74 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Sloan Milstein
With over 400 college
and universities offering
competitive
riding
opportunities there will be
one that is right for you.
But before you make those
campus visits, tour the
stables and meet the teams,
it is best to understand the
governing organizations of
college riding.
Today’s
History
Lesson:
While all college
equestrian associations
have competitive teams and
opportunities to learn, each association was founded on a different
set of principles and provides different types of experiences.
Understanding the mission of each association should help you
determine if your goals are in sync with theirs.
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA)
was
founded on the principle of access and inclusion. The IHSA,
which offers eight levels of English and six levels of western,
riding, encourages individuals with no prior riding experience to
participate in equestrian sports, while giving more seasoned riders
affordable options to be competitive at college. The university’s
Club or Student Affairs Department, similar to the French, Swim
or Debate Club, etc., houses most teams.
Lesson barns are secured for training and an instructor is
hired to coach the team either through the university or through
lesson fees paid by team members. The key concept here is
“participation.” While the majority of IHSA teams work towards
qualifying for post-season championships, many riders like the
sense of family created from being on the team where upper
level riders help the lower level riders both at the barn and at
competitions.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
was
founded over 100 years ago to “protect” football players, and now
presides over 400,000 student-athletes, in 23 sports. When it
comes to prospective high school student-athletes, the NCAA is
responsible for the rules of recruiting and academic qualifcations
as prospects navigate the process. When it comes to competition
formats, championships and qualifcations, those rules are left to
the
National Equestrian College Association (NCEA, formerly
Varsity Equestrian.)
The NCAA, which contains both IHSA
and NECA teams, are founded on the premise of creating more
opportunities for women as part of a gender equity initiative at the
university level.
Less well known is the
American National Riding
Commission (ANRC)
an education-based program emphasizing
balance between horse and rider. Riders not only compete, but
e
also can work towards
certifcate programs. Unlike
the IHSA, and NCEA
programs where riders
randomly draw horses
on which to compete, the
ANRC riders train and
ride horses from their own
school. The competition is
equitation based and the
format resembles a three-
day event with fat testing,
an arena jumping and feld
jumping phases as well as
a written test. Currently
there are 50 plus schools
that participate in the ANRC
competitions
Fact or Fiction: The NCAA is More Competitive then the
IHSA and the ANRC -- Isn’t It?
Fiction! As a former coach of
both NCAA IHSA and NCEA athletes, I would attest to that if you
take an open level hunt seat rider in any of the organizations, not
only can they hold their own, but they will also be competitive.
Comparatively, small teams can be as competitive as much larger
teams.
Fact or Fiction: All NCAA Programs have Scholarships --
Don’t They?
Fiction! Some NCAA schools offer scholarships and
other’s do not. Teams that are housed in the athletic department
of Division I programs “may” offer up to 15 full scholarships a year,
may split them among riders or not offer any scholarships at all.
Division II programs also have the option to offer scholarships but
very few do so.
Fact or Fiction: College Coaches are Rude -- Aren’t They?
Myth! NCAA coaches must follow specifc recruiting rules of how
and when they may communicate with riders. Until prospects fully
understand the rules it is always a safe rule of thumb to send an
email. While coaches may not be “allowed” to call you back they
“can” respond to your email requests.
An entirely different problem exists with IHSA and ANRC
coaches. Most IHSA coaches are instructors at a local barn and
coaching an equestrian team is one of their many responsibilities.
Unlike NCAA coaches most do not receive a year-round salary.
ANRC coaches can also be an academic professor and due to
their schedules they often don’t get messages from prospects
during the off-season. If you fnd yourself seeking information
during the summer use your social media to connect with current
team members or alumni to get you started and fnd out the best
way to reach the coach.
Sloan Milstein founded College Riding 101 after four seasons as a
NCAA Division I and ISHA coach. Her book, The High School Equestrian’s
Guide to College Riding is available at www.collegeriding101.com
Fact or Fiction
Busting the Myths of College Riding
College riding
students are all
smiles