Reinstate our equestrian team

The UC Davis D1 NCEA Equestrian Team has been a source of pride and an essential component of the university’s athletic and academic community. This team not only represents UC Davis with distinction on a national level but also provides invaluable opportunities for student-athletes to excel both in their sport and in their studies. They have won 2 conference championships and produced multiple All-Americans. The team is currently ranked #7 in the nation – heading for Nationals. Yet their accomplishments have been largely unrecognized, and now, mid-year, the athletes have been informed that their team will be replaced by STUNT. Unfortunately, the recent decision to disband this team has not only disrupted the lives of its athletes but also diminished the university’s commitment to equestrian sports, a discipline deeply rooted in tradition and excellence. 

It’s impossible not to see this through the lens of NIL and shifting priorities where budgets are redirected and student-athletes are treated as expendable collateral damage.

This program matters. It matters to every girl who woke up at 4 am for meet days. To every rider who balanced school and the team, to every young athlete who has spent years dreaming to ride for this team, and to every horse cared for and loved on by these girls. To every alum who helped build something bigger than themselves.

Moreover, reinstating the equestrian team aligns with UC Davis’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, offering scholarships and opportunities to student-athletes from various backgrounds. The team not only promotes gender equality in sports but also encourages a connection with nature and animal welfare, echoing the university’s environmental ethics and leadership in veterinary sciences.

We urge the UC Davis administration to reconsider their decision and reinstate the D1 NCEA Equestrian Team. Doing so will not only restore opportunities for current and future student-athletes but also reaffirm UC Davis’s dedication to comprehensive excellence and innovative education. Let us uphold UC Davis’s proud equestrian legacy and ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to thrive.