NCAA Varsity Equestrian Programs Continue To Expand

While more than 300 schools nationwide compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, the “other” equestrian program, forged by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is gaining in strength and numbers.
   
Larry Sanchez, chairman of the NCAA Varsity Equestrian Steering Committee and the head coach of the Oklahoma State Equestrian Team, said the sport is becoming much more mainstream amongst NCAA division I and II athletic programs. “There were 11 schools three years ago, and there’s currently 24,” he said. “You’re seeing the growth.”

In order for equestrian to be deemed a full-fledged NCAA sport, 40 schools across the country must proffer teams. As a precursor to an officially sanctioned NCAA national championship, many of the charter schools have been competing for the past few years in the Varsity Equestrian National Championships, a competition designed and run completely to NCAA standards, so that by the time the sport is fully recognized, “we’ll have a perfect working model,” said Sanchez, who has also served on the IHSA Board of Directors in the past.

In 2006, some changes affected college equestrian teams. In the post-season, NCAA rules state that teams may not compete in more than one national championship, but because equestrian isn’t fully sanctioned yet and therefore has no official national final, a waiver allowed schools to compete in both the IHSA nationals and the VENC. But Sanchez said the waiver expired in 2006 and wasn’t renewed, which forced schools to choose only one national championship to attend.

This shift, in combination with the needs of many schools to provide more women’s sports in compliance with Title IX, has bolstered equestrian as a college sport.

In fact, according to Sanchez, it’s the fastest-growing discipline amongst the NCAA’s list of emerging sports, which also includes rugby, archery and synchronized swimming. There’s no specific deadline for the 40-school quota, but he believes that the goal will be reached within the next few years.

Something Old, Something New
The University of Georgia has become a prime example of team triumph within just a few short years. Hoping to transition their well-established IHSA club team to a full-fledged NCAA varsity squad in the fall of 2001, the school hired Meghan Boenig as head coach.

After serving as an assistant coach for the Texas A&M equestrian team, Boenig drew from the IHSA squad’s resources to form her inaugural team. She said the two groups are still tightly linked and mutually supportive, attending one another’s tryouts, meetings and competitions.

“We started with six horses and 24 riders,” said Boenig, “and within a year we were up to 24 horses and 60 riders. We’re staying very competitive. We have a very, very good pool of riders here.”

The current 65-member team now has 52 horses, most of which have been donated to the program.
For a program still technically in its infancy, the Bulldogs have had plenty of success, winning two national championships and one reserve title in their first three years at the VENC. They have thrice won the Southern Equestrian Championships and have had three undefeated seasons on their home turf.