Horsemanship for Today’s Equestrian
Athletic Equestrian League
Want to see a AEL competition in action? Curious about the format? Watch the video and learn more!
The Athletic Equestrian League is an organization of equestrian athletes who compete in practical horsemanship. The individual competition is offered in both English and Western disciplines and has a Minis development division for 1st-3rd graders and competition for 4th-12th graders and adults. The team competition is offered in both English and Western and is for athletes in 4th-12th grade.
Riders in the AEL are judged against a set of standards, both on the flat or in horsemanship and over fences or in patterns, and receive a score on their ride. In addition, each rider does an unmounted practicum, and that score is added to their mounted score. Each rider receives a flat score worth 40 points, a fences or patterns score worth 40 points, and a practicum score worth 20 points, and all three scores are added together for their score for the day.
Sally Batton Equestrian Clinics
Sally Batton, Founder of Athletic Equestrian and top collegiate coach, teaches flat, fences, Equicize and Polocrosse clinics around the world!
The Athletic Equestrian
by Sally Batton and Christina Keim
Want to ride like a varsity athlete? Sally Batton’s book The Athletic Equestrian is now available to order. Whether competing in the show ring or riding at home on the trail, every rider wants to be more secure and balanced in the saddle. This innovative guide uses highly effective exercises honed over Coach Sally’s 35 year coaching career.
Athletic Equestrian Riding In College Podcast
Navigating the world of collegiate riding is a mystery to most young rider athletes and their families. Sally Batton, a collegiate varsity equestrian coach for over 30 years, interviews coaches, organizations and riders for their insight on what it takes to ride on a collegiate equestrian team. So saddle up and join her as she reveals the inner workings of collegiate equestrian.
Who We Are
Learn more about the team behind the Athletic Equestrian and the story of how it came to be.