Clubs and Teams
More about our Clubs and Teams
Click the name of a club/team below to learn more information:
UK Dressage Team
The UK Dressage Team competes with other colleges in the region. Team members will either ride a dressage test in front of a judge or will ride in dressage seat equitation. Dressage seat equitation is a flat class with other riders in that level; riders are judged solely on equitation and not the patterns of a test.
A student can get involved by coming to meetings and joining the team for events. The team has riders from all different backgrounds and styles of riding, and loves to learn from each other to grow as riders and as people. The team would love to get to know you and welcome you to the family!
Advisor: Jill Stowe, jill.stowe@uky.edu
UK Equestrian Team
UK's Equestrian Team has both hunt seat and western disciplines represented.
IHSA Hunt Seat Team
The team competes in the hunt seat portion of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which is an organization that allows college riders to compete on a regional and national level. The team needs riders at all levels who can compete in everything from first-year beginner walk trot to the most advanced open fences class. During the year we show at eight to ten regular season shows (four to six a semester). The team is based out of Champagne Run Farm.
The team decides on members solely based on tryouts. This allows everyone who participates in tryouts to be given a chance to make the team without any bias. The team has an informational meeting during the first week of classes every fall. More information about this will be posted on the team’s social media pages closer to the time. This meeting will give out more specifics about the team for that year and allow for tryout sign-up.
Advisor: Meghan Wulster-Radcliffe, meghan.wulster-radcliffe@uky.edu
Uk.equestrianteam@gmail.com
Facebook: UKY Equestrian Team
IHSA Western Seat Team
The team requires weekly lessons in Paris and three shows per semester. If you qualify for regionals, semifinals and/or nationals you will continue to have lessons and compete in those shows as well. To get involved with the team, reach out via the social media accounts linked below and come to the team’s first meeting.
The team is very proud of its members and the fact that several riders qualify for semifinals every year! The team is associated with Bennie Sargent Quarter Horses and host home shows at Lakeside Arena.
No experience is needed to join the team. If you are interested, the team’s coaches will teach you everything you need to know!
Advisor: Meghan Wulster-Radcliffe, meghan.wulster-radcliffe@uky.edu
Ukwesternequestrian@gmail.com
Facebook: UKY Western IHSA Team
UK Eventing Team
This University of Kentucky Eventing team competes in the Intercollegiate Eventing League at sanctioned U.S. Eventing Association events. Students can join the team by messaging any of the team social media pages.
In order to ride on the team you must have your own horse. However, we offer a social membership for students who do not have access to a horse but want to be involved in the eventing community. We do not require tryouts nor do we have a specific barn related to the team. All of our members are at surrounding Lexington farms and are allowed to train with the coach of their choosing.
We host an Intercollegiate Challenge at Jumpstart Horse Trials every year. We also host multiple schooling jumper shows throughout the year. Joining the UK Eventing team is a great way to meet lots of like-minded individuals and have access to a variety of opportunities, both in and out of the saddle!
Advisor: Jill Stowe, jill.stowe@uky.edu
ukeventing@gmail.com
Facebook: UK Eventing
UK Horse Racing Club
The purpose of the club is to promote and educate members about the Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding industry. The club also takes pride in providing networking opportunities within the Thoroughbred industry.
The club takes monthly trips to different Thoroughbred farms or industry destinations which normally include a tour of the facility and time to ask questions as well as network with those who work there. This club provides you an incredible opportunity to see some of the world’s best racing athletes as well get your own interactive experience and pictures of some of the horses usually only being seen on the television.
Advisor: Laurie Lawrence, llawrenc@uky.edu
Facebook: UKY Horse Racing Club
UK Polo Team
UK Polo is a club sport that focuses on practicing the sport of horse polo. Inside the student-run program, there are members from different parts of the country and the globe.
UK polo has a string of top-of-the-line polo ponies, which are used for games, practices and lessons. The men’s and women’s varsity teams compete year-round against other university teams in tournaments across the country representing the University of Kentucky.
The program has members of all levels and backgrounds. The team conducts polo clinics, one-to-one polo and riding lessons and teaches important horsemanship skills. Members greatly enjoy sharing their passion for horses and polo with anyone that is interested to try something new and different. They accept new members who have never ridden horses before right alongside their polo-playing peers; Polo is a sport for everyone!
The team only requires tryouts for players interested in playing in the men’s and women’s varsity teams. Any new member has access to riding and playing while being accompanied by experienced members to help them develop their riding and polo skills. The only requisite is to be willing to learn and have fun!
Some of the team’s main events include open to public polo exhibition games on Saturdays in February - May, fundraisers and its semi-annual Polo Ball. Information for these upcoming events can be found through their Instagram, Facebook, and website. The easiest way to get involved with UK Polo is to contact the team through any of its social media platforms - or the website and email - and their members would be happy to introduce you to the program!
Advisor: Roger Brown, rogerbrown@uky.edu
wildcatukpolo@gmail.com
Facebook: U of Kentucky Polo
UK Rodeo Team
The University of Kentucky Rodeo Team competes in the Ozark region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, NIRA. Through NIRA, the team’s students can compete in events such as saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, barrel racing, goat tying, steer wrestling, tie-down roping and team roping. Rodeo for many of the team’s members, is an outlet where they can escape the stress over classes and enjoy doing something they love. The team has students from all corners of the United States with different backgrounds and disciplines. The rodeo family at UK is continuously growing and is dedicated to taking the team to the next level. The team practices at Mark Wilks and Hodge Arena.
To get involved in the team, students can follow the team on Facebook at University of Kentucky Rodeo Team or on Instagram at UKrodeoteam. The team will have an informational meeting the first few weeks of school for students to come learn more about the team and join. You can also check out our website https://www.ukyrodeoteam.com.
Advisor: Maggie Maynard, maggie.maynard@uky.edu
ukrodeoteam@gmail.com
Facebook: UKY Rodeo Team
UK Saddle Seat Team
UK Saddle Seat is a club sports team that competes in saddle seat style riding competitions with surrounding Kentucky colleges and universities.
Typically, the team practices once per week and competes five times throughout the school year.
The team loves to have team dinners, tack-cleaning parties and other get-togethers to promote a close-knit team feel. No previous saddle seat experience is required, and everyone is encouraged to join this fun-loving, friendly, and competitive team.
Not only will participants grow as riders and get to compete at the collegiate level, but they will also make some new friends in the process! The team encourages everyone interested to take a lesson and try it out. The team has a range of members, from those who have never ridden before to those who have won world championship titles.
The team hosts an informational meeting at the beginning of the year explaining everything about the team, and anyone interested is invited to come learn more about what being a part of the team is all about. No riding experience or try-outs are required to join. If you have more questions, feel free to DM the team on social media or email members at uksaddleseatteam@gmail.com.
The team hosts two horse shows per season, one in the fall and one in the spring. These events are super fun and feature a silent auction and a concession stand. Families and friends are all encouraged to come watch and enjoy the show.
Advisor: Mary Rossano, mary.rossano@uky.edu
uksaddleseatteam@gmail.com
Facebook: UKY Saddleseat Team