UC Davis Equestrian Team Petitions for Reinstatement of D1 Team
Team photo courtesy of Parents of the UC Davis NCEA D1 Equestrian Team.
UC Davis has announced big changes to their sport sponsorship team for 2026-2027, and the changes blindsided the equestrian team and all involved.
“UC Davis Athletics is terminating their D1 Equestrian team after this semester,” explains equestrian Taylor Hinely. “This has come as a complete shock to the team, coaching staff, and recruits. They intend to replace them with stunt cheer.”
Ada Hirschfeld, a rider on the UC Davis Equestrian Team adds, “This decision doesn’t just affect our team, it impacts the entire horse industry by limiting pathways for riders, trainers, vets, and professionals coming up through collegiate programs. We’ve created a petition in hopes of saving it.”
The petition link is below, and the official press release from UC Davis Athletics follows.
https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-the-uc-davis-d1-ncea-equestrian-team
UC Davis Athletics Announces Sport Sponsorship Updates Effective in the 2026-27 Academic Year
DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Athletics announced today a strategic adjustment to its sport sponsorship model that will take effect beginning in the 2026–27 academic year.
Equestrian will transition from varsity status to club sport status, and STUNT will be elevated from club sport status to NCAA varsity status beginning in July 2026.
“These decisions were made following extensive external and internal analysis and thoughtful collaboration with campus leadership,” said Rocko DeLuca, Director of Athletics. “As the landscape of Division I athletics continues to evolve, it is important that we regularly evaluate how we best align our resources to support student-athletes, advance gender equity, and position UC Davis Athletics for long-term success. Our student-athletes across the board—including those in Equestrian—are dedicated, talented, and driven. They represent UC Davis with tremendous pride and excellence.”
UC Davis engaged a third-party consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive sport sponsorship review that examined competitive alignment, student-athlete participation, academic performance, Title IX considerations, and financial sustainability. That analysis highlighted several sport-specific realities, including the fact that UC Davis is one of only 14 Division I institutions nationally that sponsor dual discipline Equestrian under the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA).
Since 1998, Equestrian has been classified as an NCAA Emerging Sport, without a defined pathway toward NCAA championship sponsorship or expansion in Division I participation. Conversely, STUNT is now an NCAA Championship-sponsored sport, offering a more stable regional and nationally aligned competitive structure.
The transition of Equestrian to club sport status will allow interested students to continue competing while aligning institutional investment with competitive realities. UC Davis will sponsor Equestrian as a varsity program through the 2025–26 academic year, and the department will coordinate with affected student-athletes to provide guidance and support during the transition. All current athletics-related financial aid for Equestrian student-athletes will be honored and maintained throughout their undergraduate degree completion at UC Davis. Student-athletes will also continue to receive academic, medical, and related support services during the varsity sponsorship period. All coaches’ contracts will also be honored through their current terms.
The elevation of STUNT to NCAA varsity status reflects UC Davis’s commitment to expanding competitive opportunities for women and strengthening gender equity across Athletics. STUNT is one of the fastest-growing women’s sports both in the state of California and nationally. STUNT will compete as an NCAA Championship sport beginning in 2026-27.
