Equestrian became an emerging sport for women at the Division I and Division II levels within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1998. Since then, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association was created as a governing body and charged with advancing the sport of Equestrian at the collegiate level. Directed by committees made up of dedicated sports administrators and coaches from member institutions – the NCEA works to progress Equestrian to championship sport status within the NCAA. With 15 Division I teams, one Division II team and five Division III teams, the sport continues to advance as an emerging sport for women. In addition, six teams at the Division I and Division II levels report Equestrian as a varsity sport to the NCAA but are not considered current competing members of the NCEA.
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association competes in a head-to-head format where one rider from each team competes on the selected horse and the highest score wins a point for their team. During the regular season, the home institution provides the horses and tack for the meet. Dual Discipline competitions include western and jumping seat events, while Single Discipline competitions only include jumping seat events. On the western side, riders compete in horsemanship and reining. On the jumping seat, side riders compete in fences and flat. At the end of the meet, the team with the highest point total wins – in the case of a tie the team, with the highest raw score wins.
The first NCEA Championship was held in Waco, Texas in 2002. The Overall Champion was Texas A&M, the Hunt Seat Champion was Georgia and the Western Champion was West Texas A&M. The NCEA Championships continued to have an Overall, Hunt Seat, and Western Champion until 2014. From 2014 until 2017, only an Overall National Champion was crowned – still including the western and jumping seat events. During the 2017-18 season, Sweet Briar College became the first Division III team to join the NCEA as well as the first single discipline team only having jumping seat and no western team. The 2018 and 2019 Championships included a dual discipline overall champion as well as an event champions in fences, flat, horsemanship and reining. After the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 National Championship, the 2021 Championship included a Dual Discipline National Championship and a Single Discipline National Championship which is the format we still see this weekend.
The 2022 National Championship marked the NCEA’s first National Championship at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
CLICK HERE to view the digital program for the 2023 NCEA National Championship.
CLICK HERE for more information from NCEA.
