The University of Kansas Equestrian Team practices weekly at ZeZe Equine in Louisburg, Kansas, about an hour from campus, where members build strong bonds with teammates, coaches, and horses. Competing in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA), the team travels to several shows annually, with recent individual successes such as Ashley Herbstreit placing second at regionals. Despite the sport’s high costs and the team’s status as a club sport without university funding, members actively fundraise through partnerships, bake sales, and sponsorships to support travel, training, and competition expenses.

Team members, including vice president and soon-to-be president Herbstreit, emphasize the joy and camaraderie found in riding and competing together. Many riders do not own horses and train on shared horses at ZeZe’s Equine under trainer Rachel Kruse, who values the opportunity to help riders improve on different horses. Looking ahead, the team aims to increase fundraising efforts to attend more competitions and continue fostering growth and connection among riders and horses alike.