What is the IHSA?                                                                                               Established in 1967, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Associations (IHSA) is a non-profit organization that provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to compete both by themselves, and with their college teams, regardless of their riding level.  The association has spread to 37 regions in 8 zones through 45 US states and Canada. Boston University currently competes in Zone 1 Region 4.

How do IHSA shows work?                                                                                           IHSA shows are very different from regular hunt seat shows. IHSA is run in a team-based format, and is judged on equitation. There are 8 collegiate classes run according to ability; each class counts for the same number of points, so our beginner riders are just as important to our success as our open/advanced riders. Each school in our region takes a turn hosting a show during the competition season, where they will provide facilities, tack and horses for all of the teams to use. Riders draw a horse at random that they will ride in their class- no practice time is permitted. It is definitely a challenge, but it is a very fair and fun way of competing. 

Where do we practice?                                                                                       Contrary to popular belief (and sometimes the team’s want) we don’t practice on campus–there are no horses under Nickerson Field.  We currently ride out of Holly Hill Show Stable in Hanover, MA with head coach Phyllis Cervelli.

Do I need my own horse?                                                                                          No you do not! Holly Hill Show Stable provides our team with school horses to practice on. We have horses of various levels to fit every rider on the team. And, because IHSA requires that you ride an unfamiliar horse, we find it helpful to ride different horses in your lessons for practice.

Where do we show?                                                                                             The IHSA zone 1 region 4 shows are held at stables within an hour or so of BU’s campus. Teams in the region have the opportunity to host a show at their home farm on weekends from October to February; there are usually 4-6 shows per semester. BU hosts one regular season show and regionals.

How do tryouts work?                                                                                                BUET holds tryouts once per year in September to fill open positions on the team. These positions range anywhere from walk-trot to open fences/flat.  We have an informational session prior to tryouts to answer any questions, and take an assessment of your riding level.  Those who are selected to tryout will travel to Holly Hill Show Stable to ride an unfamiliar horse for our coach in order to replicate an IHSA show.  New members will be chosen based on their abilities that fit the class levels available. For more information, please visit our tryout page above or click here.  Potential members must be an undergraduate and full-time (12 credits) student. Please note that we only hold tryouts in the Fall.

I missed Fall tryouts. Can I tryout in the Spring?                                              We exclusively hold tryouts in the Fall, as our competitive season begins immediately and we need to select our competing roster as soon as possible to begin training. We do not hold tryouts in the Spring. If you missed Fall tryouts, you will need to wait until the following year to tryout.

How much does the team cost?                                                                            Lessons are $425 per semester and dues are approximately $120 – $180 per semester. These payments go towards the team’s expenses and competitions. The team also fundraises throughout the year to help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for members.

How do lessons work?                                                                                                      Each member will lesson six times per semester, once a week on Tuesday through Thursday at Holly Hill Show Stable. Members ride Holly Hill provided horses in their weekly lessons. BUET utilizes BU Club Sports’ vans to travel to lessons and they are driven by certified drivers. The total time it takes to go out to the farm, ride, and come back to campus is approximately 5 hours. Lesson groups and times are determined by each member’s class and work schedule.

What disciplines are offered through BUET?                                                    IHSA is judged on hunt seat equitation. We do not offer instruction or competition in any other discipline, such as Dressage or Eventing. We do encourage riders from all backgrounds to tryout, as the transition to equitation is often very manageable for most riders.

Can I bring my own saddle?                                                                                  Holly Hill Show Stable provides all tack and equipment for our lesson horses. We do not permit members to use their own tack, as the tack provided by the barn is custom fitted to our horses. All riders should have their own boots, breeches, gloves, and approved helmet.