Even well-kept secrets can be crowned champions. 

Meghan Boenig, head coach of Georgia equestrian, should be a staple in the conversation of Georgia’s elite coaches, yet has remained in relative Athenian obscurity. 

Not for long, perhaps. 

As Georgia’s equestrian team clinched the 2010 Varsity Equestrian National Championships Saturday in Waco, Texas, Boenig and her program quietly vaulted themselves into elite company in Georgia sports history. 

The down-to-the-wire national championship was No. 5 in eight years for Boenig’s program, including a dominating run of three-straight championships since 2008. 

The only other Georgia coaches to accomplish such a feat include the familiar names of Suzanne Yoculan, Jack Bauerle and Manuel Diaz. 

Elite company.

“In truth, the only way that we won the title was by everybody getting their points, because it all came down to raw scores,” Boenig said. “Even though Lauren Love and Dee St. Hilaire were not able to pull off the win, their raw scores are also what contributes to us being able to do this. So if they had made mistakes and given up, that would have given Texas A&M the title. We had to fight for everything that we got, we had to earn it, and I think these ladies have proven themselves … it was just extremely exciting.” 

As the third and final day of the VENC arrived, the remainder of the 12-team field had fallen off to reveal a two-horse race: Georgia and Texas A&M. 

The Bulldogs went on to clinch the championship in the Hunt Seat with a 5-3 Saturday win over Auburn, while Texas A&M won in the Western discipline. 

Georgia had already finished fourth place in Western. 

Texas A&M had already finished fourth place in Hunt. 

The results were an unprecedented two-way tie for first place in the final standings, resulting in the first-ever ride-off in VENC history between the two schools. 

“Our preparation all season has been about getting the job done in the first ride, and we’ve been really working on that, particularly all this spring and practicing for going down and making unbeatable patterns,” Boenig said. “That all holds true through your championship rounds, as well as it did against Texas A&M. Of course, nothing always goes perfect — which led to the point of the tie and a re-ride situation.” 

For Georgia to win, they were forced to defeat the Aggies in four head-to-head dual matches by winning more events or, if splitting the events, by outpointing them on aggregate.

The Bulldogs looked to a select group to finish off the intense competition and take home the national title — and the riders delivered. 

Those names included Michelle Morris and Kacy Jenkins. 

Morris, a sophomore who earned an individual national championship in Equitation on the Flat, stormed out of the gate in the same event in the ride-off, giving Georgia a 174-144 lead from which Texas A&M would never recover. 

“[On Saturday] the adrenaline rush was just insane. When we found out we had to go in a ride-off — which had never been done before in equestrian history — we were so intense and crazy,” Morris said. “To have it be that close and come out with the win was just incredible. Just an extreme, extreme moment … every emotion possible was heightened. And honestly, before I went in the ring I was so nervous.” 

Jenkins, a junior English rider, would also win the Fences event for the Bulldogs. 

Although Texas A&M won both Western events to split the events 2-2, Morris’ ride proved to be the deciding factor as Georgia won on point totals 603.5-579. 

“I knew coming into the entire thing that Georgia’s team was one of the best in the country, but to actually experience it was something I will obviously remember for the rest of my life,” Morris said. “I’ll definitely be telling my kids and everything — this is one for the books, for sure.” 

No disrespect to the books, but the historic fifth title could also be labeled “One for the Thumb” — or for the tail. 

Boenig and her program now rank behind only women’s gymnastics and men’s tennis on Georgia’s all-time list of multiple national champions in one sport, and the extraordinary run appears to have no end in sight. 

“I think that we will definitely be winning two more,” said sophomore Emma Lipman, who took home the Bulldogs fourth individual championship in school history. 

“I’ll be getting four rings.” 

The debate will continue on whether to label this most-recent ring “One for the Thumb” or “One for the Tail.” 

But either way, it was one for the ages.