Amapola Ranch is the home of the UCSB Equestrian Team. 

Overview

The UCSB Equestrian Team attends an average of 10 shows a year during the fall and winter quarters. All of the shows are in southern California from LA to San Diego. The host show provides all of the horses and riders pull the name of a horse that they will be riding right before their ride. There is no warm up, and no practicing on the horses, you must go directly into the show ring. This is to equalize the judging and the shows are judged primarily on the rider's equitation. There are five levels of riders: walk/trot, beginner, novice, intermediate, and open. All of these level compete at equitation flat, and the novice, intermediate and open riders also compete over fences. Your level of ability will be assessed at the beginning of fall quarter. The shows take up most of the weekend and members of the team are expected to compete at as many shows as possible. For each placing, points are associated and the goal is to earn enough points to go to regionals which would mean that you must attend at least six shows. Shows begin even before our fall quarter starts because some schools are on the semester system so we will need to get started right away in fall!

Anyone who would like to join is welcome on the team, and there is a category for people who have never even ridden before. You must provide your own show clothes but horses will be provided for us at shows. There will be at least bimonthly lessons that riders must attend to be on the team. These lessons will be held at Amapola Ranch in Santa Barbara with our team coach Rebecca Atwater who has had years of experience coaching equitation riders.

There will be show fees, club fees, and training fees for each individual that will be posted here later with a breakdown of the prices. The fees for this team will be similar to many of the other equestrian teams we will be competing against. The one thing that we cannot stress enough is the more people that are on the team the less expensive it is for every individual, as many of the fees are charged as a team. We are planning on having some fundraising events next fall and the more people on the team the much easier these fundraisers will be and the lighter the load for every individual.

If you would like to contact either Katie Sievers or Randi Golde who are the co-captains for next year, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Also you may contact Rebecca Atwater at 805-967-0590 or send her a message. Visit Rebecca's website at www.santabarbarastables.com.

Thanks for your interest, we will keep you posted throughout the summer and we hope you see you in the fall!!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join the team?

Just show up! Everyone who would like to be on the team can join, you just need to have an enthusiasm for horses and a good attitude.  There will be no tryouts to be on the team, but as the team grows, the coach will choose individuals to compete at the shows who are best suited for each class and who will be able to get the most points for the team.  However we do believe that everyone should be allowed to participate and rotations in the shows will be made so that everyone has a chance to show.

I haven’t ridden in years or have never had any riding experience, will that be a problem?

There are classes specifically for students who have no riding experience and there are five different divisions for every type or rider to compete in.  There is no prior experience necessary before shows being, each rider will be placed in their respective division based on a questionnaire and the coached discretion.

Do I need to bring my own horse?

If you would like to use your horse for lessons or to donate for the shows it is very much appreciated, but there is no requirement to own a horse.  Many of the riders do not own a horse.  For the shows, students use the host shows horses and during lessons horses will be provided by Amapola Ranch and Santa Barbara Stables.

What equipment do I need for the team?

The only equipment each rider needs is their own personal riding gear such as a hunt coat, show shirt, breeches, riding boots, helmet, and gloves.  However if you do not have all the gear, or need help purchasing some of the equipment, many riders share gloves, and there are many consignment stores in the area where gear can be purchased.  If this is the case, then just contact one of the captains or the coach and we will do our best to find equipment for you to use.

When are the shows, and how much time will the team require of me?

There are about 10 shows during the show season, which are fall and winter quarter that the team attends excluding regionals, zones, and nationals, which riders must qualify to attend.  Shows are on weekends and are generally one day but there are some two day shows.  Riders should expect to spend the most of the weekend at shows.  During the week, the team will be having meetings, fundraisers, and lessons.  Lessons are once a week, and should only take up a few hours of the day total.