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The sport of equestrian made it's debut for SDSU this weekend as the Jackrabbits took on Kansas State. If you have ever wondered why SDSU added this sport please take a moment to read the Story that Chris Solari wrote for the Argus. Here is a link and some highlights.
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbc...10001/1001/NEWS
SDSU’s equestrian program new, but team able
CHRIS SOLARI
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 10/1/05
BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University’s equestrian team officially begins its quest today to catapult the school into the forefront of the developing sport.
After nearly two years of planning, recruiting and practice, SDSU’s 21st varsity sport debuts against Kansas State University. The Jackrabbits and Wildcats begin competition at 9 a.m. at Fox Creek Stables in Manhattan, Kan.
“The level of enthusiasm here is pretty high, and the work ethic is pretty strong,” said SDSU coach Megan McGee. “We’ve got some competitors here, and I think we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
It’s a dual debut for the Jackrabbits. On one hand, it’s a team’s inaugural competition with all the related stress and questions. But it’s also the debut of a key piece of SDSU’s Division I plan.
Equestrian could end up filling an important role in the athletic department, helping with federal Title IX compliance issues – which mandates gender equity – and putting SDSU on the front edge of a growing sport.
SDSU boasts 26 riders on this inaugural team – 15 from South Dakota – and all have experience showing horses at competitions as individuals. However, this is their first stab as a team sport. In addition to the challenge of mounting horses with which they are not familiar, they also must adjust to the different formats, practice schedules and new coaches.
This competition will be a true test of the women’s abilities. . . .
Sport in growth spurt
The National Collegiate Athletic Association classifies equestrian as an emerging sport. For the NCAA to sponsor a national championship, there must be 40 schools participating at the varsity level. Currently, the schools involved in equestrian hold their own unaffiliated varsity championships, which will be held April 20-22 at a location to be determined. . . .
Equestrian is increasingly attractive for universities in complying with Title IX because the large number of women athletes required can help balance out football on the men’s side.
SDSU also chose equestrian over other sports, such as women’s crew or ice hockey, because of the school’s equine-management program and its fit with the state’s image and history.
Rob Peterson, SDSU’s assistant athletic director, said the equestrian team offers five scholarships this year and has a budget between $325,000 and $350,000. Original estimates put the start-up cost for the program at $400,000.
The Jackrabbits will have four meets this fall, including one at home against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 5 at the Swiftel Center holding barn. They will have six more competitions in the spring, starting Feb. 4 at defending champ South Carolina. . . .
Riders get ready
McGee recruited her 26 riders this year from about 100 candidates and expects the roster to grow to as many as 60 with 15 scholarships by the 2009-10 school year. Slough said Kansas State has about 80 riders now after beginning with 40 in its first season. Sixty riders was the program’s goal when it was announced in April 2004.
The SDSU women practice at the Pegasus Equine Center in Brookings, where they ride three times a week, lift weights, help care for the horses and clean the stables when they finish a workout. . . .
And SDSU’s 22 horses, most donated to the program and some leased, are every bit as integral to the team’s success as the riders.
“They are part of the package,” McGee said. “They’re part of the equipment – that’s living, breathing equipment that eats and needs to be taken care of and needs some training along the way.”
Area girls saddle up
According to NCAA statistics, about 10,500 high school girls compete in the sport.
As for the Jacks, there are the 15 riders from South Dakota as well as riders from North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. There is even one competitor, freshman Allison Carie, from Alaska.
In early 2004, Morris was a junior at Washington High School in Sioux Falls who spent her weekends competing in regional equestrian events. When SDSU announced it would field a varsity team, she began to narrow her college choices.
Now she’s a team captain who will compete this weekend in the jumping and sportif portions of the English competition at Kansas State.
Laura Wagner, who runs the Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center in Renner and was Morris’ instructor, went to the scrimmage last Saturday and said there is interest in the horse community as to how SDSU’s equestrian program will develop.
“When we were there, the stands were full,” Wagner said, “and this is just an in-school scrimmage. I was real surprised about that.” . . .
