A last-minute opportunity over winter break landed Bailey Moriarty ‘25 a spot representing the United States at the AIEC Student Riding National Cup (SRNC) World Finals, an international collegiate competition. By the end of the two-day competition, the RMC nursing student would be bringing home a 7th place win in show jumping, 5th place in dressage for the silver league, and an overall 5th place, making her the highest-placing United States rider at the AIEC-SRNC World Finals 2022.

Like most students, Moriarty spent the last half of her winter break preparing for the upcoming January term. On December 26 at 3:30 p.m., Moriarty received a phone call from her sister, who’d previously competed in Belgium. Her sister had learned that a rider had fallen sick, and Team USA was short for the AIEC-SRNC World Finals in Bilzen, Belgium. The replacement rider would have to be there by the morning of December 28.

When Bailey discovered they were looking for a competitor who could perform upper-level dressage and show jumping, she knew in her heart that she had what it took to be up on that world stage. She reached out to the team lead, and less than two hours after the initial alert from her sister, she had been chosen. 

With less than 48 hours before she was due in Belgium, Moriarty knew she had much to do. She made the hour-and-a-half drive to campus to grab all her gear, and because she was just starting back in the sport after a knee injury and largely out of practice in the art of dressage, she squeezed in an early morning practice with an old coach. Then, on December 27, she boarded her flight to fly to Belgium.

Striving for success

Moriarty’s equestrian journey began when she was five years old. After years of training and learning the art of multiple horse riding styles, she discovered the Randolph-Macon Equestrian program when a member of the team invited her out to look at the barn. 

In the fall of 2021, Moriarty enrolled at RMC, joining the college’s nursing program, the equestrian team, and the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, which she continues today. 

“There are days where my calendar is every second of the day to the point where it says things like ‘shower from 12 PM to 12:15 PM,” she marvels.

Being involved in so much, Moriarty credits her friends, family, and calendar with keeping her on track.

Much of Moriarty’s time is spent at the College’s stables, training and riding under RMC Equestrian Head Coach John West, who she credits for helping her perfect her form, train on various types of horses, and get the small details just right. 

While winning the awards is a plus at home and abroad, friends and comradery stand out most for Bailey throughout her academic and equestrian career. During the last day in Belgium, Moriarty recalls how Team Germany brought all the teams together into the ring and taught them dance. 

“Everyone started jumping into the ring, and then we are in this massive circle. And they’re not even trying to, but they taught us all this German dance,” Moriarty explains. 

While competitions are made for winning, she was struck by how the event brought together those with a common interest to celebrate that common interest. For Moriarty, sharing this interest and love with those around the world is an experience she will never forget.