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LOOK WHAT'S CHANGING IN VARSITY EQUESTRIAN!
By Marybeth Brown - Varsity Equestrian Alumni

While Varsity Equestrian student-athletes enjoyed the off-season and summer months coaches and officials were still hard at work finding ways to improve Varsity Equestrian.

The 2010-2011 Equestrian season is just around the corner and coaches and riders are gearing up for a great year of team and individual competition. As riders begin to head back to school, practice, and competitions they will probably notice a few adjustments. There have been changes made to several different aspects of Varsity Equestrian, all with the goal of improving and advancing the sport for universities, competitors, and, spectators...read full story.

NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY POSITION OPENING : HEAD COACH, WOMEN'S EQUESTRIAN

Effective date: August 1, 2010.  Bachelor’s degree in related field required. Minimum of three competitive seasons of successful collegiate or club coaching experience required; collegiate recruiting experience desirable; demonstrated horsemanship skills and experience with basic horse training and/or coaching; personal experience in competition riding in Hunt Seat events preferred...read the full posting here.

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Applications for the NRHA Collegiate Reining Championship are available by clicking here.

GEORGIA EARNS FIFTH OVERALL VENC TITLE
Texas A&M claims Western championship, Georgia wins Hunter Seat title.

WACO, Texas – The University of Georgia’s equestrian team claimed its fifth overall team title at the Varsity Equestrian Championships (VENC) on Saturday at the Heart O’Texas Fair Complex at Waco, Texas. The Bulldogs defeated Texas A&M in a ride-off and a tie-breaker for the overall national championship and South Carolina claimed third place in the overall standings...read full story.

2010 VARSITY EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - How to Send Your Children to College

April 16, 2010 - Want to know how to send your children to a great college? Ask Nub and Maureen Morris of Colorado City, Texas, who are sending two daughters to college with equestrian scholarships.

On Thursday at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships, Nub and Maureen were there in support of their daughters Kelly, a junior at Texas Christian University, and Robin, an assistant coach at New Mexico State University...read full story.

2010 VARSITY EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - Back in Black

April 16, 2010 - A Texas A&M University rider slides to a stop on Whizards Old Spice, owned by the University of Georgia. Whiz has been to more Varsity Equestrian National Championships than any of the riders.

Texas A&M was back in black Thursday. Inspired by a combination of AC/DC’s hit song, “Back in Black,” and our new black western show shirts, our theme for the day was “Back in Black Nationals 2010.”...read full story.

2010 VARSITY EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - Late Nights, Early Mornings and Teamwork

April 15, 2010 - One student shares her experiences during her third journey to the Varsity National Equestrian Championships this week in Waco, Texas.

Representing Texas A&M University at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships are, from left, Becca Murray of Burbank, California, Amanda Ryan of Ramona, California, and blogger Tara Christiansen. Becca is on Mr Nickey Step while Amanda rides McCaffrey. Both horses are American Quarter Horses finding second careers on the collegiate circuit...read full story

VARSITY EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OPENING CEREMONY & BANQUET

Baylor Athletics will host the 2010 Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) April 15 - 17, 2010. You are invited to join with us as we welcome the nation's top twelve Hunter Seat and top twelve Western Collegiate teams to Waco during the Opening Ceremony at 6:30 pm April 14 in the Heart O' Texas Fair Coliseum . A banquet will immediately follow in the Creative Arts Building at the Heart O' Texas Fair Complex. Cost is $20 for the banquet. The Opening Ceremony is free!

April 14, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
Cost of Banquet : $20 per person (tax included)*
RSVP online here or call 1-866-281-9444

RSVP by April 9th - Payment in advance required
Location: Creative Arts Building at the Heart O' Texas Fair Complex

YOUTH CHAMPIONS TO COLLEGIATE STANDOUTS: THE VARSITY EQUESTRIAN EFFECT

The NCAA Varsity Equestrian National Championships, which take place again this year in Waco, Texas, April 15-17, are the pinnacle of the sport. The rosters read like World Championship show programs and the patterns rival that of the finals. Even the barns feel like you are at the World Show as each team has their own stall decorations, just like the different states do. The top riders in AQHA and APHA are continuing to find their way into the collegiate arena, after richly decorated youth careers...view full story.

COLLEGIATE RIDERS COME TO WELLINGTON FOR THE FTI-WEF COLLEGIATE EQUITATION CHALLENGE

Sixteen Collegiate riders came to the Winter Equestrian Festival on February 26th, 2010 to compete in the first annual, FTI-WEF Collegiate Equitation Challenge. The competition was held in the varsity equestrian head-to-head format under the lights of the International Arena. The event featured four rounds of single elimination competition culminating in the naming of the Equitation Challenge Champion. Riders drew at random for mounts donated by various professionals contesting the season at WEF..view full story.

View final FTI-WEF bracket.

EQUESTRIAN TO REMAIN AS EMERGING SPORT

The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics is working on ways to expand sponsorship in equestrian as the sport recently passed its 10th year on the list of emerging sports for women...view full story.

In 1998 equestrian was classified as an NCAA emerging sport. Many people within the horse industry have united together to help advance the sport...more