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Iowa State University IHSA Team Information

• General IHSA Information
• The Iowa State University Equestrian Team
• The Iowa State University Dressage Team

General IHSA Information

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) was founded by Bob Cacchione in 1967 as a means for college students of all riding levels and financial backgrounds to compete in equestrian competition. Colleges and universities from all over the country are included in the IHSA, and they are broken down into geographic regions and zones for competition. This is similar to the “conference” structure of other forms of collegiate athletics. Schools compete within a region during regular season competitions. Post season competitions include competitors from other regions within the Zone, as well as with competitors from other Zones.

IHSA showing is quite different from most other types of showing. Riders compete on horses that are provided by the school that hosts a particular show. Personal tack is not used – the riders bring only their show clothing. Before the start of each class, the rider draws the name of a horse out of a hat. The rider will compete on this horse with no prior warm-up. This format is designed to “level the playing field” for riders who financial background prohibits the ownership of their own horse. To be eligible to compete in IHSA, a rider must be a full-time undergraduate student at an IHSA enrolled school.

Riders compete against other competitors with a similar experience level. All classes are judged on equitation or horsemanship – the quality of the horse should not be considered in the judging of the class. There are two disciplines represented in IHSA – Hunt Seat Equitation (english), and Stock Seat Horsemanship (western).

Here is a brief description of the IHSA classes. Classes 1-8 are hunt seat classes. Classes 11-16 are stock seat classes.

Class 1	Walk-Trot Equitation - This class is for riders who can walk and trot (sitting and posting). These riders should be able to perform a halt and a 2-point at the walk and trot. If you have just begun cantering but don’t feel comfortable cantering in a large group, this may be your class. If you have been riding for longer than 2 years, you are not eligible for this class
Class 2	Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation - These riders should be very comfortable at the canter. They should know their leads and how to properly ask for the correct one. In addition, these riders should be able to perform a figure eight at the trot (with change in diagonals) and canter (with simple lead changes). If you have just started jumping you should be in this class.
Class 3 & 4	Novice Equitation on the Flat/Over Fences - These classes are for riders who are comfortable negotiating a complicated equitation course of 2’6” jumps on an unfamiliar horse. These riders should know how to count strides and complete a lead change. In addition, they should be able ride on the flat or over fences without stirrups. Contrary to the title of the class, this is not for beginning riders.
Class 5 & 6	Intermediate Equitation on the Flat/Over Fences - These classes are for advanced riders who have been showing regularly, but have not been riding in “The Big Eq” classes or Junior Hunters/Jumpers. Most people showing in this division have been regularly showing at 3’3”-3’6” in USAE shows.
Class 7 & 8	Open Equitation on the Flat/Over Fences - These classes are for riders who have been showing regularly (and winning at least some of the time) in Junior Jumpers/Hunters and The Big Eq classes, or ride advanced level dressage/eventing. These riders should be very comfortable jumping a complicated equitation course at 3’6” on an unfamiliar (and possibly green or difficult) horse.
Class 11	- This class is for riders who can walk and jog comfortably on an unfamiliar horse. They should also be able to perform a figure eight, a 360° turn, and back. If you have been riding for longer than 2 years, you are not eligible for this class.
Class 12	Intermediate Western Horsemanship - This class is for riders who are comfortable loping in a group, and who can perform a figure eight (at the jog or lope) and ride without stirrups. Generally, these riders have not shown in a recognized competition.
Class 13	Novice Western Horsemanship - This class is for riders who have competed in recognized competitions, but have not earned more than 30 points from any breed association in western classes. These riders should be comfortable at the walk, jog, and lope, and should be able to perform a figure eight (jog or lope), simple lead changes, and ride without stirrups.
Class 14	Advanced Western Horsemanship - This class is for more advanced riders. They should be able to perform simple lead changes and a counter canter. Riders in this class have generally won several horsemanship classes at recognized competitions.
Class 15	Open Western Horsemanship - These riders have competed successfully at Nationally recognized competitions, such as World competitions and Quarter Horse Congress.
Class 16	Open Reining - Riders who are eligible to compete in Class 15 may also compete in Open Reining.

Riders earn points for each ribbon they win in competition. Once a rider (with the exception of Open riders, see below) has accumulated 35 points in their class, they “point-up” into the next higher class. These points carry over from year to year. In addition, they qualify for the Regional Championship show at the end of the season. The top two riders from each class at Regionals move on to the Zone Championship show. The top two riders from each class at Zones move on to the National Championship show.

