Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join?
The best time to join is at the beginning of the school year, at our interest / info meeting. If you missed the 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.
2025/26 Info Session: TBD (Likely evening of Sept 4th or 11th)
Who can join?
We try our best to take everyone with interest, regardless of riding background. This includes grad students and students from other universities within the Twin Cities metro area. Unfortunately, our team has a limited number of resources and we aren’t able to take everyone, especially at the beginner level.
Please Note: To compete with IHSA, you must be a full-time undergraduate student.
How much time will the team take?
Each member is asked to participate in weekly lessons, which usually takes ~4 hours (including drive time). We have whole team meetings on various Thursday evenings as well as a few fundraising events and around 4 IHSA shows each year, which usually run on the weekends.
What are the costs associated with the team?
Lessons are $55 per lesson plus gas money for our carpool drivers, which is usually around $15 per month. Show prices can vary based on our funding for the year, but we typically try to keep pricing around $100-$250. IHSA also has a yearly membership fee of $45 (only for those who compete).
What gear / equipment do I need?
Riders are required to wear a helmet and a boot with a small heel. Riders must also wear breeches (preferred by the English team), jeans (preferred by the Western team), or leggings. If you do not have any one of these items, let us know as we often have extras.
Where is the barn and how do we get there?
Both teams ride at Windfall Equestrian Center, which is located roughly 35 minutes east of campus in Stillwater. We typically carpool out to the barns with other team members from a central point on campus (usually on East Bank).
Who is the coach?
Jennifer Coleman is our amazing head coach! She has a wonderful team behind her who also help support us.
What are tryouts like?
They are an initial ride with our coach to determine whether you would make a good fit with the team and evaluate your riding skills. You should not stress too much about tryouts.
Do I need my own horse?
No! Our coach provides 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 early and drive to one of our opposing schools (UMC, NDSU, or UWRF). While we are watching the horses warm up, our coach and team captain will attend the coach’s meeting and horse draw. From there, classes will run from more advanced classes to more beginner classes. Once the show finishes and we have collected our ribbons, we either head to a hotel or back to campus and do it all again the next day.
What level will I ride / show at?
Our coach 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 test put out by IHSA that you will likely take in the beginning of the year.