Who We Are
Our Story
The UCLA Equestrian Team is a club sport directed out of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). We are a group of students dedicated to horsemanship and equitation as well as academics. Education, teamwork, and care for our equine friends are our top priorities. Our mission is to provide undergraduate UCLA students with the opportunity to participate in hunt seat horseback riding lessons and competitions where they may improve and showcase their skills via a warm, welcoming environment.
As part of Zone 8 Region 2 of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), we compete in shows all around southern California and in Arizona and the discipline of equitation, which judges the position of the rider and their navigation around the ring or course. A unique feature of IHSA competitions is that they are performed in a catch-riding format. This means that riders pick a number out of a hat and then ride the corresponding horse without a prior warm-up. Catch-riding allows for riders to compete without needing to own or lease their own horse and tests their ability to adapt to different kinds of mounts. In this way, the equestrian world becomes more accessible.
Our Coach
Deirdra Davis - Harmony Farms LLC
The UCLA Equestrian team is coached by Deirdra Davis and trains out of her amazing facility at N. Middle Ranch in Lake View Terrace, CA. This is Deirdra's first year as the team coach but she has over 25 years of training experience. She's also a native of Los Angeles and a USHJA-certified trainer. Her barn, Harmony Farm, is 30 minutes from campus and neighbors Hansen Dam Horse Park, the location of our CA horse shows.
