History and Information about the CSI Equestrian Team and the IHSA

What Is Required to be on the Team?

• Love of horses and desire to compete on a National quality team.
• Desire to be a better rider.
• Open-minded, freindly personality; we are a very close-knit team.
• Approval of Coach.
• Enrollement in PHYE 178, Equestrian Team.
• Must be a full time student (12+ credits)
• Except for certain special cases, a suitable horse is required for practice, which takes place twice a week.
• Boarding/Trailering arrangements are team member's own responsibility.
• Membership in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
• Suitable show outift. Coaches may advise.
• Somewhat flixible schedule.

Other Information

Practice Format. Practices are held twice a week in the afternoon or evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Facilities are provided on campus in the Expo Center unless other arrangements are made. Students provide the own horse unless other arrangements have been made; it is highly encouraged that it is a suitably well-trained horse. Students make their own arrangements to haul to practice, which may include agreements with other students or the coaches. Practice is a 1-credit PE class, and attendance is taken. During the two-hour class, coaches will work with students individually and as groups. Students will also witch horses one or more times during class to get them used to riding other and unfamiliar horses with different riding styles.

Show Format. Shows are hosted by participating IHSA Colleges in CSI's home region, which is Zone8 Region3, including Idaho, Western Montana, Northern Utah. Host schools provide the horses for each class, and riders randomly draw which horse they will ride before they go into class. IHSA regulations specify that riders can mount when the class before them changes directions on the rail, and that riders cannot warm up or ride on show grounds the day of the show except for the classes they are entered in. It is also specified that students can be disqualified for changing saddles and tightening cinches without a show official or coach present.
Divisions are open to all skill and experience levels in competition.

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association was established in 1967 at Fairleigh Dickinson University by Robert Cacchione and John Fritz. The purpose of the IHSA is to promote competition for riders of any skill level regardless of financial status. Students compete individually and as teams members at both Regional and National levels. For all who take part, these IHSA competitions develop sportsmanship, team enthusiasm and horsemanship.

The IHSA's competitions are affordable because individual colleges host each event and provide the horses. However, this is not the only unique aspect of IHSA competitions. Not only are riders not allowed to use their own horses, but personal tack and schooling/warm ups are not permitted.

Horses and riders are paired up randomly by drawing. This enables riders to compete on an even keel and truly test their horsemanship ability.

Levels range from beginner walk-trot through advanced open equitation competition. At the more advanced levels, competition includes jumping as well as flat work. Riders advance through the levels by accumulating points at the horse shows.
(taken from IHSA Website, www.ihsainc.com)
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