Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join?
The best time to join is at the beginning of the school year, at our 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.
Please Note: We have already had our info meeting and tryouts for the 2025/26 year and a majority of our lesson groups are looking full for the Fall 2025 semester.
Who can join?
We try our best to take all students with interest, regardless of riding background. Unfortunately, our team has a limited number of resources and we aren’t able to take everyone, especially at the beginner level.
Please Note: We are currently not able to accommodate riders with little to no experience as we don’t have the resources to safely teach you the basics before throwing you into a group lesson and / or show ring.
How much time will the team take?
Each member is asked to participate in weekly lessons, which usually takes ~4 hours (including drive time). This is a stricter requirement, as it’ll better prepare you for show and allow our coach to continue hosting us.
We also have whole team meetings on various evenings throughout the semester as well as a few fundraising events and around 3 IHSA shows each year, which usually run Friday - Sunday.
What are the costs associated with the team?
Lessons are $55 per lesson plus gas money for our carpool drivers, which is set by the drivers but is usually around $15 per month. Show prices can vary based on our funding for the year, but we typically try to keep the pricing under $300. Usually it comes closer to $150-$225. IHSA also has a yearly membership fee of $45 (only for those who compete).
What gear / equipment do I need?
All riders are required to wear a helmet and a boot with a small heel when mounted. Riders must also wear breeches (preferred by the English team) or jeans (preferred by the Western team). If you do not have one of these items, let us know as the team or the barn often have extras that can be rented out.
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 barn 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 also has a wonderful team behind her who help support us and occasionally fill in for her in lessons.
What are tryouts like?
They are an initial ride with our coach to evaluate your riding skills so that we can place you in an appropriate lesson group. We also use tryouts as a space to orientate you at our barn, as each barn has different policies and practices. You should not stress about tryouts.
Do I need my own horse?
No! Our coach provides the horses and tack we use during lessons. At shows, we ride horses owned or rented by the home team. We are not able to accommodate boarding of personal horses for team members.
How do IHSA shows work?
We will leave campus early and drive to one of our opposing schools (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 in a somewhat random order. Once the show finishes and we have collected our ribbons, we either head to a hotel (for NDSU) or back to campus (for UWRF) and do it all again the next day.
What level will I ride / show at?
We try our best to put you in a lesson group that is a similar riding level. At shows, the class you compete in is determined by a placement test put out by IHSA and will likely be different from what you’re schooling.