The decision to eliminate the UC Davis Division I NCEA Women's Equestrian Team was not based on necessity.

It was based on manipulated financial data.

On January 9, Athletic Director Rocko DeLuca announced that our 3-time championship-winning equestrian team—one of the highest-performing academically across all athletics, at a university renowned for agriculture and veterinary science—would be cut and replaced by STUNT. His statement included claims about the state of NCEA competition, our ability to transition to club status, and a third-party report from Collegiate Consulting that had not yet been released. Many of these claims were verifiably false.

Because of these inconsistencies, we conducted our own analysis. What we uncovered was deeply concerning.

• Men's sports were highlighted up to 50 times more than women's sports across the university (with a clear emphasis on football)
• Women's teams lacked basic facilities like locker rooms and running water, while men's teams continued to get millions in upgrades
• Coaching, recruiting, overall expenses (accounting for revenue) were far higher for men's sports
• Our  reported equipment and administrative costs were listed as 23x and 78x higher than comparable D1 teams

Because of your help, the athletics department released the 3rd party report 6 weeks after cutting the team. We also obtained internal emails through our Public Records Act requests. 

What we found was shocking.

• Sean Quinn, CFO of Athletics, inflated our expenses by over $1 million before providing the data to Collegiate Consulting
• $700,000 in in-kind horse donations were misrepresented to inflate costs
• $200,000 in interdepartmental transfers were ignored
• $200,000 in scholarships were mischaracterized—despite internal emails acknowledging those funds would be reassigned elsewhere
• The department explicitly asked Collegiate Consulting to validate a pre-decided outcome, stating the review was “contingent on confirming this approach,” raising serious ethical concerns 
• STUNT program expenses were underestimated by over $400,000—figures widely considered unrealistic
• An internal email dated April 11, 2025 confirmed that eliminating equestrian was the only option being pursued

They continued to recruit. They continued to ask for our donations. Knowing the team was cut. For a whole year.

PLEASE HELP US BY SPREADING THE WORD AND EMAILING THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IT IS NOT OK TO TREAT WOMEN THIS WAY!

Please help us save the team — every donation, no matter the size, truly makes a difference. We’re incredibly grateful for any support and for sharing our story. ❤️

https://gofund.me/5053d52a3

This program matters. It matters to every girl who woke up at 4 am for meet days. To every rider who balanced school and the team, to every young athlete who has spent years dreaming to ride for this team, and to every horse cared for and loved on by these girls. To every alum who helped build something bigger than themselves. Moreover, reinstating the equestrian team aligns with UC Davis's commitment to diversity and inclusion, offering scholarships and opportunities to student-athletes from various backgrounds. The team not only promotes gender equality in sports but also encourages a connection with nature and animal welfare, echoing the university's environmental ethics and leadership in veterinary sciences.

We urge the UC Davis administration to reconsider their decision and reinstate the D1 NCEA Equestrian Team. Doing so will not only restore opportunities for current and future student-athletes but also reaffirm UC Davis's dedication to comprehensive excellence and innovative education. Let us uphold UC Davis's proud equestrian legacy and ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to thrive.

Please sign this petition and forward it on to show your support for this vital cause and help bring back a cherished part of the UC Davis community.