Legal fight to save DSU equestrian team expands

15 members of the Delaware State equestrian team are taking the school to court, claiming the decision to drop the sport at the end of the current season violates Title IX.

15 members of the Delaware State equestrian team are taking the school to court, claiming DSU’s decision to drop the sport at the end of the current season violates Title IX and its gender equity provisions.

The team filed its suit late last month in U.S. District Court in Delaware and this week asked the court for temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to keep Delaware State from any move to dismantle the program before it’s had its day in court.

The suit follows on the heels of a similar suit filed in Delaware District Court by DSU recruit Melia Blakely last month.   Blakely’s lawyer is also seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the school from dropping the team.

The school announced it was cutting the equestrian team and the men’s tennis squad in January in an effort to reign in athletic costs.

The DSU equestrian team is slated to hold its final home competitions later this month, March 19th against Georgia and March 20th against South Carolina.  Their schedule wraps up March 26th and 27th against Sacred Heart and New Mexico State at New Mexico State.