National Collegiate Equestrian Association

National Collegiate Equestrian Association
source
Name	National Collegiate Equestrian Association
Formation	1998
Region served	United States
Membership	23 colleges and universities
Parent organization	National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Collegiate Equestrian Association is a collegiate equestrian organization that oversees equestrian competitions among its member institutions, including Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, and Auburn University. The organization was established in 1998 and is affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which also governs sports such as basketball, football, and baseball at institutions like University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Michigan, and University of Texas at Austin. The National Collegiate Equestrian Association aims to promote the sport of equestrian and provide opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level, similar to other NCAA sports like volleyball, soccer, and golf at schools like Stanford University, University of Southern California (USC), and Duke University. The organization has partnerships with various equestrian organizations, including the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), which also support events like the Kentucky Derby and the Olympic Games.

● History

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association was founded in 1998 by a group of colleges and universities, including Texas Christian University (TCU), Baylor University, and Southern Methodist University (SMU), with the goal of promoting equestrian as a collegiate sport. The organization has since grown to include 23 member institutions, including University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, and Louisiana State University (LSU), which also compete in other NCAA sports like softball, track and field, and wrestling. The National Collegiate Equestrian Association has also established partnerships with various equestrian organizations, such as the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and the American Horse Council (AHC), which support events like the FEI World Equestrian Games and the Preakness Stakes. The organization has also been recognized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which govern sports at institutions like University of Oregon, University of Washington, and Brigham Young University (BYU).

● Member Institutions

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association has 23 member institutions, including University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, and Fresno State University, which also compete in other NCAA sports like cross-country, swimming and diving, and tennis. Other member institutions include University of South Carolina, University of Missouri, and Iowa State University, which also have strong programs in sports like gymnastics, lacrosse, and rowing. The member institutions are divided into two conferences: the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which also include schools like West Virginia University, University of Florida, and Vanderbilt University. The National Collegiate Equestrian Association also has affiliate members, including University of California, Davis and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), which compete in events like the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships.

● Competition Format

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association competition format consists of head-to-head matches between teams, with each team consisting of four riders, similar to other NCAA sports like fencing and water polo. The competition is divided into two disciplines: reining and English (including hunter seat and equitation), which are also featured in events like the Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games. The teams compete in a bracket-style format, with the winners advancing to the next round, similar to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the College World Series. The National Collegiate Equestrian Association also hosts a national championship, which is held annually at a rotating host site, including Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas, which also host events like the American Quarter Horse World Show and the FEI World Reining Championships.

● Championships

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association hosts a national championship, which is considered the premier event in collegiate equestrian, similar to the NCAA Men's Division I Football Championship and the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship. The championship is held annually and features the top teams from each conference, including University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University, and Georgia Southern University, which also compete in other NCAA sports like rugby, skiing, and volleyball. The championship is a three-day event, with the teams competing in a bracket-style format, similar to the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship and the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship. The winner of the championship is crowned the national champion, and the top riders are recognized as All-Americans, similar to other NCAA sports like football, basketball, and baseball at institutions like University of Notre Dame, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Wisconsin–Madison. The National Collegiate Equestrian Association also recognizes the National Rider of the Year and the National Coach of the Year, which are awarded to the top rider and coach in the nation, similar to the Heisman Trophy and the Naismith Trophy.