Equestrian Program Inquiry

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My advice, although I accept it's not everybodies, is to keep the equines a recreation. I think it's a personality thing. Schraf is sure to disagree.

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Well, if everybody kept their equine involvement recreational, then there would be nobody to teach us how to care for, train, and safely ride the things.It sounds, though, that Percy's daughter does want to keep things recreational.Percy, what I would advise is to send her to the best English program she can get into in the Northeast. I specifically mention this region because, as I am sure you are aware, there is a longstanding, vibrant tradition of equestrian sports there.Most colleges and universities in the NE will either have some kind of equestrian club or team, or there will be a nearby private training facility that she can take lessons at and maybe they will want her to teach the up-downs on the weekends if she wants to do that.She does hunters, right?This message has been edited by schrafinator, 02-03-2006 11:03 PM

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English has more applications. Be a generalist, they have a better survival rate.

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Hooray, another advocate for liberal arts education!This message has been edited by schrafinator, 02-03-2006 11:07 PM

I know.Just sayin'.

Sure, you can post a list, although I'm going to know more about the equestrian programs than the english departments.

The only one I know about firsthand is the U of Miami.They have become quite a force in the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Asosociation) and she could get really involved with horses and competition (western, hunter seat equitation and Dressage) if she wanted to while in college there. Like, they have a big instruction staff, facilities and everything.I won my Intermediate equitation class there, though! I read a bit about the USC coach and she has a strong Eventing and Dressage (=good basic riding technique) background and I like the pictures of her riders posted on the website very much (they look like they know how to ride and not just sit on a horse and equitate). Also, USC lists Equestrian as an actual varsity sport, which is great for funding.College of Charleston seems pretty into the hunter seat equitation IHSA, but no dressage. They have it as a varsity sport, too.Pepperdine looks to also be a hunter seat equitation school, although I can find nothing about who the instructors or coaches are. It is nice in that there are varying levels of participation within the club; competing, non-competing, etc.Hope this helps. I think she needs to decide the following:1) How much do I want to commit to riding?2) How much do I want to show?3) Do I care if I am riding in huntseat equitation classes as opposed to dressage?4) How intense do I want the overall experience to be, and how much does it matter to me to advance my skills as a rider at this time?

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Virginia Intermont was one of the major schools that would come up to Lake Erie College to compete in the Team Jumping Prix de Ville competition.They often did well, as the only thing they did was show jumping at their school, but we were never very impressed with their riding, or with the way they or their horses behaved. Kind of standoffish people and very, very hepped up horses. That was over 15 years ago, though, so a lot may have changed since then.I had a look at their website and it seems as though they have a really big program that is very focused on competition and equestrian studies majors. They have added huntseat equitation and dressage, which is good.Also found this:

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