Frequently Asked Questions
Is your club still going to be active this coming fall?
Yes! Although some aspects will look different in response to COVID-19, we will still be an active club. You can check out more about what actions IHSA is recommending to teams across the nation here.
Starting in fall of 2021, we will be holding meetings on campus as well as participating inIHAS shows once again!
Am I eligible to tryout for your team?
As long as you are a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing! We accept riders of all levels, including those who have never ridden before! If you attend our interest meeting (which will be via zoom this fall), you will be required to fill out an IHSA eligibility form that will determine what level you qualify for before trying out for the team.
What’s the difference between the team and the club?
The team rides at IHSA sanctioned shows and competes against neighboring schools like UNC, Duke, Elon, ECU, etc. Club members are involved in everything team members do with the exception that they do not show or take lessons with team members. Both team members and club members take part in fundraisers, community service, socials, and other club events throughout the school year. We do require that as a club member you attend at least 75% of club activities.
How competitive is it to join the team?
We generally have at least 30 people come try out for our team. The number of spots we have available depends on how many seniors we have graduate the previous year and which riders “point out” of their division. As much as we’d like to have everyone on our team, there are many factors that limit the amount of show team members we have.
Can I still be involved even if I don’t make the team?
Of course! We definitely encourage the riders who don’t make the team their first time around to join the club. We take into consideration your club participation when selecting riders at tryouts the following year, so joining the club is a great way to get to know everyone on the team (including the horses)!
Do I need to bring my own horse and/or tack? What equipment do I need to bring?
You do not need to own/lease your own horse in order to participate as a team member. One of the perks of IHSA is that it eliminates the expenses of horse ownership, making the sport more affordable. Horses are provided by host schools when we travel to away shows, and our team practices weekly at MacNairs Country Acres on their school program horses. If you’d like, you can bring your own saddle to ride in, but it is not required. All you need is boots, riding apparel, and a ASTM-SEI approved helmet.