Frequently Asked Questions
Q - Do you have to own your own horse to participate?
A - No you don't have to own your own horse. Our coaches are wonderful enough to supply horses for us to take lessons on. Then during competitions the school who is hosting the show supplies the horses the riders compete on. This helps keep the costs of competing down since you don't have to trailer a horse with you to each competition.
Q - Is there any previous horse/riding experience needed?
A - You can have no experience, or you can have been riding since you were little. Because showing is optional, and the different levels of competition that the IHSA offers, anyone can compete and teams want a wide range of riders to get more team points.
Q - I've never heard of the IHSA, is it really that popular to compete in?
A - At the end of last year there were 404 teams across the country and over 9,000 riders, so yes it is very popular to compete in.
Q - Why do more riders/teams choose to compete in the IHSA, rather than in the NCAA (now called the NCEA)?
A - Though both organizations have Hunt Seat and Western style competition with riders randomly drawing the horses they compete on, the IHSA has multiple levels of competition so that any level rider can compete, while the NCEA has only one level of competition with fences being set at around 3 foot (equivalent to the Open level in the IHSA). To compete in the NCEA riders also need to be an amateur, while in the IHSA you don't. This may not seem like a big deal but in the equestrian world it is very easy to lose you amateur status. There are also regulations on the amount of money that a rider can win, and receive in the NCEA while it is not taken into account in the IHSA. Thus many of the more advanced riders choose to compete with the IHSA instead of having to worry about it with the NCEA.
Q - What does it cost to join?
A - The team itself does not collect dues because this is primarily student funded, so our only costs throughout the year are lesson fees, an application fee to the IHSA every year you compete, class fees at every show you compete in, coaching fees at every show you compete in, and travel and sometimes hotel fees for shows. In the past the sports club has been able to refund or allocate us money back for class fees, travel fees, and hotel fees and our lessons are at a discounted price so in the end prices are very minimal in comparison to competing in other horse shows and having lessons at other barns
Q - How often do we meet?
A - We have meetings every Wednesday at 12 pm in Dempster for all members. If you are a competing rider then it is also required that you take at least one lesson every week to be well prepared for competitions.
Q - What do we wear for lessons?
A - Jeans or breeches and a comfortable top are acceptable. We wear half chaps over top of jeans or breeches, paddock boots, and a helmet. If you don't have any of these items we do have them at the barn for riders to borrow.
Q - What are the costs of the meets?
A - We car pool so consider a percentage of gas which is usually divided by four people in one car. We also split the hotel rooms, as our competitions usually last a whole weekend. Class fees are $37 per class, so depending on what you show in, and what you are doing that weekend class fees could range from $37 - $148. A typical weekend usual costs under $300 and most of it has a possibility to be reimbursed.
Q - Do we have to attend every show?
A - No you do not. It is up to you how many shows that you want to attend, and some of it depends on how many riders on the team are in the same class. There are limits to the number of riders that a team can have compete in each class, and these change depending on the number of horses a school can acquire to host the show.
Q - Is there any post-season competition?
A - Yes, riders can qualify for Regionals as an individual when they point out of the class that they are currently in (get 36 points in their class). Riders who place first or second at Regionals move on to Zone Finals (There are five Regions in our Zone), and the top two riders at Zones get to be one of 16 riders competing in their class at Nationals. The team that has the most points in the Region also qualifies for Zone competition as a team. The top two of the five teams at Zone Finals move on to compete as one of the Top 16 Hunt Seat teams in the country at Nationals.
If you have any other questions, head over to the Contact Us Page and we will be more than happy to answer them for you.
Also check out www.ihsainc.com to find out more about the organization we compete through!
A - No you don't have to own your own horse. Our coaches are wonderful enough to supply horses for us to take lessons on. Then during competitions the school who is hosting the show supplies the horses the riders compete on. This helps keep the costs of competing down since you don't have to trailer a horse with you to each competition.
Q - Is there any previous horse/riding experience needed?
A - You can have no experience, or you can have been riding since you were little. Because showing is optional, and the different levels of competition that the IHSA offers, anyone can compete and teams want a wide range of riders to get more team points.
Q - I've never heard of the IHSA, is it really that popular to compete in?
A - At the end of last year there were 404 teams across the country and over 9,000 riders, so yes it is very popular to compete in.
Q - Why do more riders/teams choose to compete in the IHSA, rather than in the NCAA (now called the NCEA)?
A - Though both organizations have Hunt Seat and Western style competition with riders randomly drawing the horses they compete on, the IHSA has multiple levels of competition so that any level rider can compete, while the NCEA has only one level of competition with fences being set at around 3 foot (equivalent to the Open level in the IHSA). To compete in the NCEA riders also need to be an amateur, while in the IHSA you don't. This may not seem like a big deal but in the equestrian world it is very easy to lose you amateur status. There are also regulations on the amount of money that a rider can win, and receive in the NCEA while it is not taken into account in the IHSA. Thus many of the more advanced riders choose to compete with the IHSA instead of having to worry about it with the NCEA.
Q - What does it cost to join?
A - The team itself does not collect dues because this is primarily student funded, so our only costs throughout the year are lesson fees, an application fee to the IHSA every year you compete, class fees at every show you compete in, coaching fees at every show you compete in, and travel and sometimes hotel fees for shows. In the past the sports club has been able to refund or allocate us money back for class fees, travel fees, and hotel fees and our lessons are at a discounted price so in the end prices are very minimal in comparison to competing in other horse shows and having lessons at other barns
Q - How often do we meet?
A - We have meetings every Wednesday at 12 pm in Dempster for all members. If you are a competing rider then it is also required that you take at least one lesson every week to be well prepared for competitions.
Q - What do we wear for lessons?
A - Jeans or breeches and a comfortable top are acceptable. We wear half chaps over top of jeans or breeches, paddock boots, and a helmet. If you don't have any of these items we do have them at the barn for riders to borrow.
Q - What are the costs of the meets?
A - We car pool so consider a percentage of gas which is usually divided by four people in one car. We also split the hotel rooms, as our competitions usually last a whole weekend. Class fees are $37 per class, so depending on what you show in, and what you are doing that weekend class fees could range from $37 - $148. A typical weekend usual costs under $300 and most of it has a possibility to be reimbursed.
Q - Do we have to attend every show?
A - No you do not. It is up to you how many shows that you want to attend, and some of it depends on how many riders on the team are in the same class. There are limits to the number of riders that a team can have compete in each class, and these change depending on the number of horses a school can acquire to host the show.
Q - Is there any post-season competition?
A - Yes, riders can qualify for Regionals as an individual when they point out of the class that they are currently in (get 36 points in their class). Riders who place first or second at Regionals move on to Zone Finals (There are five Regions in our Zone), and the top two riders at Zones get to be one of 16 riders competing in their class at Nationals. The team that has the most points in the Region also qualifies for Zone competition as a team. The top two of the five teams at Zone Finals move on to compete as one of the Top 16 Hunt Seat teams in the country at Nationals.
If you have any other questions, head over to the Contact Us Page and we will be more than happy to answer them for you.
Also check out www.ihsainc.com to find out more about the organization we compete through!