Delaware State Reinstates Women's Equestrian Team in Legal Battle

The equestrian team was the brainchild of former DSU president Alan Sessoms as a means to engage the equine industry and horse culture of Delaware. He saw the team as an “opportunity to recruit different kinds of students,” and to help bring balance to the men-women athletic divide. Sessoms is currently the president of the University of District of Columbia, Washington, D.C.

Facing scrutiny over possible Title IX violations, Delaware State University has agreed to reinstate their women’s equestrian program through 2010-11 after announcing its elimination earlier this year for budgetary reasons. The move resolves part of a legal battle between the historically Black institution and student athletes who filed suit to have the program continued after the current year, officials said.

In February, the Lady Hornet equestrians filed for a preliminary injunction order to preserve the team and ensure its presence at the school. On Wednesday, DSU lawyers filed a motion in federal district court consenting to a court order that allows the team to compete through the 2010-11 year. DSU officials will fund the team and all awarded scholarships will be honored, according to the agreement.

The Delaware district court ordered that DSU fulfill the team funding and scholarship obligations under the presumption that if budget cuts were to occur the equestrian team would not suffer more than other athletic teams on campus.

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Hampton University horses cause I-64 traffic tie-up

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY.com) -- "When you got horses around, you can expect anything from them, anything at any time," said Manuel Alston. But, horses on the highway? Chopper 10 pilot John Massee gave morning viewers on WAVY News 10 the best view of an unusual scene. Three horses had almost gotten halfway across the bridge at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel around 6 a.m., which caused a four-mile, eastbound backup at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

I-64 Eastbound traffic to Norfolk had to be stopped for almost an hour. Virginia State Police, who managed to corral the horses and move them to the North Island garage, say they escaped from the Stables at Strawberry Banks, owned by Hampton University. Hampton University police are investigating how the horses got loose. There was no damage to the corral the horses were staying. H.U. is now putting in additional security measures to make sure this doesn't happen again.

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Hampton University and Delaware State University are the only two HBCUs that we are aware of that operates an Equestrian Team. Fortunately, no one was harmed by the horse escape from HU. Maybe the horses just wanted to see why all the cars were racing to get to the other side of the bridge-tunnel?