How do I become a member?
We hold a meeting for new members at the beginning of every fall quarter. You must attend this meeting to become a new member and the date will be posted on social media before the beginning of each year. You must also attend tryouts which are usually the weekend after the meeting. Following the mission of IHSA, we try to make as few cuts as possible.
Do I need my own horse?
You do not need your own horse to be on the team. Our coaches have lesson horses, and horses at shows are provided by the host school. If you have a horse and want to bring them, our coaches often have space at the barn. However, you are not allowed to ride your own horse in IHSA shows.
Do I need riding experience?
You do not need riding experience to join the team, we have levels from beginner to advanced. With this being said we only have a limited amount of spots for beginner riders. We do not have a non-competitive team due to time restrictions and a limited number of spots for our coaches’ ability to teach us.
What type of riding do you do?
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association circuit involves hunt seat equitation and western equitation. The top levels of each can compete in jumping and reining respectively. For more information visit the IHSA website which is linked on the “About Our Team” tab
How much does it cost?
Our team as well as IHSA is founded on the premise of being able to afford to ride in college. Riders pay dues to cover their lesson costs of $35 a lesson. In the horse world, this is a great price and our team works hard to keep it affordable. These team dues range from $300-$675 per quarter, depending on quarter and lesson frequency. Higher dues are only for those who wish to take lessons twice a week instead of once. For each show they attend, riders pay $85 to cover their travel and hotels. Shows range from $30-$40 per class, and riders may compete in 1-2 classes per show (1-4 per show weekend). As a team, we prioritize fundraising and sponsorships to limit out-of-pocket costs like show fees and food.
What is the time commitment?
Riders take 1-2 lessons per week, at one of our coaches’ facilities. The barn is about 30 min from campus, and the entire lesson (driving, tacking up, 1 hour lesson, putting your horse away and cleaning up, and driving back) takes about 3 hours. We hold mandatory team meetings (usually around 1 hour every 1-2 weeks) and members must volunteer 10 hours per year. Once a quarter the team hosts a barn cleanup day which is mandatory, as it brings down lesson costs for the entire team.
Do I need to have a car?
We arrange carpools to lessons, shows and other events. You do not need to have your own car, although members who do have a car and are willing to drive are always appreciated.