Featured Texas A&M Parsons Mounted Cavalry Cadet credits Faith in God
Kara Schofield
Gabriela Flores, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Prosper, was recently honored as a “Featured Cadet” in the Parsons Mounted Cavalry of Texas A&M University. The Parsons Mounted Cavalry tradition was revived at the university in 1974, where “military horse training is used to teach cadets self-discipline, confidence, leadership, and decision-making. Learning to manage an animal much larger than themselves with a mind of its own in challenging conditions develops many of the skills necessary for modern business and military leaders.” (See pmc.tamu.edu for more details on the cavalry.)
Flores, who graduated this spring from Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a Bachelor in Animal Science, joined the Corps of Cadets her sophomore year with the goal of becoming a Parsons Mounted Cavalry cadet. After learning about horse anatomy, the parts of a McClellan saddle and bridle, how to groom a horse, and the history of the cavalry, Flores took a test demonstrating her knowledge and was selected from a pool of 150 applicants to be one of 50 new members to learn horse-riding skills. She earned her rank her junior year when she also served as a veterinary sergeant with special duties to care for the health of the horses.
She explains how her duties helped in her overall goals: “I was able to learn many skills that prepared me for veterinary school while in this position. As a senior, I became the veterinary officer…in charge of supervising and managing the veterinary sergeants and the main ‘chief’ of running the veterinary duties. It was my responsibility to be able to train the juniors how to care for the horses and to be a helping hand if a certain medication or treatment needed to be given.” Flores loves that her experiences helped hone her leadership skills and practical veterinary skills as well as developing a bond with the horses and learning how to communicate effectively with them.
Even on the really hot or cold days, Flores enjoyed her duties in the company of other cadets; she says, “While we did work, we also did fun things as well; I was able to join the pistols team and I was actually able to learn how to do mounted shooting!”
I learned that things may not always go our way, and there will be times where it is difficult and you don’t know what could happen next or what could go wrong, but if we put all of our faith and trust in [God] and put everything in His hands while doing what we can to help ourselves, He will bless us and open doors along the way.
Gabriela Flores
Flores spent between 5 and 10 hours per week in her cadet duties as an undergraduate and is grateful for the privilege of being part of the Parsons Mounted Cavalry. Regarding her education, she explains: “God had His hand throughout my entire college career and I know it was His love and help that enabled me to get where I am today… There were many days when I felt like giving up and changing my career and I did have days of sorrow, stress, and anxiety. The ultimate trial was my senior year when I applied to Veterinary school. I was very stressed and worried about getting in, but repeatedly through prayer and through people he kept telling me to stay calm, know that I am loved, and to trust the process and trust in Him. It wasn’t easy but ultimately I decided to stop worrying and I felt that He would put me where I would be happy and I knew He had a plan for me.”
Flores was accepted to a program and now looks forward to continuing her educational journey this fall: five years in London, UK, at the Royal Veterinary College, with the goal of establishing her own practice someday and doing orthopedic surgery for small animals and horses.
Kara Schofield lives with her husband, nearly grown youngest, and the family doodle in the Prosper Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She can often be found at one keyboard or another: writing, documenting personal and family history, accompanying school choirs, and learning how to play jazz music. Her greatest joys are her four children and their spouses, a sizable extended family, pies, mountains, and Jesus Christ.
