East-West Arena Construction Blog

Equestrian/Equine Studies are offered at many colleges and universities around the nation. The curriculums are similar and most programs support a competitive equestrian riding team. Each university stands proud of their equine program not only for the academic value but the learning and training facility they offer their students and the riding program where teams compete in many regional and national horse shows sponsored by The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) and The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). Many universities use boarding and training facilities out in their communities while others have acquired or built their own equine centers on campus or in close proximity.

Many students are currently looking for and applying to top equestrian colleges with hopes of being accepted. However, these are tough times for the equestrian sport. In October, 2014 the NCAA recommended equestrian be cut from the list of emerging sports for Women's Athletics, sending shock waves through the equestrian community.

Many people may be somewhat familiar with the term 'Equestrian', but perhaps not so many people are aware that the sport is indeed one with historical lineage.

Most casual sports fans may be aware of (and perhaps, only aware of) Equestrian due to its presence in the Summer Olympic Games. Indeed, Equestrian in the Olympics has been around a very long time, having first been introduced as an Olympic event in 1900. All 3 Olympic disciplines currently seen today were introduced in the Olympic games by 1912.

Are you or your child hoping to study equestrian science or participate in an excellent riding program in college? You're in luck! We've provided a list of some of the top equestrian colleges in the United States.

With its roots in the northeast and Mount Holyoke College, the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) began as an informal, student-run equestrian competition between riders from regional high schools and colleges. Since 2003, IDA competitions are only open to colleges with members from across the United States and Canada. Although the organization has grown, it retains both the spirit and many of the rules and procedures from its casual beginnings. At its heart, the IDA is about the love of the sport and bringing schools together for showmanship, camaraderie, and training through competition.

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) was founded in 1967 from a design by Robert E. Cacchione, a sophomore student at Fairleigh-Dickinson College in New Jersey. The association was founded on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of economic means. The emphasis continues to be on learning, sportsmanship and teamwork. IHSA competitions have eliminated the expense of shipping horses and even owning horses to enable all students to participate.

Becker College offers students the chance to live both the bustling, cosmopolitan lifestyle in Worcester, New England’s second largest city or a quiet, rural life in the historic, New England town of Leicester. The combined enrollment of the two college campuses is over 30,000 students. Of this number, 22 students make up the Becker College Equestrian Team, which the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association ranks as one of the top-five teams of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

If you are looking for colleges that have equestrian programs, it is important to not only look at the degree programs that they offer, but also look at their equestrian facilities. One school you may want to look at is our Featured College Equestrian Facility: Sweet Briar College.  The Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center in Sweet Briar, Virginia, is ranked as one of the best college riding centers in the nation.

Located within an hour’s drive from Boston, the majestic White Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, the University of New Hampshire offers a classic New England atmosphere for its students. The equestrian teams especially enjoy the scenic, panoramic mountain views as they ride the incredible cross-country course. The UNH equestrian facilities offer horse boarding, expert competition training and top-notch indoor and outdoor arenas.

Mount Holyoke College is located in the scenic Pioneer Valley in South Hadley, Massachusetts. This incredible western MA town features a breathtaking view of the Connecticut River and Bare Mountain, a prominent peak of the Holyoke Mountain range. When you add the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, one of the top competitive equestrian facilities anywhere, to this gorgeous town, you have every girl’s dream college. Mount Holyoke is a girl’s college that offers an unrivaled education, along with championship riding teams.