Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to welcome the American National Riding Commission (ANRC), the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA), and the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) as the first three organizations to complete an Education Partner agreement, which will establish a strong foundational relationship between the organizations and US Equestrian to foster future endeavors and programs.

The Education Partner Program was initiated to accomplish two goals focused on broadening participation and education at the collegiate and scholastic levels of equestrian sport. The first is to introduce young equestrians, their parents, and coaches to US Equestrian, and the second is to maintain a connection with collegiate equestrians as they further their education and careers within the equestrian industry.

“Forging new relationships and maintaining existing relationships raises awareness of equestrian sport regardless of the person’s breed or discipline of interest and builds a solid foundation for the future of our sport and organization,” said US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “Through these types of partnerships, we are able to identify talent both in the saddle and in other areas of equestrian sport that will give us the pool of interested and engaged young equestrians to lead the sport into the future.”

Over the last two years, US Equestrian has worked diligently with scholastic and collegiate organizations to refine these relationships and ensure we are providing meaningful and valuable benefits to their audiences by connecting them to the many opportunities available within US Equestrian.

“Being an Educational Partner of US Equestrian is a great way for our organization, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association, to coordinate with the sport’s national governing body in a mutually beneficial way. We appreciate all USEF does for us, especially its efforts to elevate all formats of collegiate and scholastic riding and bring all of us to the table to discuss the future of collegiate equestrian sport, as well as the sport itself,” said Dr. Leah Fiorentino, Executive Director of the NCEA.

Under the Education Partner agreement, these organizations will receive a variety of benefits, including general and event promotion, special awards, recognition, and merchandise, which will assist them in achieving their organizational goals, while also communicating the benefits of both equestrian sport and US Equestrian to their respective members and participants.

“The IDA is thrilled to be partnering with US Equestrian. Part of the IDA’s mission is to provide educational, as well as competitive opportunities, to our members. Being aligned with our nation’s leading equestrian organization will strengthen our mission and help introduce our riders to equestrian sport on another level. USEF’s commitment to providing top-quality education, whether through videos, articles or programs, benefits all of us,” added Ginger Henderson, President of the IDA.

US Equestrian intends to increase the number of organizations within the Education Partner Program and believes in the fundamental value of joining the common interests of equestrians with the overarching vision and mission of US Equestrian, encouraging growth of the sport on a national scholastic and collegiate scale.

"The American National Riding Commission is pleased to join US Equestrian as an educational partner. Partnering with USEF will help to bolster ANRC's mission, growth, and outreach. ANRC programs are designed to encourage riders to pursue knowledge, develop skills, and employ sound horsemanship practices. The unique format of the ANRC National Equitation Championships is an example where education and competition are equally weighed. We are excited about the opportunities and assistance USEF can provide us in showcasing ANRC’s programs and sharing the National Championships with a new and larger audience,” said Patte Zumbrun, Co-Chair of the ANRC Board of Directors.

To learn more about US Equestrian’s Education Partner Program, please contact Bill Moroney and for more information on US Equestrian, please visit www.usef.org.