In 2024 coach Humphrey led the team to an overall 6-7 season and to their second consecutive Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship title.
Jill Humphrey is in her second season as the head coach of the UC Davis equestrian team. Humphrey, a UC Davis alum, joined the program as an assistant coach in the 2018-19 season, the program's first, handling the hunter seat team.
In her first season at the helm, Humphrey led the Aggies to their first conference title at the 2023 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in Brookings, S.D.
“As a coach, I look forward to sharing my riding experiences, team experiences, and horsemanship knowledge with a great group of equestrian student-athletes,” said Humphrey.
“I believe that any riders who have reached the level to join this team have a genuine love for horses and passion for the sport. We will demonstrate this passion through excellent horse care, dedication to being the best riders we can be, and gratitude to UC Davis for believing in us,” added Humphrey.
“I am confident that these values will yield success very quickly in competition.”
After graduating from UC Davis in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in animal science (equine emphasis), Humphrey moved to Sacramento, Calif., and began working for Rudy Leone at Leone Equestrians Inc., where she gained experience in the Grand Prix ring as well as all around horsemanship knowledge.
Named PCHA Rookie Rider of the Year in 2005, Humphrey earned PCHA Grand Prix Rider of the Year just two seasons later aboard Kaskaya. Named the top West Coast qualifiers for the World Cup finals held in Las Vegas, Nev., in 2007 and 2009, the duo also attended the Pan American Games and the $1 Million Athena Onassis Horse Show in Brazil.
In 2015, Jill and her sister Jan Humphrey, also a UC Davis alum, began their venture of JH Sporthorses—a successful training, import, and sales program based out of Sacramento, Calif. With multiple top 10 medal final finishes, young rider and junior nations cup qualifiers, and successful horse-rider matches made through their sale program, Jill and Jan are proud that JH Sporthorses maintains the tradition of excellence set forth by Leone Equestrians.
The Bakersfield Calif. native’s love for horses began at the age of seven and later grew into a successful career of competing and training. Spending the majority of her time in the hunter and equitation arenas, the three-time Hunter Rider World Champion also claimed a Capitol Challenge Horse Show title, and qualified for all major medal finals as a junior.
Outside of training and competition, Humphrey also has a passion for teaching and instilling horsemanship in young riders, producing Junior Jumper of the year, four medal finals wins, top 10 finish at North American Young Rider Championships, Junior Nations Cup riders, and multiple qualifiers for the “final 4” at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta under her tutelage.
