Before every University of Virginia home football game, a sleek, muscled mare enters the tunnel of Scott Stadium, ridden by the Mounted Cavalier, longtime University administrator Julie Caruccio.

About 90 seconds before kickoff, she and the former polo pony, Sabre, stand at the ready, with 100-plus hulking, hyped players crowded in behind them for the run onto the field.

As a staff member begins to count them down, Caruccio and Sabre’s eyes are locked straight ahead as the mare’s plugged ears flick back and forth in anticipation. At the “go” sign, Caruccio gently squeezes with her legs, rises in her stirrups and Sabre tears onto the field.

The burst of energy is the unleashed payoff for a week of meticulous preparation for this bay mare from Argentina.

“We are at a full gallop by the time we hit the turf,” Caruccio said. “She just loves when she’s galloping. That’s her favorite part.”

Concentration in chaos

Longtime Cavalier fans may remember Caruccio’s former steed, Big Daddy. He retired after the 2022 football season, closing out 12 of them.

“I went on a hunt for the next Sabre and was incredibly grateful and lucky to work with Allie King out at King Family Vineyards,” Caruccio said of the popular Albemarle County business that brought polo to Central Virginia in the late 1990s.

“I told her what we were looking for. Because all of the Sabres have been polo ponies before – they’re just used to the chaos and things swinging around their head – she thought through who she had and said, ‘You know what? Actually, I think this one might like this job,’” Caruccio said. “She was exactly right.”

Sabre is the mare’s stage name. Her real name is Chispa, which means “spark” in Spanish. She was bred in Argentina, imported to play for the King family and is now in her 20s. This is her fourth season as Sabre.

“She is the absolute rock star,” Caruccio said. “I am just the passenger.”

Routine is key

The fastidious Caruccio, assistant vice president for strategic initiatives in UVA’s office of Student Affairs, carefully orchestrates preparations for home games. Her barn near White Hall is pristine. Stalls are mucked, floors are swept and Sabre’s nameplates on her bridle and stall are spit-shined.

Caruccio and Sabre ride four or five times a week to stay fit. A couple of days before game day, they ride on Carr’s Hill Field during the marching band’s practice, so Sabre hears drums and horns and sees the flags again.

The night before the game brings a solo ride across the newly painted field at Scott Stadium so Sabre can inspect the logos and anything new.

On the day of the game, Caruccio is locked in. She bathes Sabre. She cleans her tack. She packs the trailer with Sabre’s equipment, her own uniform and the other gear they need.

“She is very sweet, but she’s not a pet. She’s an athlete. She’s a working animal,” Caruccio said of her partner.

They traverse Garth Road, a two-lane country road that cuts through the green, open fields of western Albemarle County, to arrive at their tailgate spot exactly two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. This gives Sabre time to relax in the trailer while Caruccio gets dressed.

About an hour before kickoff, she rides Sabre through the tailgates around the stadium, stopping for photos and visiting with fans.

The culmination of the pair’s work week is their raw charge onto the field, racing past flame machines to the adoring roar of Cavalier fans.

“Every time I get to get on her, I just am super grateful,” Caruccio said. “I always take a minute to notice that and thank her for doing this crazy thing. She literally runs through fire for me.”