PROPOSALS
The Yale Equestrian Team has lobbied for varsity status, and for a renovation of the Yale Polo and Equestrian Center, since 2000. Many of the teams we compete against boast varsity status, and the funding that accompanies it. This allows them extra practice time, pays for a full-time coach, and permits riders who could not otherwise afford it, the opportunity to ride. Yale is at a disadvantage since team members are required to cover their own expenses.
University officials have repeatedly notified us that an on-campus facility is a prerequisite for varsity status. The Yale Polo and Equestrian Center is currently in dilapidated condition, to the extent that the footing will not allow for jumping. The condition of the YPEC also deters potential horse donors; consequentially we rely on school horses for practices and our annual show. The university commissioned an architectural assessment a few years ago, but the price tag they reported was so high that the university has stalled ever since.
Last year the team reinstituted a presence at the YPEC by conducting beginner lessons there, taught by a more experienced member of the team. The lower cost of riding at the YPEC and easier transportation to and from it offer huge benefits to riders just starting out. Still, the YPEC cannot sustain upper-level team members.
Looking to other Yale teams that have recently won varsity status as a model, we see patterns and seek to emulate them to the best of our ability. First, they all have an extensive alumni network behind them, offering both financial support and advice. Second, they have placed well in national competition; the team’s recent rise to the top of the region, along with the individual success of Liz Jordan as Zone 3 Open Champion, bodes well for the future. If you would like to get involved with this project, please contact team president Lauren Noble
Link to 2000 Barn Proposal