The Kansas State Equestrian Team started out as a club sport in 1999 with Teresa Slough as
the sole coach. Although the team had just about 20 members that first year, the Wildcats won
their first national title with Kelly Gratny earning the Reserve National Championship in Open
Western Horsemanship.
Since becoming a varsity sport on campus in 2000, the team has since
earned nine national titles and sees around 120 girls try out for the team each year.
With the new requirements Title IX placed on schools to ensure equal opportunities for female
athletes, K-State added Equestrian as its newest sport in 2000. The agricultural background of
the school was a clear influence, as well as a strong interest from club members and other students
on campus.
The team started out in a unique position competing in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
(IHSA) competitions. This format required a team to show riders with all levels of experience,
which allowed girls with little or no previous experience to compete as much as those with more
knowledgeable backgrounds. The team competed simultaneously in varsity competitions where
schools showed their best riders against each other. In 2006, however, the NCAA ruled that
varsity schools could only compete in one national championship, which meant choosing between
IHSA and varsity. Due to the more competitive nature of the varsity competitions, this is
the format in which KSU currently competes.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:
- 33 riders have qualified individually for the IHSA National Championships
- Three Hunter Seat and three Western teams have qualified for IHSA National Championships
- Five top ten team finishes at IHSA Nationals
- 2006 Reserve National Championship Western Team
- Qualified for five Varsity National Championships
- 2006 - Sixth place Hunter Seat team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
- 2006 - Sixth place Western team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
- 2007 - Fourth place overall team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
- 2007 - Third place Hunter Seat team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
- 2007 - Sixth place Western team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
- 2008 – Fifth place Overall Team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
- 2008 – Third place Western team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
- 2009 – Fifth place Western team finish at Varsity Equestrian National Championships
KNOW EQUESTRIAN: Rules & Terminology
Learning Equestrian is easy to do once you understand a few key rules and terms:
JUDGING: GENERAL RULES
- In equitation/horsemanship classes, only the rider is being judged, therefore no penalty should be assessed because of the horse’s conformation, color or movement.
- Falling off a horse results in elimination.
- Three refusals by a horse over jumps results in elimination.
- Any rider not having her mount under sufficient control shall be removed from the ring by the show stewards and shall be disqualified or remounted.
- Riders must remain on the same horse throughout all phases of an equitation or horsemanship class until the judge requests a change.
- Riders compete on the host school’s horses. Mounts are chosen in a random draw prior to the start of their class.
- Riders are only allowed to school during a designated 4 minute warm-up time before they compete.
ENGLISH RULES
- Riders compete in Equitation over Fences and Equitation on the Flat.
- General - The rider should have a workmanlike appearance, seat and hands light and supple, conveying the impression of complete control.
WESTERN RULES
- Riders compete in Horsemanship and Reining.
- General - The rider will be judged on seat, hands, and the ability to
control and show the horse. Results as shown by the performance of the horse are not to be considered more important than the method
used by the rider in obtaining them.
SCORING
Scores are given by a designated judge based on rider position and quality of ride. Each event is scored in a manner which reflects current AQHA and USEF industry standards.
Reining, Horsemanship, Equitation on the Flat and Equitation over
Fences are the four classes offered at all intercollegiate equestrian competitions. In IHSA competition, team points are earned by one rider,
pre-designated by the coach, in each division. Other riders block competing schools from earning team points. In Varsity competition, the
team will earn one point for each rider who defeats her opponent on the same horse.
GLOSSARY
EQUITATION
In riding competitions, this indicates that riders are being judged on their ability to control the horse while maintaining the correct riding position.
EQUITATION OVER FENCES
An individual performance where each rider shows a horse over 8-10 jumps of varying heights. Riders are judged on their ability to position the horse correctly at the jumps while maintaining the correct riding position
and producing a smooth, polished performance.
HORSEMANSHIP
Refers to a class of Western riding in which the rider is judged on maintaining
correct position and controlling the horse in a pattern.
IHSA
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Shows include both varsity
and club teams. Competitions are divided into levels based on rider
background and experience.
REINING
Riders perform a pre-assigned pattern demonstrating a variety of
stops, turns and figures at various speeds. Emphasis is on precision
and technical application of a rider’s ability to handle unfamiliar horses.
SLIDING STOP
A smooth stop from the lope, in which the horse is supposed to balance
on its back feet while the front feet continue to move.
TACK
The equipment worn by the horse.
VARSITY
Refers to head-to-head competition with other varsity programs. Riders
are allowed to warm-up horses and each team rides the same set of
horses. Riders compete head-to-head with an opponent, both of which
ride the same horse.
WALK, JOG, LOPE
In Western, these are the primary gaits in which the horse travels.
WALK, TROT, CANTER
In Hunter Seat, these are the primary gaits in which the horse travels.