Even for college riders, the world of collegiate riding can be extremely confusing. With several governing bodies and the rules of individual institutions, many teams operate differently. Basically, there are three different types of equestrian programs:

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA), which operates under the NCAA.

Then, there are two different kinds of programs that compete within the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA). IHSA programs can be governed by NCAA rules if they are sponsored as a varsity sport by their institution, or they can be governed by rules provided by their college or university’s recreation or club sports department if they are not a varsity sport.

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Some schools offer both NCEA and IHSA programs with separate teams, and some compete in just a few NCEA meets with the same riders who compete on their IHSA team. Still confused? Let’s dig a little deeper…

 

What is the IHSA?

The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association is a program that gives college students of all skill levels the opportunity to participate in team and individual competition nationwide. Currently, there are 412 Western and English teams registered with the IHSA that are divided into Zones and Regions geographically. Membership is open to both men and women.

 

What is the NCEA?

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association offers female riders at the highest level of the sport the chance to compete as part of a team. Many highly skilled junior riders from Western and English disciplines are recruited by NCEA teams starting at the beginning of their junior year of high school. There are 22 schools presently registered with the NCEA.

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(collegiateequestrian.com)

What divisions are offered in the IHSA?

For Hunt Seat riders, there are eight levels of competition: Walk-Trot; Walk, Trot, Canter; Novice Fences and Flat; Intermediate Fences and Flat; and Open Fences and Flat. Six divisions are available to Western IHSA riders: Beginner, Intermediate, Novice, Advanced, and Open Horsemanship and Open Reining. Upon registering with the IHSA, riders fill out a placement test, which determines the division in which they will compete based on their past experience. There is also an Alumni division offered for graduates of the IHSA.

 

What divisions are offered in the NCEA?

There are four parts of NCEA competition, all for highly skilled riders. These include: Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences, Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Western Horsemanship, and Reining.

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How does the IHSA competition format work?

At each show, the host school provides horses to be used in the event. Shows are regional, so all of the schools in a given region are invited to participate (usually 10-12). Warm-up riders school the horses prior to competition and riders who are participating in the show are not allowed to warm-up ride. Horses are selected through a random draw for each class, and the competitors are not allowed to school before going into the ring. Point riders are selected for each division before the start of the show, and these are the scores that count toward the team total at the end of the day.

Individuals can also accumulate points toward the Regional Championship. The host school sets a ride or rider limit before entries are due so that you can determine how many people will show. Sometimes, over 25 riders from each team can compete.

In over fences classes, riders jump the course provided for their division on their random draw. Open riders jump 3’, Intermediate riders jump 2’6”, and Novice riders jump 2’3”. They are placed first through sixth at the completion of each section.

Flat and horsemanship classes follow a regular show format where the riders show collectively at the walk, trot or jog, and canter or lope. They are pinned first through sixth at the completion of each section.

Open reining riders execute a pattern (approved by the IHSA, NRHA, or AQHA) and are given a score. At regular shows, the score is not usually announced. Riders are placed first through sixth at the end of their class.

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(Univ. of South Carolina/SECsports.com)

How does the NCEA competition format work?

Five riders are selected to compete in each section for their team against one other school. These riders go head-to-head riding the same horse (all provided by the host school) that is selected through a random draw. The horses are first warmed up by their designated schooling rider, and then each competitor gets 4 minutes to warm up prior to competing. Over Fences riders get to jump a maximum of four jumps. Every performance receives a numerical score, and the rider with the highest score wins a point for their team. There are 20 total points up for grabs in an NCEA meet, one for each rider. In the event of a tie, the raw score (the sum of all numerical scores) is the tiebreaker.

For Equitation Over Fences, an order is given with the draw. There are two halves of competition with riders from each team alternating. The first five riders are given their four minutes to warm up and then jump their course (fences at 3’6”) on their assigned horse. Each rider is given a score at the completion of their round. After, the second five riders do their warm-up and compete on the same horses against the first half, and then the winner of each match up is determined.

For Equitation on the Flat, riders perform an individual flat test on their horse after completing their four-minute warm-up. Each test is comprised of nine movements, each being scored out of 10. There is another collective mark scored out of 10 for overall presentation and style for a total of 100 possible points. Every test is scored after its completion, and riders alternate just as they do in Over Fences.

Western Horsemanship patterns include 7 to 9 maneuvers. Each rider begins with a base score of 70, and each maneuver is scored from -1.5 to + 1.5. After their four-minute warm up, riders from each team alternate, and then the second half does the same.

Reining works just like the other events, with a four-minute warm up and alternating team riders. Riders execute a pattern, approved by the NHRA or AQHA. Scoring follows the AQHA Handbook.

UGA-Equestrian-12

(bulldawgillustrated.com)

How do National Championships work for IHSA?

For individuals, riders must make it through Regionals and Zones before qualifying for nationals. To qualify for regionals, a rider in every class except for Open, riders must accumulate a total of 36 points in their division; points for these levels carry over from year to year. Once a rider qualifies for regionals in their division, they must compete in the next level from then on. Riders in the Open division must accrue 28 points in order to qualify, and their points do not carry over. At Hunt Seat and Western regionals, riders must place first or second in their class to qualify for Zone Championships or Semi-Finals.

At Hunt Seat Zones, riders must place first or second in their class to qualify for Nationals. At Western Semi-Finals, riders must place first through fourth to make it to Nationals.

In order for a team to make it to the National Championships, they must first be named Regional Champions, which requires accumulating the most points at regular season shows. This qualifies the team for Hunt Seat Zone Finals or Western Semi-Finals. Hunt Seat teams must be first or second and Western teams must be first through third to qualify for Nationals.

Regional High Point riders are those who have accumulated the most points in their region in the Open division. At the end of the regular season, the High Point Riders are named, and are qualified for Nationals in the Cacchione Cup class or AQHA Trophy class.

 

How do National Championships work for NCEA?

The top twelve overall teams, selected by the NCEA Selection Committee, are invited to compete at the National Championships. The top-four teams receive a first-round bye for Nationals. The Championship consists of four rounds: Round 1, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and a Championship round.

 

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Bottom Line

Hopefully, this helps clarify the key differences in intercollegiate equestrian competition. There are many college riders who don’t know half of this information (guilty!), so don’t feel bad if it still seems complicated. Bottom line: if you love to ride, want to improve your horsemanship and meet a lot of new people, you can’t go wrong either way. A college degree can help you find a job, but but it certainly will not help you figure out the world of collegiate equestrian.