All About Intercollegiate Eventing

Intercollegiate eventing is a club sports team at an USEA affiliate university. The teams provide a space where members of the eventing community and the university come together to support each other on their riding and academic endeavors. Teams have members competing at all levels and skills.

Membership

To be on your school’s eventing team, you must be a full time undergraduate student. Eventing teams do not require tryouts. The school does not provide horses for members so if you would like to compete you must have access to a horse to ride/compete on your own. However, members have the option of being a competitive or non-competitive/social member. The social membership provides opportunities for students to be involved without competing or having a horse. 

Team Challenge

USEA has a list of recognized events that host an intercollegiate team challenge throughout the year. Teams participating in an Intercollegiate Team Challenge will compete in the regular horse trial competition as individual participants and then also on a team. The cumulative scores of team members will be calculated, and these scores will be compared with those of other participating teams.

Activities

Outside of just competing at horse shows together, members participate in social events, fundraisers, clinics, and unmounted education. Many teams host schooling jumper shows and clinics with top level riders from all over the world.

Barns

Some teams do not have a school assigned barn or coach but many members of each team ride at the same barns. This varies on the size of the team at your school and the amount/availability of barns in the area. Members have the freedom to ride anywhere they please and create their own show schedule. 

Championship

There is an annual championship around the end of the school year where multiple colleges come together for a weekend full of comradery, friendly competition, and a whole lot of school spirit. Each school competes for two titles – Intercollegiate Champion and the coveted Spirit Award. Graduates and alumni are also encouraged to participate in the championship.

Intercollegiate eventing is a low commitment, very flexible, and extremely fun way to keep involved in the eventing world while away earning a degree. It is another opportunity to get more immersed in the equestrian community and your university. This program provides students a way to keep pursuing your goals, on and off your horse.