UA May Add Equestrian or Lacrosse as Women?s Sport

The University of Arkansas’ Women’s Athletic Department is looking to implement another sport to keep up with Title IX, which makes colleges have a proportionate male-to-female ratio in athletics based on the student body ratio.

But since many of the popular women’s athletics — like golf, volleyball and gymnastics — are already offered at the UA, the school is looking at other options, including equestrian and lacrosse, said Bev Lewis, director of women’s athletics.

An equestrian sports program is being strongly considered right now, although the decision probably won’t be made until the summer, she said.

That decision will be based on the interest of the sport not only at the school but also in the Southeastern Conference. Then it will be looked at in a financial matter — where the funding will come from to build the facility and to finance the sport each year.

Lewis said no one has talked to her about helping finance equestrian or lacrosse programs so far, but they haven’t started looking for benefactors either. She said other programs spend about $450,000 per year on expenses. The typical program has 30 to 65 team members and 40 horses, which are usually donated to colleges.

Lewis said every four to six years the UA has to start a new program for women’s athletics to abide by Title IX. Gymnastics was the last women’s sport to be implemented at the school, which was four years ago.