Open riders follow a different procedure. Open riders begin each year with zero points – their points do not carry over. They must accumulate 28 points in one competition season to qualify for Regionals. From there, the qualification procedures for Zones and Nationals are the same as the other riders. The high point rider (in hunt and stock seat) from each region automatically qualifies to compete at Nationals. High point hunt riders compete in the Cacchione Cup, and high point stock riders compete in the AQHA Trophy class.

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The Iowa State University Equestrian Team

The ISU Equestrian Team is a subset of the Equestrian club. To be a member of the team, you must be a club member. However, a club member does not have to be on the team! The team participates in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and includes both a Western and English team. We compete against other colleges in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. To be a member of the team (and IHSA), you must be a full-time undergraduate in good academic standing.

How do I join the team?
The team does not have try-outs; anyone who pays the appropriate fees is on the team. However, you must have an “evaluation ride” before the coach and team captains (during a Sunday Night Riding session). This ride helps us place you in your appropriate class. We want to make sure that you are placed in a class where you will be competitive, but safe.

To officially join the team, you must do the following…

1. Complete an IHSA placement form – this helps us select your appropriate class.
2. Come to Sunday Night Riding for an evaluation ride.
3. Complete an online membership application (more instructions will follow later).
4. Pay team and IHSA dues - $20 in team dues (per semester) and $30 additional dollars for one discipline or $40 for two disciplines.

• Club dues - $20 per semester
• Team dues - $20 per semester
• IHSA dues - $30 (one team) or $40 (two teams) per year
• Hotel fees - $10 per show weekend
• Class entry fees - $21 per class…Each weekend consists of one or two shows (one Saturday and one Sunday OR two on either Saturday or Sunday). You will show in one class per show (unless jumping or reining). The cost will be either $21 or $42 per show. (note: each weekend day (Saturday and Sunday is considered a seperate show. So, if you are jumping AND doing a flat class (for hunt) or doing a western class AND reining (for stock) the total weekend bill would be $84

• Helmet…… MUST be ASTM/SEI approved. Troxel, GPA, Charles Owen, and International models are appropriate. Contact the coach if there is any doubt.
• Tall boots… Black field boots or dress boots. Leather or synthetic leather is preferable over rubber. Rubber boots limit flexibility and grip.
• Breeches…. Tan, khaki, beige, or buff are the most appropriate colors.
• Hunt coat… Navy blue is a classic color – brown, green, tan, etc., are also acceptable.
• Ratcatcher.. White is always a great color choice, and other light colors are good as well. Bright, colorful shirts are acceptable, but lighter colors are preferred for equitation. Shirts should be worn with the collar; monograms and pins are not necessary. Men should wear a light colored dress shirt with a dark, conservative tie.
• Black gloves

• Hat……….. Make sure it fits well so it won’t fall off in the ring.
• Jeans………Jeans should be fitted and long (so they “slouch” over the heel of your boots). Wranglers are the most common brand of jean, but other similar brands are fine. Blue is always good, and black and tan are common as well.
• Belt………. You should always wear a belt. A large buckle is common but not necessary.
• Chaps…….. Chaps are optional and should fit well if you are going to wear them (or you will look sloppy).
• Cowboy boots

• Nymeyer’s at Tanglewood (mostly Hunt Seat) – 916 Grand Ave, West Des Moines (515)223-6585
• SS Tack and More (Hunt Seat) – 3660 Waterworks Pkwy, Des Moines (515)279-7409
• Al’s Boots and Saddlery (mostly Western) – 2920 S Duff, Ames (515)222-0620
• Hawkeye Tack (Western) – 720 E 30th, Des Moines (515)264-1622

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The Iowa State University Dressage Team

The Dressage Team is a new aspect of the ISU Equestrian Club. This spring, it is in an intense organizational process. We hope to have it up and running by Fall,2006. To be a member of the team, you must be a club member. However, a club member does not have to be on the team! We compete at universities in Ohio, including Otterbein, Findlay and Lake Erie College. To be a member of the team, you must be a full-time undergraduate in good academic standing.

The competing teams consist of four or eight members (per show) depending on the amount of interest. There are four levels in Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) competition: Introductory, Lower Training Level, Upper Training Level and First Level. Which level you qualify for is somewhat subjective and depends on if you have shown dressage and to what level in United States Dressage Federation (USDF) recognized shows.

How do I join?
Contact Christine if you are interested, she'll give you more information.

What are the costs?

• Dues are $25 per person.
• Entry Fees are $30 per show.
• Hotel Fees are about $20 per show.

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Be affiliated with the University (employed, grad student, student)
• Have knowledge of dressage.
• Be able to travel to the shows with the team. (two - three weekends per semester)