I don't think the band will be there. The band performed at the fall scrimmage, but hadn't been formed as of last spring.

As for equestrian (a legitimate NCAA varsity sport), FAU could put together a national championship team in no time. There is so much talent in Palm Beach County - especially in the Wellington area (35 miles away), much of which already has educational ties to FAU - that a team could make great strides very quickly. It would be Florida's only varsity NCAA equestrian sport. Many local kids go out of state to ride. Even UF does not have a varsity team.

I am sure an FAU team would get great support from the Wellington area and south county horse industry. A couple of posh fund-raisers and it would be set, probably at little or no long term cost to FAU. The facilities are many. Maybe Georgina Bloomberg wold join and her mayor-mogul dad would just write a check for the program. She's already in Wellington, along with many Olympic team members.

'Anybody at FAU listening?

BMarkey, as I was reading this thread I was forming your exact statement in my head before I read it.

Why doesn't FAU have an equestrian team??? What about Polo? Is that an NCAA sport? Palm Beach is the Horse Mecca, we could be tops in the US in no time.

Polo is also an NCAA sport. At least it has a national championship, etc. UVA was always a contender.

Polo would be much more expensive to field because each of the four players on a team (assuming there are no subs) needs at least two horses. Pro players each use six or more horses per game (six chukkers or periods).

A polo field is 10 times the size of a football field and is expensibve to maintain, although I assume field use could be donated by Royal Palm Polo (west Boca), International Polo in Wellington, Gulfstream Polo or one of the many private field near Wellington.

Horses would also have to be transported to away games - some really far trips.

In college hunter-jumper events, the host school provides the horses so that no one team has an advantage. I would assume many horses could be donated (their use), and many of the riders would bring their own horses (including some serious national and international talent).

I honestly beblieve FAU could win any national title within a year or two, just by signing talent already riding in the Wellington area (and possibly already attending FAU or other area schools).

One more thought - an equestrian team (tends to be mainly women) would help out FAU greatly with Title 9 requirements.

Isn't West Palm the Polo capital of the U.S my god. Markey we posted stuff about this last year sometime. What the hell is wrong with the people running the show. They really need to get there heads out of there butts. You even mention a NCAA Polo and or Equestrian program and the support will be there. Money, equipment. Someone needs to open the eyes of these guys because what FAU needs is sitting right in front of them. Like I said in another post the marketing sucks and the Athletic director needs to open his eyes. I think Oklahoma and a couple of other schools have Rodeo as a sanctioned NCAA Sport.

Sorry to go on but this is so obvious it gets sickening.

Equestrian has been investigated.

Don't tell me a horse has been linked to BALCO labs with Barry.. ;)
Just kidding.

What were the findings by the committee? Is it feasible?

If it was really that cut and dry don't you think the University of Florida (located right in the middle of horse country) would sponsor it? They have plenty of money and are set- even with a Vet school.

Who would the team compete against? How do they get there? Flights are expensive. Scholarships are expensive. They would have to hire a coach. FAU can't pay to keep coaches right now.

Bottom line is FAU can't properly fund the sports it sponsors right now. There is not enough money to go around . It wouldn't make sense to add this sport right now. The individuals that looked into this didn't have anyone lining up to pick up the bill. Remember this isn't a one year commitment- it is annual.

So sportsparadise who investigated the feasibility of the equestrian program. This is the first I've heard, just curious.

Two seperate groups outside of the athletic department. They were connected to the horse community in Palm Beach County.

Both wanted FAU to start a program but neither could bring back the financial support.

>>If it was really that cut and dry don't you think the University of Florida (located right in the middle of horse country) would sponsor it? They have plenty of money and are set- even with a Vet school. <<

UF has an equestrian team, but it does not compete as a varsity sport. The costs are already there, but for some unknown reason, the team does not compete with the likes of Auburn, South Carolina, etc. UF has access to some horses (Ocala area), but not excellent facilities.

>>Who would the team compete against? How do they get there? Flights are expensive. Scholarships are expensive. They would have to hire a coach. FAU can't pay to keep coaches right now.<<

Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, several programs in Virginia and North Carolina (including Virginia Intermont, St. Andrews) and others. Teams are small. The horses DO NOT travel, so costs might be equal to or less than, say, the tennis team.

Coaching should not be a problem. A coach could be, for the most part, part time. FAU would have access to hundreds of good trainers - some world class trainers and maybe even some who would do it at a low cost or even for free initially.

Again, my assumption is that world-class facilities could be had for a very low cost.

Some (perhaps all) riders would join without scholarships. Many (not my daughter) are already wealthy. Their parents might even become important FAU donors.

>>Bottom line is FAU can't properly fund the sports it sponsors right now. There is not enough money to go around . It wouldn't make sense to add this sport right now. The individuals that looked into this didn't have anyone lining up to pick up the bill. Remember this isn't a one year commitment- it is annual.<<

And your source for this feasibility study? I follow the horse industry pretty closely and heard nothing about it. Perhaps those who looked into this did not talk to the people in the know in Wellington and environs.

Imagine the prestige a national title and connection to world class riders and Olympians this addition would bring to FAU.

Oh yeah, Troy has rodeo and gets a lot of support from the local cattlemen. Troy really pinches pennies, so if the Trojans can do it …