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USEF High School Equestrian Athlete Program
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Equestrian student athletes are now able to get the recognition and respect they deserve for their long hours of training and competition. United States Equestrian Federation, Contributor
etterman jackets and varsity letters have long been a tradition of the American high school experience, but until recently, equestrian student athletes were left out in the cold. Today’s equestrians now have more opportunities to compete on interscholastic equestrian teams, and thanks to the United States Equestrian Federation’s increasingly popular High School Equestrian Athlete program, teens can earn their letter in equestrian. The USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program began in the fall of 2009 when a growing number of high school students wanted their sport of choice—equestrian—to get the same recognition as the other traditionally recognized sports. “What initiated the program,” says Jennifer Mellenkamp, Director of National Breed/Discipline Affiliates and Youth Programs at the USEF, “was simply supply and demand. We were receiving phone calls from parents asking, ‘is there anything offered that would recognize high school equestrian athletes? They spend just as much time training or competing as football and basketball players,’” recalls Mellenkamp. The program quickly found its stride, and the response has been 16
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overwhelming. “Right now we have nearly 5,000 students enrolled,” says Mellenkamp. “Par-
ents have told us the school systems don’t understand the training and dedication that is involved to be an equestrian athlete,” adds Mellenkamp, “and there is often no recognition for these athletes within their school systems. We felt we needed to start something to give all equestrian athletes the acknowledgement they deserve.” The USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program was created so students could receive
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recognition for their individual achievements regardless of their school recognition of equestrian as a sport. Students are responsible for tracking their own hours and competitions, which means support of the program by a student’s school is not necessary for participation. Individuals who compete interscholastically can use their team practice hours and competitions to meet the annual requirements. The program provides schools with updates and information about the students. “We’re hoping this will initiate conversations with the schools,” says Mellenkamp, “and that they will start taking notice of the equestrians that are enrolled.” The requirements for the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program are simple: high school students must belong to USEF, log at least 100 hours of time training, and participate in three competitions during the program year. If you are currently enrolled in grades 9-12 and just now hearing about the program, it’s not too late to get started and earn a letter for all four years! The program has been expanded to allow any current high school student the opportunity to earn a varsity letter retroactively. You can even
