Horse Showing
The team has two components, a home team and a show team. Riders are not required to show, however, if a rider chooses to show, she will show in IHSA regulated shows. An IHSA show is run a bit different from a typical horse show, specifically because riders are awarded prized based solely on equitation.
Riders are placed in classes, which in the IHSA competition go from Walk-Trot to Open. Descriptions of the classes can be found below. On the day of the show, riders board a bus at Bucknell University to travel to the stable hosting the show. Once at the show, a horse draw occurs. Each rider is randomly assigned a horse for each class the rider is in. Riders then gather with the team to observe the horses being schooled and to determine the best way to ride each horse. Before the rider's class begins, the rider is expected to find and mount the horse. The rider then shows and exits the ring. The rider is then expected to meet with Farra to discuss how the ride went. After the show is finished, all riders board the bus and travel back to Bucknell as a team.
Class |
Description |
Walk-Trot |
beginner level, on flat only; riders entering this class have had less than 24 weeks of instruction and have never competed in a competition requiring them to canter |
Beginner Walk-Trot-Canter |
on flat only; riders entering this class have not had more than 24 weeks of instruction and has never jumped over 18 inches in competition; riders point out of this division at 18 points. |
Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter |
on flat only; riders entering this class have not jumped over 2'9 in competition |
Novice |
flat and fences classes; fences will be no greater than 2'9; riders entering this class have not jumped over 3' and have not won more that 5 hunt seat competitions |
Intermediate |
flat and fences classes; fences will be no greater than 3'; riders entering this class have not won more than 10 hunt seat competitions and no more than 6 competitions over fences |
Open |
flat and fences classes; fences will be no greater than 3'3; riders entering this class have won at least 10 hunt seat competitions and more than 6 competitions over fences |
In all classes except where noted riders need 35 points in order to qualify for regionals and point up to the next class. A first place is worth 7 points, a second place 5 points, and so on. Point totals for each rider are kept by the secretary of the team. It is possible to be placed in one class for fences and another class for flat. Class placement is all determined at the start of the season using an IHSA generated form. Please check out the IHSA site for more information