Experience with IHSA Equestrian Teams?

[Anonymous]

Specifically at LACs. D26 is halfway through applications, is only applying to schools with equestrian teams, as it's her main EC. She's applied to Mt. Holyoke, great program. But trying to get a sense of the different teams out there. She's had to do a lot of digging, as some schools list equestrian as a club sport but the teams are no longer active, others require tryouts to participate, so lots of info out there to sift through. If you have first hand experience with a riding team, I'd love to hear your insights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Specifically at LACs. D26 is halfway through applications, is only applying to schools with equestrian teams, as it's her main EC. She's applied to Mt. Holyoke, great program. But trying to get a sense of the different teams out there. She's had to do a lot of digging, as some schools list equestrian as a club sport but the teams are no longer active, others require tryouts to participate, so lots of info out there to sift through. If you have first hand experience with a riding team, I'd love to hear your insights.

Check out Sewanee in TN. When I was there the equestrian team was really good. You could bring your horse with you and stable it there, which seemed cool me at the time. Not sure if that’s typical.

[Anonymous]

Washington and Lee has a very good equestrian team.

[Anonymous]

Can she go through Instagram and look at comments/tags for school’s equestrian accounts and get in touch with current students that way to talk to them? Different niche sport in my family but reaching out to current athletes via Instagram has been helpful for DD to get a sense of how programs work.

I think some schools have programs that are pretty deliberately opaque because they’re kind of cliquey or run in a way that is a bit extralegal compared to NCAA sports or true clubs. That was the case for the equestrian program at my other DD’s school. She knew kids who were involved and they were all connected prior to matriculating and it wasn’t an activity that was open to outsiders. Even the barn the college used was kind of the fiefdom of a handful of people loosely associated with the school and very tight with a certain crowd of alumna donors and parent donors. DD’s impression was that it was not officially open regardless of club status or a friendly-seeming website.

[Anonymous]

^ OP here- thank you for this info. Yes, she has followed teams on IG and chatted w/a few students and coaches. She’s looking for a riding program that’s inclusive and friendly. Would you mind sharing the name of the school that’s more cliquey? That’s the exact scenario my DD is trying to avoid. You’re right, the teams are opaque in nature and really run by the barns, not the colleges, which presents challenges. The schools she really likes so far are Vassar, Mount Holyoke, Carleton, Oberlin, Smith, but applying to a wide range of LACs. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ OP here- thank you for this info. Yes, she has followed teams on IG and chatted w/a few students and coaches. She’s looking for a riding program that’s inclusive and friendly. Would you mind sharing the name of the school that’s more cliquey? That’s the exact scenario my DD is trying to avoid. You’re right, the teams are opaque in nature and really run by the barns, not the colleges, which presents challenges. The schools she really likes so far are Vassar, Mount Holyoke, Carleton, Oberlin, Smith, but applying to a wide range of LACs. Thanks.

From a student at my DC's private, the following colleges were looking for more standout equestrians (with national or regional accolades) in the last application cycle for their club teams:
Davidson
Middlebury
Northwestern
Michigan
Vanderbilt
Stanford (always looking for standout talent - reach out to coaches)

[Anonymous]

OP, have you listened to the Athletic Equestrian podcast? Lots of guidance about college riding, including on this episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athletic-equestrian-riding-in-college-podcast/id1554122765?i=1000652240898

[Anonymous]

Also check out which teams have won Regionals or Zones in the geographic areas she’s targeting

[Anonymous]

You may want to ask this question on COTH. I’m sure there are lots of adults with kids in college and/or recent graduates themselves who could help steer you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the resources! We’ll definitely check out the podcast and COTH. DD rides western, but wants a small, liberal-leaning LAC. So that knocks out the D1 and big western programs, along with big state schools. She’s aware that she’ll most likely have to switch to English riding for college, so we’re trying to find strong programs that are inclusive of new riders.

[Anonymous]

Lynchburg has won equestrian the past few years. They allow you to bring your own horse (many don't), have a brand new show ring, and they give a LOT of merit for smart kids. It's a cute campus and a very friendly vibe, as well they have an Honors college that has great outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Randolph Macon college has their own equestrian center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ OP here- thank you for this info. Yes, she has followed teams on IG and chatted w/a few students and coaches. She’s looking for a riding program that’s inclusive and friendly. Would you mind sharing the name of the school that’s more cliquey? That’s the exact scenario my DD is trying to avoid. You’re right, the teams are opaque in nature and really run by the barns, not the colleges, which presents challenges. The schools she really likes so far are Vassar, Mount Holyoke, Carleton, Oberlin, Smith, but applying to a wide range of LACs. Thanks.

Mount Holyoke is extremely clicky.

A few girls from my daughter's MGAA teams went there and left for that exact reason.

[Anonymous]

Our DC also plays a niche sport that can be classified as club or varsity, and he had to do a lot of digging to find information. The best thing to do is to reach out to the coach or team directly. Most of the coaches want to help and will suggest other places to look if they think the team may not be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Randolph Macon college has their own equestrian center.

Does Randolph-Macon still have that? I was under the impression it closed after JT Tallon died, God rest his soul. Such a talented and nice trainer! I used to show there often, they had a regional Medal Finals there in the fall.