UConn Equine Teams
The University of Connecticut offers multiple options for students interested in participating on competitive riding teams. Options include the Dressage Team, Equestrian Team (hunt seat), Polo Teams (men's and women's) and Western Team. Other non-competitive riding options include the Horse Riding Practicum and Independent Study opportunities through advisors in the Department of Animal Science. Students interested in riding on the teams are selected through tryouts as well as through demonstrated riding ability in the Horse Riding Practicum depending on the team. During the Practicum, coaches evaluate riders on their skills, hard work and effort they exhibit in lessons. Students are allowed to ride on multiple competitive teams depending on competition schedule overlaps.
Students on the Equestrian Team and Western Team compete in shows through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Students on the Dressage Team compete in shows through the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA). Students on the polo teams compete in Intercollegiate Polo through the United States Polo Association. The objective of the intercollegiate competition is to offer the opportunity for competition to riders in their first years of riding as well as to students with show experience. Riders compete on horses from the host college that they are assigned during a draw (except for polo). Here at UConn, each student will ride a variety of different horses in the lessons so they are prepared for the challenges of the show ring.
The Horse Riding Practicum is a self-improvement non-credit horse riding program. UConn students pay a fee for riding in one or more lessons per week. Students can ride twice or even three times a week for an additional fee (fees may increase annually). Many team members ride two to three times a week. Our lesson program consists of 25-35 horses, mostly Morgans but also Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses and Warmblood crosses. The care and management of these horses is supported by the UConn Department of Animal Science.
Note: Students from other UConn branches can join the equine riding teams, as well as participate in the Practicum. Non-UConn students cannot ride on the equine riding teams.
Fall 2024 Team Schedules
Dressage
| Date | Show | Location |
| March 16, 2024 | IDA Region A&B Competition | South Hadley, MA |
| March 30, 2024 | IDA Region A&B Competition | South Hadley, MA |
| April 7, 2024 | IDA Region A&B Competition | Storrs, CT |
| April 25 - 28, 2024 | IDA Nationals | Mill Spring, NC |
Equestrian
| Date | Show | Location |
| February 24, 2024 | UConn | Storrs, CT |
| March, 2, 2024 | Sacred Heart University | Easton, CT |
Polo
| Date | Team | Location |
| January 27, 2024 | Skidmore | Storrs, CT |
| February 3, 2024 | Yale | Storrs, CT |
| February 4, 2024 | Harvard | Storrs, CT |
| February 10, 2024 | Skidmore | Storrs, CT |
| February 16, 2024 | Cornell | Ithaca, NY |
| February 18, 2024 | UMass | Storrs, CT |
| February 23 - 25, 2024 | USPA DII Regional Tournament | Ithaca, NY |
Our Teams
About
Students of all levels participate in Intercollegiate Dressage Association New England regional shows throughout the semester and can qualify for nationals. Both showing and alternate members make up the team. In addition to overall improvement of riding skills, there will be a focus on strategies to help riders get the most out of test riding in a show situation.
Links
The University of Connecticut Dressage Team welcomes riders of all levels and disciplines that want to improve their horsemanship through the study of classical dressage principles. In the beginning of each semester, try-outs are held to fill any open spots. The selection process is competitive, but intro through first level riders are needed. Team members pay one fee for the semester and participate in one lesson a week on the UConn horses with additional riding opportunities available within the practicum. Team members compete regionally throughout the semester. There are seven colleges within our region with around nine shows through the year. The regional team champion and the regional champion of each division is invited to the nationals competition.
About
Riders of all levels compete in their respective hunt seat division at IHSA shows to accumulate points towards qualifying for Regionals, Zones, and ultimately Nationals. Our riders attend weekly lessons, working on flat work, jumping, and strength training. As a team we focus on developing good sportsmanship, knowledge in and around the barn, and confidence in the saddle.
Links
The UConn Equestrian Team competes at Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) shows in hunt seat classes including Walk-Trot, Walk-Trot-Canter, Novice, Intermediate or Open divisions. Alumni on the Flat/Fences level is open to alumni that have ridden in IHSA shows as an undergraduate in Novice level or above. The levels Over Fences are Novice, Intermediate or Open. The show competition is for all skill levels who compete individually and with the team. We have approximately 10 shows a year and riders have to accumulate 35 points. Once riders acquire the points, they will go on to Regionals. Our region currently consists of 10 schools in the Connecticut and Rhode Island area. At the Regionals, the top 2 riders go to Zones and from the Zones the top 2 riders from each level will go on to Nationals. The team hosts 2 shows a year at UConn's facility.
NOTE: The UConn Equestrian Team is not a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctioned team, however, it is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and competes within their rules and regulations.
Samantha Calzone Scholarship
The UConn Department of Animal Science is pleased to announce a newly endowed scholarship in memory of our alumna, Samantha Calzone. This scholarship will support continuing undergraduate animal science students who are members of the UConn Equestrian Team. We have also named a 2019 UConn foal in Sam's honor. Please consider supporting this cause in memory of a wonderful student and teammate!
About
The UConn Polo Club is a team of intermediate to advanced riders who compete in USPA Intercollegiate Arena Polo. Both advanced and intermediate polo players can make the team. The team practices two times a week, and we play regular season games during the fall. We start the post-season in the spring with Regionals and Nationals after that. We focus on teamwork, communication, balance and confidence in the saddle, and polo form.
Links
The UConn Polo Club operates out of a on campus barn and indoor arena where they practice and play home games. Varsity games include intercollegiate games against the other USPA intercollegiate programs such as Yale, Harvard, Cornell, and Skidmore College. During the spring semester the men and women’s teams compete in the Northeastern Regionals for a chance to qualify for Nationals. UConn’s men and women's varsity team has garnered 11 National Championships and has prepared many players for a life in the professional polo world.
UConn’s Women’s Polo Team won the 2022 USPA DII Northeastern Regional Champions and continued on to become 2022 USPA DII National Champions. They placed as runners-up in the 2023 USPA DII National Championships and again as runners-up in the 2024 USPA DII Northeastern Regional Championships.
About
The UConn Western Team is a group of talented and dedicated students who share a passion for equestrian sports. The Western Team competes in Western Horsemanship and Reining classes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and is both an individual and a team sport. Riders compete for their own points, in addition to earning points for the team. Riders will receive individual placings and prizes, and the high point rider and high point team are awarded at the end of each show.
Links
During the regular season the Western Team competes against many colleges throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Currently, they compete against University of Massachusetts and Mount Holyoke College. Riders and teams that advance past the regular season have the opportunity to compete at the regional level, with those who place in the top of their classes at the regional level competing nation wide later in the season.
Home of 2023 IHSA Reserve National Champion Beginner Horsemanship. IHSA National 6th Level 2 Ranch Riding. IHSA National 8th Level 2 Horsemanship