The Purdue Equestrian Team, founded in 1980 by IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Jerry Steinmetz, competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), which includes over 400 colleges. The IHSA format allows students of all experience levels to compete in a draw-based system. Jerry and his daughter Krista coached the team until 2022, when they welcomed Head Coach Kathryn Kraft. Members of the team participate in hunt seat equitation lessons, care for the horses, and compete in IHSA shows. Purdue’s equestrian team has a strong competitive record, having qualified for IHSA Nationals 21 times, with 11 top-10 finishes. Most recently, the team won the IHSA National Championship in May 2025, marking the first time Purdue brought home a team national championship!