Our Crowdfunding Groups
Who We Are
The UCLA Equestrian Team is a club sport committed to giving an opportunity to all skill levels to pursue their passion of riding horses. Our tight knit group of 20 student-athletes work incredibly hard to improve their skills throughout the year, driving more than an hour to and from the barn to continuously improve. To show off our hard work we attend five competitions a year, one of which is hosted by our own team. The opportunity to continue our passion even with hectic college life is a testament to our devotion to this sport, one which is so time consuming and expensive.
What Have We Been Up To
The 2023-2024 season has been one for the books! We welcomed an amazing group of talented and hard-working freshmen. Transitioning to a new barn with our amazing trainer Deirdra Davis at Harmony Farms, riders were given the opportunity to blossom into even better equestrians. Our hard work paid off at our shows. Attending 3 back to back to back shows in the Fall, Tess Fleser, our team co-captain qualified for regionals! Our team also won reserve champion at the UCSD show, as well as many of our riders winning very successful ribbons on their own. Lilly Farley, a freshman on our team won her own champion ribbon. After a break in our show schedule, we hosted our very own show. Thanks to the quick thinking and effort of our wonderful exec board and Deirdra we were able to switch venues to an indoor ring, just days prior due to heavy rain predication. At our home show (and final show of the season), Mila Quinonero Koch also qualified for regionals. At regionals both Tess and Mila qualified for zones, which were held at Stanford, and both placed to earn a spot at nationals. These two amazing riders will be traveling to Tyron International Horse Park in North Carolina to compete. All of our riders truly went above and beyond in the ring this year, and it is safe to say we had an incredibly successful show season.
At the end of the day, however, performance in the show ring is not what truly matters. Not only have we been winning blue ribbons, but along the way we have created lifelong friendships. Mucking stalls, grooming muddy horses, and tacking up with each other is built in team bonding. We all cheer each other on from the side of the arena, lend some leather cleaner, and will always have each others backs throughout it all. Traveling to our shows in Arizona and staying in an airbnb together is also always a highlight. Such a strong community of talented, kind athletes is present in our team. From show manager Maille Flynn, to finance queens Yara Sig and Lara Karas, every single one of our riders and team members is vital to the success of our shows.
Why We Need YOUR Help
Unfortunately, the horse world is anything but affordable. Attending shows requires a laundry list of fees, including but not limited to boarding, trailering, feeding, equipment and coaching fees. Paying for these fees out of pocket is expensive, especially for college students. That is why we need your support to help cover some of the costs to support our sport. Donating ensures we are able to travel to Arizona to attend the shows hosted by UofA and ASU. With your generosity we are also able to host our own shows, paying for the venue, horses, trailering, and more. As a club sport, we receive absolutely no funding from UCLA, and rely on YOUR support to keep this team running. Any amount of money you can donate is incredibly appreciated and will not go unnoticed.
From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU to all of our supporters, past and present who have helped this team to become what it is today. We appreciate you and are so grateful. If you are unable to give at this time but would still like to help, please share our story with friends and family. Additionally, any gently used tack such as saddles, girths, bridles or rider apparel is always also very appreciated. For more information on how to donate items, please contact uclaequestrian@gmail.com.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE UCLA FOUNDATION'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS FOR DONORS
Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please click here to learn more about how the UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments.
With your donation of $25 we will be able to buy 2 packages of shavings for our horses to lie down in after a long day of hard work. We want to treat our horses like the unicorns they are, and your contribution will bring us one step closer. (Fully tax-deductible).
With your donation of $50 we will be able to pay for 1 night of boarding at a show. Without our horses we would not be able to do what we do, and giving them a warm, safe place to stay during shows is vital. (Fully tax-deductible).
With your donation of $100 we will be able to pay for (1) horse entries for one full day of showing. This allows us bring one additional horse to our show, meaning four additional riders can compete. As a thank you for your donation, you will receive one UCLA Equestrian baseball cap (Tax-deductible value of $90).
With your donation of $250 we will be able to cover fees for an EMT at one day of our competition. We value both horse and rider safety above all else, and keeping a professional on site at all times allows us to ensure this. As a thank you for your donation, you will receive a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap and personalized video. (Tax-deductible value of $240)
With your donation of $500 we will be able to trailer our horses to and from the show grounds. Transporting our four legged friends is no easy feat, and making sure they arrive without a scratch is critical. As a thank you for your donation, you will receive one UCLA Equestrian baseball cap, a UCLA Equestrian jacket, and a personalized video (Tax-deductible value of $440)
With your donation of $1000 we be able to pay for the arena hire to host our home show. Hosting these shows is a huge feat and being able to both show off our hard work and bond with each other is an invaluable experience. As a MASSIVE thank you for your donation, you will receive a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap, jacket, tumbler, and personalized video. (Tax-deductible value of $920).