Damn, I do hate losing one to Cal Poly.

I think odd is a great way to describe it. I feel like of all the sports to cut equestrian was surprising. I know that cuts happen, but it seemed surprising that was the sport cut. I think some of the reactions to the program being cut have been off the mark and unfair (although I completely get being angry if you are an equestrian team related person), but I would like the university to show more transparency (especially in response to some of the accusations put out against them when it comes to finances for example). I have not seen anything about Cal Poly moving to the NCAA?

I have not seen anything about Cal Poly moving to the NCAA? — Jdur

We toured their program last year. They mentioned working toward becoming an NCAA program.

Well the club team over there is pretty fantastic so that would make sense. I worry/wonder if the Davis announcement of dropping down leads other schools to follow.

Could be the case.

Fresno State Equestrian is currently the only NCAA program in CA.

And political.

The Farm doesn't have a program?

more interesting info from ope.ed.gov website on UC Davis Athletics participants (pdf file part 1), coaching salaries (pdf fille part 2) and revenues/expenses (pdf file part 3).

the game day operating expenses per team is an eye opener.

wow, equestrian total operational expenses is more than basketball! Im sure their supporters will complain that it false and such. Seems like it was an easy cost to cut unfortunately.

I knew it!!! I don’t hate horses or horse riders, but that sport is a budget suck. Good move, made sense. Keep it alive as a club, let the parents manage and fund it.

For those interested, another site that one can use to find financial data is the Knight Newhouse College Athletics Database https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/03/nil-deals-california-college-athletes-sponsorships/.

OML

wow imagine paying all of that out for such pedestrian results

I'm guessing that you're referring to paying a lot for equestrian, and not seeing a string of conference championships?
For only being an ICA team for 10 years, I think equestrian has made steady, if unspectacular progress. Probably no different from many young programs at lots of universities. From a cultural standpoint - our roots in agriculture and vet med - I'm sorry to see it go. But I get the rationale.
And while I think Rocco generally does an excellent job, from what little looking into it I've done, some aspects might have been handled better. There's no easy, painless way to drop a program, so maybe it was the best option available.

This is pretty much my take exactly. I think the eq team has been pretty successful considering its only been d1 for like 9 or 10 years. I think rocko has done a great job overall but this could have been handled better in a lot of ways it seems. My only hope is we get more transparency from the university for both the school, eq families and students sake (beyond that outside report that was mediocre at best in its depth). I think the reactions have had some hit and misses (and some valid points) from both sides, especially considering cutting a program is impossible to be painless, I just hope everything can get more clarity across the board.

I was unclear. I was referring to the NIL spending in the article regarding the Top CA athletics depts like UCLA, CAL etc.

I also found Cal Poly being so far behind UCD, and even Sac St, curious

As far as ag roots, is equestrian superior to polo? We've had some great polo teams.