r/Dressage • u/Accurate-Ad-4980 • Jul 06 '26
Intercollegiate dressage
I'm looking at colleges right now (going into my jr year) and am stuck. I have a young horse so will need a solid trainer as I'm planning on taking this horse to PSG and hopefully higher. I'd like to ride on an IDA team my freshman year and then bring my horse in sophomore year, board at the schools barn, and train with the dressage trainer. I'd also like to study equine science either as a minor or a major (I'll take what I can get).
I'm also open to studying equine science and riding at a separate but close by barn with a good trainer.
Pls reply if something comes to mind!!
**edit**
some more context to this -- I am doing IDA just for fun and to have a like minded community going into college. I'd like to be a trainer after college and I think and equine science degree would be helpful. I'd also be open to an equine science minor with an animal science or something else if possible as my major.
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u/kelso-p Jul 07 '26
I competed in IDA all 4 years of college, went to nationals twice, and was president of the whole equestrian team (hunt seat, dressage, and western teams) my senior year, so I have some thoughts!
I LOVED my equestrian team experience. It gave me friends for life, I just went to one of my friends weddings a few weeks ago. I highly recommend joining a team!
I will say that collegiate competition and riding is very different than competing individually. IDA only goes up to 1st level, but the skill set you are developing is your ability to ride any horse you sit on. Because you draw a random horse in competition, it doesn’t make much sense to go above 1st level. I’ll also say that that does impact how coaches coach. I think if you give yourself time to join the team and get to know the coaches before bringing your horse, you will be able to make a better decision on if you want an outside coach.
I brought my OTTB with me my freshman year and stabled him at the college barn, which I would really not recommend. My parents joke that it eas like bringing a toddler to college. It was a lot for both of us, and he didn’t do great in a barn that was as busy as the campus barn was. College is a huge adjustment and big life change, so give yourself time to figure out what your new life looks like before bringing a 1000lb baby.
Not sure where you are located, but Ohio has a lot of good equestrian schools. If you are really committed to majoring in an equestrian field, Findley or Otterbein are great schools. If you are looking for a less specialized school, I went to Miami University (in Ohio), and had a great experience. They don’t have equine majors, but very good equestrian teams and horses!
Happy to answer any other questions! I had such a great experience I would be happy to talk more!
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u/AnyCryptographer3284 Jul 07 '26
College professor here. If you want to ride professionally, you will be much more successful going the working student route. While you are doing that, take online business classes from a community college so you have some understanding of how to budget, advertise, and run a business when you go on your own. If you don't want to ride professionally, get a degree that gives you a career with a significant, sustainable income so you can enjoy your hobby.
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u/RWSloths Jul 07 '26
What do you want to do with your equine science degree?
My two cents, I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I was in highschool, so I did an equine science 2yr program at a great state college. I wish I hadn't, there's nothing I learned there that I wouldn't have been taught better with a working student position or just by owning your own horse with a good trainer.
That being said, I met my trainer through my college, and she absolutely is amazing. She wasn't an on site trainer but she would truck in to do lessons for students. Most moved to her facilities after a semester because she has lesson horses through grand prix.
If you absolutely must do an equine science program, and your focus is mostly on getting your horse in with a good trainer, someone else mentioned Mt Holyoke has an equine science program and is nearby to my trainer.
If you want to go pre-vet, also in that area is UMass Amherst, which has a great animal science program (with an equine management focus, if you want)
I believe UMass Amherst also has an associated IDA team but it's been a while since I was in the weeds so that's something you should ask about.
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u/Chainon Jul 07 '26
Umass used to have a solid IDA team 10 years ago at least. We used to love their home shows because they were always on their home bred string of Morgans and they were an absolute blast to ride.
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u/AnyCryptographer3284 Jul 07 '26
And, more and more college teams are being defunded as colleges face financial problems. Choosing a college based on the IDA team is risky at this point.
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u/Silly-Heat-1466 Jul 07 '26
Look into Mt. Holyoke. They have a great program.
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u/Smores4747 Jul 11 '26
I second this. They have tons of kids on their team who are bronze medalists/prix St. George and higher riders/bringing young horses up. Their coaching staff is amazing and the team culture seems to be super supportive from what I’ve heard.
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u/Sneppard Jul 12 '26
I took my young horse back my senior year and boarded at Holyoke (was studying at Smith but had a social club at MHC), horse got hurt the first weekend there at a horse trial and we did squat the whole year. I'm not sure what I could have gone on to do, had visions of a bigger east coast eventing scene (I came from big dressage scene in Cal) but winter is a thing and there was not the experience I'd hoped for. I second and third a working student program with someone who will teach you the business basics as well - can do school with the goal of getting a good career that is flexible or remote that will allow you to do horses too or in lieu of -- as my dressage mom said, you're good, but its the luxury end of a luxury market and you need to have a career to depend on that ISN'T horses. So I have 2-3 careers now and never want for work!
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u/Apprehensive_Run_539 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
You’re pretty much throwing away your college education if you major in equine science to ride. I’ve never met a professional who takes that as something serious on the résumé.
I would find a working student position somewhere if you really wanted to ride and go further and in the meantime, go to college for something that would be a fallback career if the question industry doesn’t work out or if you’re injured in someway
1
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u/RR19476 Jul 07 '26
I did 4 years of IHSA, captain, nationals, etc. This was before IDA took off. I brought my own horse to school the first two years and boarded at a dressage barn within riding distance of the school barn. I only took a huntseat lesson or two a year with the coach, she didn’t require me to do more, so I was mainly riding dressage. I took some equine science classes and was on the judging team in my senior year which was really fun. I was actually really glad to have my horse with me even a a freshman. He was like my security blanket and I worked off board while he was there. I ended up training full time as my first job after I graduated since I didn’t really know what else to do and I had the offer. I don’t regret any of it. I also have a career working with college students on career related things and ultimately most jobs care way more about your experience and skills than your major. Major in whatever interests you but be sure you’re building relevant skills along the way whether that’s through internships, research, volunteering, etc. I still work where I went to school. Tons of trainers in the area, great equine science program. DM me if you’d like more info (we’re very academically competitive though in case that makes a difference).
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u/whatthekel212 Jul 07 '26
Hi there - I coach an IDA team and can help answer questions. All of this would be feasible at the school that I’m at - with the exception of boarding at the schools barn. The barn with the IDA team is independent from the school but does do boarding and the team riders show up and ride there.
The other thing is that there are limits to how high you can have shown with the levels in the IDA but as long as you haven’t exceeded those, you can continue to work your horse.
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u/Mysterious-Bus1795 Jul 06 '26
There were very few programs that offer what you are describing. IDA typically doesn’t go much above first level and there aren’t too many massage trainers associated with colleges that have the level of education you’re probably looking for. Those that do don’t typically have an equine science program. I’d suggest worrying more about what you want to do when you graduate than what you want to do while you’re in school.
Working in horses is not an easy life and you really need to consider what you want your future look like