Have questions about collegiate riding?
When I was in my junior years of riding something I always went back and forth about was if I wanted to ride in college. I heard positive and negative things about riding in college. I can say that I am glad that I chose to do and also I am not glad that I chose to do it. Heres why!
I am glad I chose to pursue a spot on an NCAA equestrian team. I never had an interest in IHSA because frankly I didn’t want to be plodding around on some one eyed pony jumping 18 inches. I came to realize, top IHSA teams are far from this but also not really and maybe I should have given it a chance. Anyway, I digress, I was still on the fence about riding in college so my mom and I took a trip to Waco, TX to watch the Championships. After that weekend I came away confident that I could be and compete on an NCAA team. So the process started, and a long process it was.
My mom and I go footage together and she made me a video to send to colleges. One mistake I made was being selective and not sending my video to every team. Even if you think you don't have interest send a video anyway. I was not aggressively recruited because at the time I did not ride with a BNT or have any kind of name. So I marketed myself, I did everything in my power to secure myself a spot on a team. I sent in videos and went to clinics if they were offered and that is exactly how I got my spot. I was told at one of the clinics that I had a spot on the team if I wanted it. That day was a highlight because it not only confirmed that I was talented enough to do this but that other people saw it as well.
I am not ashamed to say only one college recruited me to be on their team. One thing I can say I wish I did was make another video. After my first year of having a real equitation horse my career bloomed. I had a nice horse, not a spectacular horse. I had to work to further my career. I rode with local trainers up until my last year and I took care of my own horses until my last year. I should have made another video highlighting my success when I was lucky enough to ride with a BNT. Also, it never hurts to ask if that BNT can call and “put in a good word” for you with that coach. I did neither of these things and regret it. But how I think about it is I ended up where I was supposed to be! :)
If someone has questions about college riding feel free to ask me. I would love to answer any and everything anyone wants to ask. I am honest and won't sell you something I don't believe in.
More to come on my actual experience on the Team stay tuned :)