National Collegiate Equestrian Association

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA), formerly known as Varsity Equestrian, is one of the governing bodies for the various types of American college women's equestrian sports. NCEA is headquartered in Waco, Texas.

It was organized in 1998, and sponsors an annual national championship event for its member institutions. Currently the NCEA has twenty-three member colleges and universities that sponsor women's equestrian teams that participate in intercollegiate competition.

Schools are organized throughout the year into season schedules that allow for head-to-head competitions resulting in ranking and seeding for the national title.

Typically, five varsity riders compete against the opposing team. Home team schools can delegate the number of junior varsity riders that may accompany the varsity team to compete as well.

One rider from each school is randomly paired and assigned a horse to then compete in a “head-to-head” match. Competitors are matched to a horse belonging to the home team and are allowed to watch sanctioned warm-ups where horses are schooled over fences as well as warmed up for the flat test to be performed. Riders are then given four minutes for English events as well as horsemanship, and five minutes for reining. Riders competing in Equitation over Fences are allowed to take four practice fences within the four minutes of warm-ups. If the rider jumps more than four fences, she is disqualified from the show.

Whichever rider earns the highest score on that horse wins the head-to-head match and scores a point for that team. Neither team receives the point if the two riders are given a tie score. If there is a tie in the overall competition, raw scores given by the judge are added up and used to determine the winner. In some cases, the lowest score from each team may be dropped.

Equitation on the Flat

Riders selected to compete in Equitation on the Flat demonstrate a predetermined test that is performed in a dressage arena measuring 20 meters by 40 meters. The riders must demonstrate a precise, well executed and accurate test while staying in harmonious balance with the horse they’ve drawn to compete upon.

Testing is judged on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 meaning "not performed" and 10 marking "excellent". Riders will perform nine required movements and a final judge's test. The highest score a rider can receive is 100, and will receive marks for their overall correctness and position throughout the test.

Equitation over Fences

Riders selected to compete in Equitation over Fences will show over a course of eight to ten fences in which the rider must navigate the correct course as well as maintain proper body positioning throughout the round. The rider should be able to have a consistent pace around the course and be able to safely jump over the fences without stopping or falling from her horse.

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