US Equestrian’s vision is to bring the joy of horses to as many people as possible. One population that is quickly growing in the horse world is the school-aged equestrian population. With this growth in mind, let’s take a few moments to look at US Equestrian’s Interscholastic Athlete Program.
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The Interscholastic Athlete Program is for equestrians in grades 5-12.
The Interscholastic Athlete Program is specifically designed for middle and high school students.
“Recognizing and celebrating young athletes not only acknowledges their hard work and dedication, but also fuels their passion and potential,” said Emily McSweeney, USEF’s Director of National Breeds and Disciplines Operations. “Every accolade and moment of encouragement is a building block in their journey toward success. Interscholastic sports teach young people more than just athletic skills; they instill discipline, teamwork, and resilience, all qualities that shape their future and prepare them for success in all aspects of life.”
To join the Interscholastic Athlete program, an athlete need only be a USEF subscribing member, however, if an athlete is a competing member at USEF-licensed events, they are also eligible!
It is also important to note that if you are just hearing about this for the first time, it is not too late to apply! Students are permitted to submit applications that cover previous years. For example, a student getting involved in the Interscholastic Athlete Program in grade 10 can also submit applications for grades 5-9, as long as they are able to provide the required documentation for each year.
2. Your hard work, both in training and in the competition ring, is recognized.
The program allows middle and high school students to receive patches and pins for their involvement in equestrian sport. Typically, these patches and pins would go on the letterman jacket awarded at the high school level.
“Because equestrian sport is so extracurricular, a lot of schools don't have an efficient way to chronicle a student’s participation in this sport,” said Lexie Stovel, USEF’s National Breeds and Disciplines Program Manager. “The Interscholastic Athlete Program allows for an efficient way to track an equestrian’s achievements.”
At the completion of an applicant’s first year in the program, an Interscholastic Athlete patch and pin are awarded, along with a recognition letter from USEF President Tom O’Mara. As an applicant completes each additional year’s application, they will receive an additional Interscholastic Athlete pin. (Applicants only receive a patch for their first junior high and high school year in the program.)
“It’s up to the discretion of the individual school whether students receive a school varsity letter,” added McSweeney. “Our hope is that schools across the nation will utilize this program as a way of recognizing the hard work and athleticism it takes to be an equestrian at the junior level.”
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The application process is easy to submit online!
Applicants for the Interscholastic Athlete Program are going to need the following:
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Proof of school enrollment and
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An hour log or
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Competition verification form.
The first requirement is proof of school enrollment. This could come in the form of a report card, transcript, or certification of enrollment in a homeschooling program. Verification must include the student’s name, institution name/homeschool designation, grade, and grade year.
The next requirement is either an hour log or three competition verifications.
If an applicant is completing an hour log, they must record a minimum of 100 hours of activity to be accepted into the program. This can include riding, lessons, lunging, driving, vaulting, hacking, trail riding, ground driving, and riding at competitions. Barn chores, grooming, tacking up, stall cleaning, cleaning tack, and driving to competitions cannot be recorded on the activity log. No more than five hours per day can be recorded. Applicants can record any hours or competitions during the program year (June 1 - May 31), regardless of when they signed up.
If an applicant is a competing junior member, they can send verification of competition in at least three competitions in one year. Competition results or other proof of competition for USEF-licensed and non-USEF-licensed shows (AQHA, 4-H, Pony Club, IEA, etc.) are accepted as a part of the application.
"The placing itself doesn't matter," Stovel explained. "We want to make submitting results or proof of competing easy for participants."
Competition results must include the date and name of the competition and the participant's name. Entry forms with scratches or cancelled classes cannot be accepted.
All documentation can be submitted easily through the student's online USEF Dashboard. After an application is sent in, participants will receive an email with more program details.
An application and $20 application fee must be submitted for each year of participation. Documentation can be submitted at members.usef.org/lettering/manage/dashboard.
Finally, it is important to note that there is no application deadline, with the lone exception of graduating seniors. If you are a graduating senior, your documentation must be received at the USEF office by June 15. Keep in mind that application processing time often reaches two weeks by the end of the program, so early submission is encouraged.
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The Interscholastic Program came about from the former Lettering Program.
In 2021, US Equestrian made the strategic decision to rebrand the former Lettering program into the new Interscholastic Program.
The three goals of the rebrand were to create consistency by aligning with language used for education partners, recognize participants as athletes, and align branding with US Equestrian graphic standards.
As part of the rebranding process, Stovel and McSweeney hope to provide students with more resources regarding starting an equestrian club at their school, further expanding the program's reach.
“These will be really helpful resources for kids,” McSweeney said. “They can go to their athletic director or their counselor and ask to be recognized. We'll offer them the materials, but then it's up to them to follow through those steps and try to push forward for a program with their school.”
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Pins and Patches are just the beginning for the Interscholastic Program.
Recognition is a key component of the Interscholastic Program, but it is only one part of the overall vision for the program.
“We definitely see the program evolving,” McSweeney said. “We're looking into more materials to get kids ready for college, such as additional trainings, resume builders, and college search functions.”
Additional information and frequently asked questions about the Interscholastic Program can be found:
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US Equestrian’s website - https://www.usef.org/interscholastic.
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Frequently Asked Questions - https://www.usef.org/interscholastic_faq.
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Email – [email protected]
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Phone - 859-258-2472.