Maddy Buchanan
Head of Recruiting - Western
I was born and raised in Arizona, where my love for horses took root when I was four years old. At first, my parents thought it was a passing phase that most little girls go through. But I was relentless. After weeks of persistent pleading, I finally convinced my mom to take me on a trail ride for my fifth birthday. From that moment on, my passion for horses only grew stronger. I eagerly explored almost every riding discipline before finding my true calling in horsemanship and reining during high school.
I first heard about collegiate riding when I was 11 years old; from that moment, it became my dream. But my path to becoming a collegiate equestrian wasn't always straightforward. Despite the difficulties I faced, I never gave up hope. I kept in touch with coaches, attended camps, and continued trying my best. My persistence paid off when I committed to TCU in March 2019, during my senior year, for horsemanship and reining. My journey shows that not all collegiate recruiting experiences follow the same path, and that's okay—you can still achieve success in your own unique way.
I graduated from TCU in May 2023 with a degree in Journalism and Film. During my time there, I shifted my focus to reining and had the honor of serving as team captain. My TCU experience went far beyond the arena—I took on leadership roles in student organizations like the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and even represented TCU at the Big 12 level. One of the highlights of my college career was landing an internship at Nike, which was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, what truly defines my time as a student-athlete are the friendships I made and the connections I forged. I'm passionate about encouraging others to seize the amazing opportunities that come with being a student-athlete, as I firmly believe it's a journey filled with limitless possibilities.
Runs in the Family
My younger sister, Kennedy, is on the reining team at University of Georgia. I’m her biggest fan but I will always be loyal to my frogs (I am only a little bitter still about them beating TCU in the football national championship).
Sunny Scottsdale
I currently live and work in Scottsdale, Arizona. As an Arizona native, I know all the hot spots for you to hit if you’re ever in town for a horse show at WestWorld. If you're ever in the area and want to connect, feel free to reach out!
Riding Waves
I work in marketing for a boating company called Paradigm Boats. We build surf deck boats and pontoons. Going out to the lake is a great perk of the job!