AFS's Charlie Snider named 55th Masked Rider for the upcoming academic year
Texas Tech University's new Masked Rider, Charlie Snider, accepted the reins to horse Fearless Champion Friday (April 15), becoming the 55th student to proudly wear the black mask and scarlet cape. Snider, a junior from Corinth, is a student in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences majoring in animal sciences with a focus on equine science.
In the coming year, he will promote the spirit of Texas Tech at athletic events and other school and civic appearances while representing himself as an ambassador for the university and sharing his love for riding and Texas Tech. "It really does mean a lot to me to represent the university in this capacity," he said. "I'm just excited to see where we will go, what we will do, and make sure everyone who comes in contact with the Masked Rider and Fearless Champion has the best experience possible."
Snider began riding horses at age 13 and later worked as a horse exerciser for a small barn in his hometown. Soon after he began working at the barn, he purchased his own horse to begin riding. During his freshman year at Texas Tech, Snider joined the equestrian team in 2013 where he showed both Western and Hunt Seat against colleges and universities in Zone 7, Region 2 of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
From 2014 to 2016, Charlie served as one of the Masked Rider's assistants for the 53rd and 54th Masked Riders, Mackenzie White and Rachel McLelland. Snider said his experience with horses the past eight years has taught him how to handle many different situations, and being an assistant to the Masked Rider has given him great insight into the program and what it means to be the most iconic symbol for the university.
Dedicating most of his free time to all things horses, Snider's hard work has earned him numerous awards and honors, including top six placements in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association shows, president for the Texas Tech Equestrian Team and an opportunity to ride with Team USA rider Sinead Halpin, the first alternate in the 2012 London Olympic Games, who also rode with the eventing team for the 2014 Normandy World Games.
All of Charlie's hard work has finally paid off as he now becomes the 55th Masked Rider for Texas Tech University. With an exciting year ahead of him, Snider says becoming the Masked Rider is such an honor and he can't wait to see where this year will take him as an ambassador for the university. After his term as a Texas Tech mascot, Snider plans to further his knowledge in the equine industry by continuing to work with horses and possibly manage a horse barn.
Written by K'Leigh Sims
CONTACT: Michael Orth, chairman, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2805 or michael.orth@ttu.edu
0418NM16 / For a full text of the story produced by TTU Communications and Marketing, click http://today.ttu.edu/posts/2016/04/masked-rider
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