High School Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program participant (Kim Russell)

Lexington, Ky. - June 1 marks the beginning of the new program year for the United State Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equestrian Athlete Lettering program. Available for students in grades five through 12, participants can earn their varsity letter in equestrian sport through the USEF.

The USEF Junior High and High School Equestrian Athlete Lettering Programs require students to record 100 hours of riding time during the program year and verify participation in three competitions. Students who meet the requirements will receive a varsity letterman patch and pin to honor their achievement. These are designed to be worn on existing school lettermen jackets, or any jacket of the athlete's choosing, as a rite of passage and symbol of achievement.

The USEF Junior High School Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program is available for students in grades five through eight. Students in grades nine through 12 are eligible to participate in the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program, and can also apply retroactively for the Junior High program, providing they have met the requirements for each year.

Both programs are open to equestrian athletes participating in all breeds or disciplines who are currently USEF members or become USEF members. The upcoming 2016-2017 program year will kick off on June 1 and run through May 31, 2017. Students just now learning about the program can still sign up for previous years of high school or junior high provided they are still a current student in grades five through 12. For more information, please visit www.usef.org/lettering or email [email protected].