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Our crowdfunding campaign has ended, but you can still support the UCLA Equestrian Team by clicking here.
Who We Are
The UCLA Equestrian Team is comprised of more than 30 highly motivated undergraduate women who share a love of horses and dedicate several hours a week to riding lessons, horse care, and representing UCLA at Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competitions throughout Southern California and Arizona. This year we are proud to present both our Hunt Seat Team and our new Western Team. We are looking forward to a successful season in both disciplines with this incredibly talented group of horses and riders!
What We Need
The proceeds of our SPARK campaign will go towards practice and competition equipment for the UCLA Equestrian Team, including saddles, bridles, girths, and our other immediate tack needs. Primarily, the $10,000 we hope to raise via our project will go towards at least two new English saddles for our team horses. Saddles are costly, and can range in price from $1,500 to nearly $9,000 new. However, these saddles will prove to be an invaluable investment in our team's success. With any leftover funds, we plan to purchase other equipment suited for our horses, such as saddle pads, bridles, bits, and girths.
We understand that $10,000 is a large fundraising goal. However, even a donation as small as $10 goes a long way towards our team's improvement. A donation of $25 can buy a new practice saddle pad for our team horses to wear during lessons, and donations of $50 to $100 are more than enough to provide a new bit, girth, several pairs of spurs, or possibly a bridle. We truly appreciate any donation to the team, and no gift is too small. We are so grateful for any and all contributions, as each has the potential to increase our team's success and the well-being of our equine athletes.
Why We Need New Equipment
Over the 2016-2017 season, the team grew from a mere seven riders to more than twenty, and we have an even larger group of talented riders for the 2017-2018 season. Our team has not only grown in size, but has also moved from being a relatively unknown team to finishing as the Reserve Champion Team (Second Overall) for IHSA Zone 8, Region 2. Our riders consistently qualify for post-season competition, with several placing in the top ten at the national level.
This season, our team has the potential to make it to the national level again, but first we must address our immediate equipment needs--especially as we try to compete with other colleges that boast particularly well-funded equestrian programs. Our saddles are heavily used, and have become too worn, too old, and are no longer a proper fit for our horses and riders. We faced this problem as a team of only 7 riders, and now that we have a versatile group of more than 30 riders and nearly 10 horses in our program, the need for new equipment has been intensified. Some of our practice saddles are missing key features that allow our riders to practice safely and effectively, and must be retired this season. New equipment will give us the competitive edge we need to succeed in the 2017-2018 season, with the ultimate goal of reaching the national level of competition. Moreover, Los Angeles has a rich tradition of equestrian sports, and any donation will help keep this tradition alive, allowing for many more UCLA students, along with the broader UCLA community, to experience this wonderful sport.
Thank You!
We would like to thank all of our families, friends, alumni, fans, and the wonderful staff at UCLA for their continued support of the UCLA Equestrian Team. We truly could not do it without you. Even if you would not like to donate to our SPARK campaign at this time, we welcome donations of gently used saddles, bridles, girths, and other equipment and show apparel such as hunt coats and boots. Please email us at uclaequestrian@gmail.com for any tack-related donations.
We're grate-"foal" for your support! Thank you.
Your generosity will be acknowledged on one of our UCLA Equestrian social media pages. Thank you for your support!
Expect to hear from us, English-level donors! You will receive a formal "thank you" note from the UCLA Equestrian Team.
You will receive a personal note from an Executive Member of the UCLA Equestrian Team. Thank you for your generosity!
Get ready to hear from the President, herself! You will receive a personal letter from the President of UCLA Equestrian, AND a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap. (A tax-deductible donation of $220)
We hope you like personalized video messages, because you're getting one from the UCLA Equestrian Team! You'll also receive a coveted UCLA Equestrian baseball cap. (A tax-deductible donation of $470)
Your generosity is making us warm-blooded with gratitude! You will receive a personalized video message from the UCLA Equestrian Team, a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap, and a UCLA Equestrian Shirt. (A tax-deductible donation of $940)
You champion the UCLA Equestrian Team, and we are going to recognize that with a meet & greet with the entire team! You'll also receive a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap and shirt. (A tax-deductible donation of $2440)
Blue means "First Place" to us, and you've definitely earned it! Your donation will land you a private barn tour of our training facilities, plus a meet & greet with the UCLA Equestrian Team and our horses! You can also expect a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap and shirt. (A tax-deductible donation of $3840)
You are going for the gold by supporting the UCLA Equestrian Team! Your generosity will be acknowledged with a Meet/Greet BBQ lunch hosted at our stables, followed by a private tour and interaction with our horses. You will also receive a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap and shirt. (A tax-deductible donation of $4700)
You are the truest of true, supporting our gold and blue! As a True Bruin donor, you will be invited to participate in a horseback riding lesson with the UCLA Equestrian Team. Additionally, we will host a Meet & Greet BBQ in your honor, and offer a private tour of our stables. You will also be given a UCLA Equestrian baseball cap and shirt. (A tax-deductible donation of $9600)