Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join?
We typically have an interest / information meeting in the first couple weeks of the school year, where we will give a brief presentation on who we are and what we do. From there, we will organize tryouts then lesson schedules as fast as we can.
If you missed the beginning of the year info meeting, there is a lower chance that we will be able to fit you into a lesson group, but we strongly encourage you to still reach out to us at eqteam@umn.edu.
Who can join?
We try our best to take everyone with interest, regardless of riding background, gender, undergrad/grad status, ect. Our main restrictions when bringing people onto the team are scheduling and drivers. We also accept students from other schools in the Twin Cities area. They just need reliable transportation to the barn or to UMN for lessons. We do have a couple of restrictions with graduate students and students from other universities. Neither group can run for a board position (UMN policy) and grad students are not able to compete (IHSA policy).
How much time will the team take up per week?
We asked that each of our members participate in weekly lessons, which usually take 3-4 hours including transit time. We also have weekly team meetings on Thursday evenings, where we communicate important information and do team bonding activities. These meetings sometimes get converted into emails when we do not need to meet. We also have 2-3 fundraising events throughout the year. We usually attend around 4 shows each year, which will take up an entire weekend (although there are periods of downtime where we are able to do homework).
What are the costs associated with the team?
Lessons and shows are our main costs. Lessons are $55 per lesson for the hunt seat team and $185 per month for the western team. We also split gas money for our carpool drivers. We try to keep the cost of shows at a reasonable amount, but cannot guarantee a price depending on what our funding looks like year to year. To compete, you will also have to pay a $45 registration fee to IHSA.
Where are the barns and how do we get there?
Both teams practice at barns located in Stillwater, MN, which is about 30 minutes away from campus. The english team rides at Windfall Equestrian Center and the western team rides at Little Lanoux Stables. We typically carpool out to the barns with other team members from a central point on campus.
What are tryouts like?
They run similar to your typical riding lesson, but with less direction. It is a way for the coaches to see you ride and meet you, so that we are able to evaluate your compatibility with the team and place you in lesson groups. You should not stress too much about tryouts.
Do I need my own horse?
No! Our amazing coaches provide the horses we ride during lessons. At shows, we ride horses owned by the home team.
How do IHSA shows work?
We will leave campus before the sun comes up and drive to one of our opposing schools (UMC, NDSU, or UWRF). We check in with the registration desk then watch warm ups. While the horses are warming up, our coach and team captain will attend the coach’s meeting and horse draw. The fun of IHSA is that we don’t know what horse we’re competing on until the morning of. From there, the classes progress in somewhat reverse order (jumping classes then flat classes for hunt seat or open to rookie classes for western). Once the show finishes and we have collected our ribbons and packed up, we will head to either a hotel or back to campus and do it all again the next day.
What level will I ride / show at?
Our coaches will have you ride at whatever level you are comfortable at in lessons. At shows, the class you compete in is determined by a placement form put out by IHSA that you will likely take in the beginning of the year.