Though today is automatically historical, the team’s goal is to win, not just show up and have fun. . . .
Go State! ;D
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbc...10001/1001/NEWS
SDSU’s equestrian program new, but team able
CHRIS SOLARI
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 10/1/05
BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University’s equestrian team officially begins its quest today to catapult the school into the forefront of the developing sport.
After nearly two years of planning, recruiting and practice, SDSU’s 21st varsity sport debuts against Kansas State University. The Jackrabbits and Wildcats begin competition at 9 a.m. at Fox Creek Stables in Manhattan, Kan.
“The level of enthusiasm here is pretty high, and the work ethic is pretty strong,” said SDSU coach Megan McGee. “We’ve got some competitors here, and I think we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
It’s a dual debut for the Jackrabbits. On one hand, it’s a team’s inaugural competition with all the related stress and questions. But it’s also the debut of a key piece of SDSU’s Division I plan.
Equestrian could end up filling an important role in the athletic department, helping with federal Title IX compliance issues – which mandates gender equity – and putting SDSU on the front edge of a growing sport.
SDSU boasts 26 riders on this inaugural team – 15 from South Dakota – and all have experience showing horses at competitions as individuals. However, this is their first stab as a team sport. In addition to the challenge of mounting horses with which they are not familiar, they also must adjust to the different formats, practice schedules and new coaches.
This competition will be a true test of the women’s abilities. . . .
Sport in growth spurt
The National Collegiate Athletic Association classifies equestrian as an emerging sport. For the NCAA to sponsor a national championship, there must be 40 schools participating at the varsity level. Currently, the schools involved in equestrian hold their own unaffiliated varsity championships, which will be held April 20-22 at a location to be determined. . . .
Equestrian is increasingly attractive for universities in complying with Title IX because the large number of women athletes required can help balance out football on the men’s side.
SDSU also chose equestrian over other sports, such as women’s crew or ice hockey, because of the school’s equine-management program and its fit with the state’s image and history.
Rob Peterson, SDSU’s assistant athletic director, said the equestrian team offers five scholarships this year and has a budget between $325,000 and $350,000. Original estimates put the start-up cost for the program at $400,000.
The Jackrabbits will have four meets this fall, including one at home against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 5 at the Swiftel Center holding barn. They will have six more competitions in the spring, starting Feb. 4 at defending champ South Carolina. . . .
Riders get ready
McGee recruited her 26 riders this year from about 100 candidates and expects the roster to grow to as many as 60 with 15 scholarships by the 2009-10 school year. Slough said Kansas State has about 80 riders now after beginning with 40 in its first season. Sixty riders was the program’s goal when it was announced in April 2004.
The SDSU women practice at the Pegasus Equine Center in Brookings, where they ride three times a week, lift weights, help care for the horses and clean the stables when they finish a workout. . . .
And SDSU’s 22 horses, most donated to the program and some leased, are every bit as integral to the team’s success as the riders.
“They are part of the package,” McGee said. “They’re part of the equipment – that’s living, breathing equipment that eats and needs to be taken care of and needs some training along the way.”
Area girls saddle up
According to NCAA statistics, about 10,500 high school girls compete in the sport.
As for the Jacks, there are the 15 riders from South Dakota as well as riders from North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. There is even one competitor, freshman Allison Carie, from Alaska.
In early 2004, Morris was a junior at Washington High School in Sioux Falls who spent her weekends competing in regional equestrian events. When SDSU announced it would field a varsity team, she began to narrow her college choices.
Now she’s a team captain who will compete this weekend in the jumping and sportif portions of the English competition at Kansas State.
Laura Wagner, who runs the Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center in Renner and was Morris’ instructor, went to the scrimmage last Saturday and said there is interest in the horse community as to how SDSU’s equestrian program will develop.
“When we were there, the stands were full,” Wagner said, “and this is just an in-school scrimmage. I was real surprised about that.” . . .
Though today is automatically historical, the team’s goal is to win, not just show up and have fun. . . .
Go State! ;D