If you want to keep riding when you go to college, many universities have equestrian teams—but finding out how to join a team can be a challenge. We talked to two coaches and a student athlete about all the details on how to join, and what it’s really like to be on an equestrian team. Let’s get studying!
IHSA vs. NCEA
Most equestrian teams are part of either the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) or National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) as a National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) sport.
Ariel Higgins, the coach for Middle Tennessee State University’s 2023 IHSA National Champion Western Team, says IHSA teams have categories ranging from Beginner to Open, so those teams look for riders at each experience level to join their teams.
IHSA English competition includes equitation on the flat and equitation over fences, and on the western side, horsemanship, reining and ranch riding.
Depending on the school, most NCEA team members have probably competed at the national or world championship level. Riders show in equitation on the flat, equitation over fences, horsemanship and reining.
Horses used in equestrian team competition are either school horses from the respective universities or horses donated for the event. Riders draw a horse to compete and spend only minutes with the horse—if any—before competing, which tests their skills as catch riders.
IHSA teams are not limited by gender, while NCEA only allows girls to be team members, in compliance with NCAA regulations.
Life on a College Equestrian Team
Collegiate equestrians may receive scholarships of varying amounts, from paying for textbooks to a full ride. Other perks could include team gear and clothing, meals, tutors, athletic trainers, athletic advisors, and more.
Ariel says another benefit is improved horsemanship, thanks to coaching and access to so many horses.
“There is no better way to get good at riding a variety of horses than to ride a variety or horses,” Ariel says. “The competition format is based on the individual rider’s ability to adapt to a variety of situations and being able to push through challenges and difficulties. That carries over so much into many other areas of life and helps prepare for the real world.”
Equestrian team members must learn time management as they balance their classes and homework with practice and workouts several times a week, as well as weekend competitions and team-building community service. This commitment is central to being on an equestrian team. Not only does this time together fulfill team goals, it also builds relationships.
“It’s a special thing to be with like-minded people who have a similar interest in a hobby,” says Ariel. “You make those lifelong friendships.”
Mallory Vroegh, who recently finished her time on the 2023 National Champion Southern Methodist University team, says her plate was full while competing, but she loved that life.
“My favorite part was the uniqueness of it all,” Mallory says. “It’s an experience you don’t get otherwise. It’s not very often that you get to ride horses with a team of girls you love so much, and I enjoyed that a lot, as well as getting to work with some great coaches.”
Choosing a School
Our experts say the most important decision you’ll make when choosing an equestrian team is not the team itself, but the university you’ll be attending while on the team.
“You need to love where you are, and I don’t think you should pick the school for the team,” says Melissa Dukes, head coach at Texas Christian University and NCEA’s 2023 Coach of the Year. “You need to decide what you want to get your degree in, visit the school for a tour, and if you decide that is the school where you want to go, then get in touch with the coaches and find out what they’re looking for.”
Mallory says to choose your school based on the career you want and the degree you’ll need to get there, then look at the equestrian team.
“It’s easy when you’re going on a recruitment trip to get caught up in the team aspect of it, and that is important—you do want to enjoy the team—but you also want to leave that school with something you can use for the rest of your life,” she says.
Joining a College Equestrian Team
Pursuing a spot on a collegiate equestrian team can start when you’re in high school. NCEA teams have to follow guidelines when it comes to recruiting. As a rider, you can fill out a recruitment questionnaire from a particular team as soon as you reach 9th grade.
You or your riding coach/trainer can email information and videos of you riding to the team’s coach. Coaches cannot contact a rider until the summer before their junior year of high school, other than asking for a high school transcript.
Being able to join a team is not just about your ability. It also depends on what positions are opening up on that team due to other athletes graduating, Melissa says.
If you want to go to a particular school, in addition to applying to the school, Melissa advises keeping in contact with that school’s equestrian coach.
Mallory met university coaches who were recruiting at the big horse shows where she was competing when she was growing up in Iowa.
“It can be a little bit different for everyone,” Mallory says. “If you don’t show on those big circuits, you can email videos to coaches and go to college camps in the summer, where you can get a feel for college riding.”
The process to join an IHSA team varies from school to school. Middle Tennessee hosts a members’ meeting early on in the school year, then interested riders fill out a placement form about their riding experience and participate in a placement ride.
“Those two things go together to help place that person into the appropriate division within the IHSA,” Ariel says. “And it helps me know where to put them in group lessons.”
Preparation
No matter what team you want to join, riding a variety of horses is the best way you can prepare, our experts say.
“Ride as many horses as you possibly can to get that experience and try to learn new things,” Ariel says. “In the IHSA, there’s value in all levels of riders. There’s so much value in someone who is a hard worker that wants to be a team player and wants to grow and continue to develop as a rider and as a person.”
Mallory says dedication to riding and making contact with coaches are your best strategies to getting on a team.
“Time spent in the saddle trying to get better and time spent working on that next level will help,” Mallory says. “If it’s something you want to do, spend the time on it to get there.”
This article about joining a college equestrian team appeared in the September/October 2023 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
