The Athletic Association has signed a contract to purchase an existing horse farm near Athens that will soon serve as the permanent home for UGA’s national champion equestrian team, according to Damon Evans, director of athletics.
Beginning as soon as February 2009, the riders will train and compete at High Point Farm in Bishop, approximately 12 miles from the UGA main campus.
Since the first year of competition in 2002, the team trained and held meets at the Animal Science Arena on South Milledge Avenue, which is operated by UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the department of animal and dairy science.
The equestrian program’s move to High Point Farm will facilitate the continued growth of both the varsity sport and CAES academic programs.
Since 1993, High Point Farm has served the Athens-area equine community with boarding and training facilities. In 1996, High Point was selected as the training site for the U.S. Dressage Team, which competed in the Summer Olympic Games at the International Horse Park in Conyers.
Though many facilities at High Point already exist, the Athletic Association plans to develop the property to suit the needs of the equestrian program. Preliminary plans include the construction of an outdoor arena, as well as locker-room facilities for the student-athletes.
