How to Compete Without Owning a Horse By Katherine O. Rizzo
Not sure you want to commit to owning a horse but have the desire to compete in eques- trian sports? Tanks to a few national and local organizations, there are leagues you can partici- pate in without owning a horse! Most of the leagues on this list offer Hunt
Seat Equitation competitions. In more recent years, however, leagues for Dressage and West- ern disciplines have been developed - and U.S. Pony Club, which is no longer just for kids, offers Riding Centers for multiple disciplines. Te one thing they all have in common is… no horse ownership is needed!
Intercollegiate Horse Show Asso- ciation - Hunter & Western
Te Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
(IHSA) has been providing competitions for collegiate riders since 1967. Te organization was founded by Robert Cacchione, who was a sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey at the time. With the help of pro- fessor and renowned horseman Jack Fritz, Cac- chione created a prototype competition program that began with Hunt Seat Equitation shows. Tat first season, only two colleges partici-
pated but the series caught on quickly and now contains over 400 member colleges and uni- versity across 45 states and regions of Canada. Western competitions were added in 1979. Hunt Seat riders compete in both flat and over fences classes while Western riders compete in horsemanship, ranch riding and reining. IHSA’s mission is to “provide equestrian
competition for all college and university stu- dents regardless of riding level, gender, race, sexual orientation or financial status.” IHSA host schools provide horses for their
riders to train and compete. At shows, riders draw horses at random to compete, creating as close to an even playing field as possible. IHSA has competition classes for beginner through advanced riders with riders competing as in- dividuals and teams. As with most equestrian sports, all genders of riders compete with and against each other as well. In addition, IHSA strives to be an affordable
option for riders, and does not allow personal tack to be used at competitions. Everything, except for the rider’s attire, is provided by the host school. Te league is open to full-time undergradu- ate students of member colleges. Riders can qualify for the National Championships each year through a point system with points earned at IHSA local shows. Te top riders compete at a Regional Finals with then the top two riders in each class advancing to Zone Finals. Te top two riders of each class at Zones then move on to the National Championships. IHSA has produced several top riders includ-
ing four-time Olympian and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden, who
Academy of the Holy Cross is one of the 37 IEA teams here in Maryland.
Interscholastic Equestrian Association Te Interscholastic Equestrian Association
(IEA) is a nation-wide 501(c)3 non-profit orga- nization dedicated to “introducing and promot- ing lifelong involvement in equestrian athletics.” Currently, the league is open to riders in grades 4-12 who can compete as individuals or on Middle School or Upper School teams, though an Adult Pilot Program is in its third year. Te Adult IEA program is for amateur riders
ages 21 and older. In order to participate, adult riders must become IEA members and ride with an approved IEA coach. At this time, adult riders can only participate as individuals, not on teams. IEA offers Hunt Seat, Western and Dres-
sage competition options, and just like the IHSA, riders do not need to own a horse, with competition horses selected by draw the day of the show. In this way, IEA strives to provide “greater affordability and access to the sport.” In addition, IEA also offers members a chance
26 | MARCH 2025 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION
competed for Southern Seminary and won the Cacchione Cup in 1984. U.S. Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde won the Cacchione Cup in 1986 representing Tufts University. Here in Maryland, the following schools offer
IHSA programs: • George Washington University (Hunt Seat) • Goucher College (Hunt Seat) • Hood College (Hunt Seat) • John Hopkins University (Hunt Seat) • Loyola University Maryland (Hunt Seat) • Mt. St. Mary’s University (Hunt Seat) • Salisbury University (Hunt Seat) • St. Mary’s College of Maryland (Hunt Seat) • Towson University (Hunt Seat & Western) • U.S. Naval Academy (currently inactive) • University of Maryland (Hunt Seat) • University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Hunt Seat) • Washington College (Hunt Seat & Western) • Wor-Wic Community College (Hunt Seat) For more information about IHSA, go to ih-
sainc.com.
to earn cash and renewable collegiate scholar- ships. Te scholarship fund offers $1.5 million in scholarships and cash awards annually. Horsemanship and sportsmanship are also
part of the IEA mission with the organization stating, “It is the responsibility of all attendees to foster a spirit of belongingness, an atmosphere of community enjoyment, and a mutual respect for all participants and their equine partners.” Unlike IHSA, IEA teams do not have to be associated with an educational institu- tion, though many schools in Maryland do participate. Riding stables can form teams as well. Currently, the IEA boasts over 900 teams across the country. Te following Maryland teams participate in
IEA competitions: • A Moment in Time (Hunt Seat) • Academy of the Holy Cross (Hunt Seat) • All’s Well at Woodbrook Farm (Hunt Seat) • Autumn Grove Equestrian Team (Hunt Seat) • Buoniconti Stables (Hunt Seat) • Calvert Equestrian (Hunt Seat) • Can You Keep a Secret (Hunt Seat) • Clover Luck Stables (Hunt Seat) • Dreamer’s Quest Equestrian (Hunt Seat) • En-Tice-Ment Stables/Indian Creek School (Hunt Seat) • Free Rein Equine (Hunt Seat) • Free Rein Farm LLC (Hunt Seat) • Full Moon Farm (Hunt Seat) • Garrison Forest School (Hunt Seat) • Glendale Riding School (Hunt Seat) • Good Counsel Equestrian Team (Hunt Seat) • Greenway at Featherdown (Hunt Seat) • Hidden Lane Farm (Hunt Seat) • John Carroll (Hunt Seat) • Kindred Spirit Farm (Hunt Seat) • Little Clovelly/Havenshire Farm (Hunt Seat) • Meadowbrook Stables (Hunt Seat) • Morningside Stables (Hunt Seat) • Oldfields School (Hunt Seat & Dressage) • Patuxent Run Stables (Hunt Seat) • PM Equestrian (Hunt Seat) • Sandy Point Equestrian (Hunt Seat) • Snapdragon Stables (Hunt Seat) • South Breeze (Hunt Seat) • St. Augustine (Hunt Seat) • St. John’s College High School (Hunt Seat) • St. Timothy’s School (Hunt Seat) • Talbot Run (Dressage) • Te Key School (Hunt Seat) • Te Other Left LLC (Hunt Seat) • Willow Mist (Hunt Seat) • Willowbend (Hunt Seat) For more information on IEA, visit
rideiea.org.
Intercollegiate Dressage Association In a lot of ways, the Intercollegiate Dres-
sage Association (IDA) is the dressage version of IHSA. IDA offers collegiate level riders an affordable way to compete in dressage while at-
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