

Can you share a few examples of particularly important or memorable moments in your courses?

I had many classes that were really memorable because the professors were invested our overall creative journey/careers. I really enjoyed taking Designing for Kids with Megan Cash, and Sketchbook Warehouse with Greg Kletsel. Both of them were super amazing teachers and I learned so much from them. But the most memorable professor I had was Eve Leonard, who was my senior thesis advisor. She gave me so much job and internship advice all throughout my journey at Pratt, and I still keep in touch with her even now.

We always tell everyone that our team is a close one. Can you share an experience with them that you treasure?
I have so many good memories of being on the equestrian team. But if I had to just pick one, I would say I loved our pasta/boot cleaning parties we had some nights before a show. We would all get together and show new team members how to shine their boots and get ready for the show, while eating really good pasta and having a good time together.

Can you also tell us about the work you’ve been doing since graduating from Pratt, and how you think your Pratt education prepared you for that?
So, I graduated in 2020 from the 3D Animation program. I spent about a year working as a digital art teacher while freelancing for a variety of companies, ranging from an interactive media company to a VR company. A bunch of my freelance work ended abruptly during the pandemic, so that's when I found the company that I currently work for, Defiant. Defiant is a company that specializes in Web3. I started as a part time freelancer, and 11 months later I am the Lead 3D Artist working with a small team of other very talented artists.
 
Pratt definitely helped me grow my 3D skills a lot. They take a bunch of information and jam pack it into 4 years. And I also think it helped a lot to have such amazing professors that were willing to share their own job experiences. But most of all I think that Pratt helped me network a lot because the people who are your classmates in school are your coworkers outside of school.  And the 3D industry is small so that is very important.
 
Looking forward, what hopes or plans do you have for your future?
I don't have a lot of career plans right now because I’m currently happy with how that's already going. I just moved back to Brooklyn into my first apartment, so my biggest plans right now are to reconnect with my friends from school, meet new people, explore more of Brooklyn, and also eventually get a dog.

What advice can you give recruits as they join the team?
Pratt will definitely challenge you more than you ever expected, but being a part of the equestrian team is amazing because you get to be active, make friends and take a break from art for a while. It's crucial to balance your time between school, the team, and taking breaks. When I was at Pratt, I would never work past 1:00 am and I called Friday (our practice day) my “day off”. Getting a good amount of sleep and taking time off will make you feel better and be more productive than the people who stay up every night.

Any last words for your former teammates and those who’ve joined more recently?
Hi everyone! You all did so well at the last horse show at Adelphi. You are all so amazing, we started as such a tiny little team and now you guys are the real deal! I can't believe it. Also, I recently moved back to Brooklyn so you might see me at Blick or around Clinton Hill.  If you spot me, come say hi :)