The University of
Kentucky has many club and team activities for students
interested in horses including:
The University of
Kentucky does not offer courses in riding but it does
have active Equestrian and Dressage Teams. Both teams
are club sports at the University of Kentucky which
means that they are extracurricular activities supported
financially by their members. Because they are club
sports and not Varsity sports, the University of Kentucky
does not provide horses or a riding coach for the Equestrian
team or the Dressage team. The University of Kentucky
does not have a riding facility or a boarding facility.
Both teams make arrangements with local riding professionals
for instruction and coaching.
The UK
Equestrian Team is open to all University
of Kentucky students. Approximately 20 to 30 students
are actively involved in the UKET each year. Most
club members do not own their own horses. The primary
activity of the UKET is to compete in horse shows
sponsored by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
two or three times a semester. The IHSA is a national
organization. Only full-time undergraduate students
in good academic standing are eligible to compete.
At all IHSA shows, competitors ride horses provided
by a host college and compete in either stock seat
(Western) or hunter seat equitation. The shows
are structured so that students of all ability
levels can ride. Beginning riders can compete in
walk-trot classes whereas experienced riders can
compete in classes involving jumping or reining.
Students with horses usually board at a local stable.
Because the University of Kentucky does not operate
a riding program, our students always travel to
another college to compete at IHSA shows.
The Dressage
Team promotes education and competition
in the equestrian discipline of dressage. Club
activities include fundraising, clinics, regular
training, community service and outreach and travel
to competitions. Members of the Dressage Team compete
in teams of four riders against schools from across
the nation through the Interscholastic Dressage
Association.
The UK Horse
Judging Team consists of undergraduate
students from agricultural and non-agricultural
majors, who are interested in testing their judging
skills at national competitions or who want to
learn more about judging horses in a show environment.
The team meets once a week throughout the fall
and spring semester to sharpen their judging skills
by visiting farms, local horse shows and watching
videos. Students then have the opportunity to travel
to intercollegiate horse judging contests such
as the Quarter Horse Congress, U.S. Arabian Nationals
and the American Quarter Horse World Show where
they compete against teams from other universities
around the nation. Credit is available in the fall
semester for the Horse Judging Team.
The UK Horse Racing
Club was formed in 2004. The purpose of the club is
to help educate students about the horse racing industry.
Lexington is the home to one thoroughbred and one standardbred
racetrack and hundreds of farms that focus on raising
race horses. Students interact with the racing industry
through guest speakers at regular club meetings and
field trips to area farms, horse related businesses,
horse sales and race meets. Recent field trips include
visits to the Keeneland Fall Yearling Sale and Three
Chimneys Farm.
Students interested
in pursing careers in veterinary medicine may want
to join the Pre-Vet Club.
The Pre-Vet Club is a pre-professional student organization
that stimulates interest in veterinary medicine and
provides useful information for students that want
to become veterinarians. The club hosts speakers on
interesting topics in veterinary medicine, takes field
trips and helps develop a realistic idea of vet school
and veterinary careers. The Pre-Vet Club also posts
internships and jobs so that students are aware of
opportunities within the veterinary community. Members
interact with professors at UK and professionals in
the community who can be valuable resources as you
progress through school and ultimately your career.
The UK Block
and Bridle Club is a chapter of the National
Block and Bridle organization (http://www.blockandbridle.org/).
Block and Bridle is dedicated to enhancing opportunities
for students interested in the animal sciences.
An important component is providing students interested
in various aspects of the livestock industry with
an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills.
Members may participate in activities such as the
Little North American, where students learn to
prepare and show different types of animals and
the academic quadrathlon, a competition that allows
students to showcase their animal science knowledge
and skills. The winning UK team is eligible to
travel to the Southern Section meeting of the American
Society of Animal Science and compete against teams
from other colleges and universities. Block and
Bridle is also active in community service projects
and various fundraising and social events. Members
may also attend the annual National Block and Bridle
Club Convention.
