192 SIDELINES MARCH 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Jan Westmark
There’s a lot to do to get ready for college: study and get good
grades; take the SAT’s; tour colleges; and fill out applications.
And, if you are an equestrian and want to ride in college, there
are many questions you probably want answered. How do I get
on a college riding team? What colleges have teams? What’s
with all of the collegiate riding associations and which one is
right for me?
Thank goodness someone has already figured out the answers
to all these questions and more! Jeanne Rouco-Conesa, the
President of the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI), has
developed a college equestrian recruiting event designed to help
college-bound riders tackle the world of college riding. Riders
can either take part in the show as a rider or visit the college fair
and watch the show and talk to colleges. The show is March 28-
30 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach,
Florida.
“Our goal is to encourage high school students to continue
developing their passion for the sport throughout college. Many
high school seniors feel that they have to decide whether to
continue riding or to go to college, and we just want to help them
do both,” Jeanne said, adding that CPI grew out of trying to help
her daughter navigate the path to college riding.
Riders and attendees this year will get to hear many great
speakers, including Olympic show jumping gold medalist Peter
Wylde, who attended Tufts University and rode on the Tufts IHSA
Equestrian Team. Peter will talk during the awards ceremony
about the importance of a college education for riders hoping to
become professionals after graduation.
Jeanne is excited to have Peter on board – he has proven that
college riding can lead to great things! Jeanne said the mission
of the CPI is to prepare and educate equestrian students in
grades 9 – 12 about the format of college equestrian competition.
Throughout the weekend, an array of seminars will provide
students and their families with important information, from
equestrian degrees to scholarship opportunities, and give them
College Riding Can Lead To Great Things!
The College Preparatory Invitational Show
e
The Bottom Line
a chance to meet college representatives. “There are 300 plus
colleges that you can ride for,” Jeanne said. “It’s important to not
only learn about the riding programs, but also see what else the
colleges have to offer. This is our fourth annual competition and
25 top-tier colleges and universities will be attending the event
at Jim Brandon.”
Students can ride in the event – all of the horses are donated
for the show – but if you didn’t sign up to ride, it’s not too late.
Load up a car or truck with your family, friends and fellow riders
and head to the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center – the cost per
carload for the entire weekend is $50.
For more information on the College Preparatory Invitational,
visit
or visit the CPI Facebook
page.
College Preparatory Invitational President Jeanne Rouco-
Conesa, left, and her daughter Camila Conesa.
Photos courtesy of the College Preparatory Invitational
.
Participants in the 2013 College Preparatory Invitational look
forward to riding in college
The College Preparatory Invitational gives students in grades 9
-12 the chance to talk to college representatives about riding in
college.
