SLEHS​​ EQUESTRIAN
OUR VISION
To enhance the learning experience for our student athletes who hold an interest in equine by providing a blend of problem solving skills, confidence building exercises, leadership, and lifetime of memories all through the interaction with horses. In essence, we will inspire and intrique, unite each other, all the while achieving greatness.
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OUR MISSION
Driven by a passion for horses, the SLEHS Equestrian team fosters an atmosphere that promotes the pursuit of excellence in leadership, horsemanship, and personal integrity. As a team, our goal is to maintain a program in which other high schools wish to emulate as we encourage attitudes of self-discipline, loyalty, friendship, and team spirit. We are to be at all times honest and forthright in our dealings with not only ourselves, but with each other and with our community. If there is one concept that drives us, it is our dedication to winning in the broadest possible sense. We compete to win – as individuals, as team members, and as representatives of South Lyon East High School. We clearly understand that the success of any one person is always the result of a dedicated effort on the part of many people. So, while we are quick to recognize individual performance, we are even quicker to celebrate achievements of the team.
OUR SEASON
The High School Varsity season consists of one month of practices (August) followed be three day-long meets held on consecutive Saturdays in September when school begins. Seventeen events are held during the day long meet comprising of showmanship, hunt seat, saddleseat, jumping (equitation over fences), western, trail and speed classes. Rain or shine, the meets are held at the Huron Valley Equestrian Center located just north of the Milford High School. The meets officially begin at 8am and runs to about 6pm. Admission is free. Points are awarded to the top eight placings in every class; with first place earning eight points, second earns seven, and so on. In the high school division, the cumulative point total (from all three meets) will determine the district rankings for each division. The top two district ranking teams move on to compete at a regional level, whereby the two top scoring teams from each region go on to compete at the state meet, held in October.
Based on the size of our team, a certain number of rider "slots" are allotted for each meet. Those slots may be strategically distributed among the seventeen classes to be competitive in that each rider may be entered in multiple classes, representing several different riding disciplines. To prepare for this diversity, the team practices are held weekly to typically going over patterns along with introducing new concepts that the riders (or horses) may not have done before. This is when riders have an opportunity to try different riding styles and experience the differences as well as the similarities between them. Riders are responsible for practicing at home as well. Of course, additional practices may be scheduled as needed to promote our team.
