Organization of Club

All you need to get started is a group of ambitious students with a common interest. Teams usually will be formed from a parent club (Equestrian Club, Horseman's Association, etc.), which is the official recognized entity at the college. This is done because most colleges will more easily recognize and sanction official representative teams as a "club sport" rather than a completely disassociated team. Varsity equestrian teams are pretty rare in most areas of the country, but there are a few, and that is certainly a good long-term goal for any team.

Club vs. Team

The advantage of being a club sport rather than a disassociated team is that you will get a good deal of organizational and leadership support, and support services like motor pool access, etc. Club sport status also gets you a lot of free publicity through the club sport or intramural sport office, campus directories, etc., making it easier to find and attract new members for your team. Also, once your team is established it will make it much easier to secure subsidy funding from the college. Another advantage would be having a formal club constitution and by-laws on file with the college -- everybody understands what is expected, and there is a regulating body who holds the by-laws. In the unlikely event the club gets into a problem bigger than can be internally settled, the club sport office (or whoever you are registered with) can help your organization mediate a solution. This offers a good deal of long-term stability and continuity for the future of the organization. Finally, you probably will find that your institution simply requires club registration -- you won't have a choice.

Also, with the new NCAA Gender Equity policies, it is more common for colleges to name varsity women's equestrian teams. This will likely be the trend in the future although it is still rare now. Most of the Division I varsity teams are concentrated in the South and Southwest.