Another new equestrian coach handles reins

by-Frank Puccio

After having the same coach for the first seven years of existence as a varsity sport, the Fresno State equestrian team has its third coach in three years.

Since taking over last week, Becky Malmo has been amazed with the athletes and the program she taking over and now has her eyes set on bringing the program to a whole new level.

With many of the necessary pieces already in place and a firm commitment to her squad, Malmo believes that her group of athletes can easily contend year in and year out for a national championship. 

“I’m confident in our team being in the top one or two teams in the nation,” Malmo said. “We have huge talent here and even though I’ve only been here a week, I have great confidence in our athletes.”

Malmo praised her team, saying that from the new freshmen on the squad to the seniors who have been there from the start, all of them are performing “off the scale.”

She finds her squad in decent shape as almost all of her athletes rode throughout the summer. After having started their weight training and conditioning programs, the majority of the riders on the team are starting in good shape, Malmo said.

“I’ve been meeting individually with each athlete, seeing where they are, how they feel about the program, and basically just getting to know them,” Malmo said.

With a new coach comes new rules, and there are a few changes in store for the squad, as specific criteria will now be used to determine who will participate on each show team.

The criteria—including performance in academics, personal training, adherence to team rules and conduct, team responsibilities and more—will now be used before every show as a measuring stick to see which riders will participate.

All aspects of being a part of the squad will now receive increased attention and care, Malmo said, as evidenced by the coach’s commitment to making a name for the team.

“I want to get our women out in the community more. We have such a large team doing great things and the community needs to be more aware of our team and what we do,” Malmo said.

She praises her student-athletes and looks toward the future with great excitement.

“I recognize the importance of this position being a long-time commitment,” Malmo said. “I don’t know why anyone would leave such a fabulous place.”

Malmo’s goals include building a program that is home to the best equestrian team in the country and continuing the proud tradition that Fresno State has already built.

“We want to have a program that women will flock to when they see what we have to offer,” Malmo said. “When they see that Bulldog red, that’s the team they are going to want to be a part of. It’s that same Bulldog spirit that has already gotten athletes to transfer from other schools into Fresno State and our equestrian program.”

Malmo started riding horses at age 4, and her love for riding grew strong over the years, eventually leading to competitive English and Western riding in college at Cal Lutheran.

In addition, her strong background in administration and commitment to education—she received a bachelor’s degree from Cal Lutheran in 1978, a master’s from Cal Lutheran in 1991 and a law degree from Ventura College in 1996—continues today as she is currently enrolled in a joint doctoral program in educational leadership here at Fresno State.