Zubrod Stables is the proud host to the Saddle Seat Team at the University of Louisville; the 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021 ISSRA National Champions. Coached by Deveau Zubrod, the UofL Team provides college students with an opportunity to continue riding saddle seat throughout college and to bring new riders the experience of competition on a collegiate level.
The UofL Saddle Seat Team is a member of the Intercollegiate Saddle Seat Riders Association (ISSRA), and an affiliate of USEF. The ISSRA was founded in 2008 by college students and faculty mentors from area colleges. The University of Louisville joined their ranks in 2009 with just 3 members. Since that time, it has expanded to include over 15 riders with varying levels of experience.
ISSRA operates its shows similar to the World Cup. Each rider shows in an equitation rail class and a pattern class. Riders compete on the American Saddlebred, Morgan, Arabian, National Show Horse, and other trotting breeds of horses traditionally shown in saddle seat classes. Individual riders draw a horse for each class entered, and have minimal warm-up. Coaches select team point riders in each division prior to the first class, and those riders accumulate both team and individual points. Awards consist of a High Point Team, a Reserve High Point Team, High Point Rider, and Reserve High Point Rider–to both Senior and Junior riders–based on accumulated points.
Each ISSRA coach places his/her riders in specified divisions based on show experience and a formal riding evaluation. Senior riders compete in Open, Open Limit, Advanced, or Novice classes, while Junior riders compete in Intermediate Walk-Trot-Canter, Beginner Walk-Trot-Canter or Beginner Walk-Trot classes.
Any undergraduate or graduate student with a minimum of a 2.2 cumulative GPA enrolled full-time in a college or university is eligible to join the ISSRA as an individual member. Alumni riders are also able to compete in their respective classes.
For more information please visit the organization's website, or contact coach Deveau Zubrod or faculty advisor Terri Burch.
