How many members are there?
The team varies from 30-60 riders per year. Usually about 30 on the English Team and 10 on the Western Team.
Who can join the team?
Any undergraduate student of the University of Colorado – Boulder are welcome to join the team whether you have ridden your whole life, or never touched a horse!
How often does the team compete during the school year?
Usually each discipline has about 3 or 4 weekends of showing throughout the year. If an individual garners enough points or team does exceptionally well they may qualify for post season, providing additional showing opportunities. The English Team competes in hunter seat equitation, both on the flat and over fences. The Western Team competes in western horsemanship on the rail with open divisions competing in reining.
How often will I be riding?
Lessons are arranged based on skill level and availability with your class schedule. Riders are expected to lesson with our trainer once per week. This provides members ample opportunities to improve their position, technique, and other weaknesses they may have for competing. If you are unable to make a riding lesson for some reason you must contact the trainer at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled lesson time.
Where is the barn?
The team practices at a stable out in Fort Lupton, around 45 minutes from campus. Each semester we do our best to provide carpools for lesson groups to ensure students without cars are able to lesson and compete.
How does competing through IHSA work?
Each rider will be placed in a division according to their past experience and skill level. There are divisions for people who have never ridden, and for people who have ridden their whole lives! At the horse shows, the horse you are to ride is determined at random from a pool of horses provided by the hosting school. Everyone competing has to go in the ring without warm up and learn the horse as they go. For more information, check out the IHSA website: https://www.ihsainc.com/.
What are the opportunities for growth on the team?/How do I qualify for National competition?
Students accumulate points as they continue to compete throughout their college career. Winning 1st place at a show will award you 7 points, 2nd receives 5 points, 3rd gets 4 points, 4th gets 3, 5th gets 2, and 6th receives 1 point. Riders in any division besides Open will advance to the next division after accumulating 36 points, and points will carry over from year to year. Open division riders, being unable to advance any further, qualify for Regionals after reaching 28 points, and their points reset to zero at the start of each academic school year.
University of Colorado - Boulder Equestrian Team 