Bees & Horses: A Year Like No Other
By Ashley Henry, Head Coach, SCAD Equestrian
When the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) hosted the Tournament of Champions in May, it was the first in-person competition that the SCAD Bees had participated...
More Than a Lucky Draw: Life Lessons From IEA
BY LEXI PLAISTED
I sat on a horse before I could walk on my own two feet. Horses have shaped my entire life, and yet the moment that changed my life the most occurred when...
IEA Judge Shares the Behind the Scenes of Hunt Seat National Finals
BY RITA TIMPANARO
I was honored to judge the 2021 Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Hunt Seat National Finals, April 22-25, 2021, held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agriculture Center, along with Mary Babick. This...
Sweet Briar College Celebrates 100 Years of Equestrian Excellence
By Savannah MannesPhotos by Cassie Foster Evans, Sweet Briar College
Looking for a proven pathway to turn your equestrian passion into a profession? Sweet Briar College has been helping riders become leading women for more...
Vladimir Littauer and the Art of Forward Riding
William Steinkraus, Joe Fargis, Lendon Gray, Scot Evans, Bernie Traurig. What do these respected horsemen have in common? All were influenced by the forward riding system established by Captain Vladimir Littauer.
Much of today's...
Why You Should Take Equestrian Studies College Courses Online This Summer
A Q&A with The Plaid Horse Publisher Piper Klemm
The Plaid Horse publisher Professor Piper Klemm, Ph.D., is offering her equestrian studies online courses for college credit again this summer. The courses run from May...
College Isn’t a Waste of Time for Aspiring Equestrian Professionals
BY HAYLIE KERSTETTER
While I spent a lot of time debating colleges, degrees and career paths, I always knew that I wanted to do something with horses. Many young people who want to work in...
Making the Grade: For College Coaches, All Eyes are on Heritage Farm
By Catie Staszak Media, Inc.
Maggie McAlary admits, she wasn’t planning on riding in college when she began applying to schools in 2009. The talented professional, now riding and coaching at the international level under...
College Preparatory Invitational Florida: A Different Kind of Horse Show
BY IAN MCFARLIN
Recently, I had the opportunity to show some really nice horses alongside talented riders in south Florida. No, I wasn’t battling it out for the top spot with Beezie, McLain or Kent...
A Practical, Well-Rounded Education Awaits at Emory & Henry College
Whether you want to pursue a college degree in equine studies or ride competitively at the collegiate level, Emory & Henry College is the perfect place for students to graduate with a top-notch, private,...
So Much More Than a Diploma: St. Andrews University Equestrian Studies
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
Picking a college is the first step of adulthood for many, and there are countless factors that go into determining which school is the best fit. But add horses into the mix?...
What Do You Wish You Knew Before Becoming a College Athlete?
The Plaid Horse asked this question to the College Equestrian Facebook group. Here are some of our favorite answers …
“Find quiet moments at the barn! Sometimes between practice, workouts, classes, and jobs, it’s easy...
Creating Opportunities: My Experiences as a Working Student In and After College
BY AMANDA TERBRUSCH
When you think of the words “working student” you probably think of aspiring professionals, junior riders looking to work their way onto the ‘A’ circuit, or even young teenagers willing to spend...
2020 National College Equestrian Association Fall Season Recap
BY AUBURN ELVIS
As COVID19 precautions became a daily reality in our 2020 world, most of the National College Equestrian Association opted out of Fall competition, focusing their attention instead on a Spring return to...
No Place Like Home? Bridgewater College to Sell Equestrian Center and Shift Riding Teams
BY WALTER ROBB
Bridgewater College used to feel like home.
I'm a junior here, and heavily involved in the equestrian program. Being able to learn to ride horses at school has been a dream of mine...
From Confusing to Life Saving – The IHSA Team That Became Home
BY CADY WAKITSCH
College student Cady found herself depressed and isolated in a new environment when she stumbled across the equestrian team—not realizing it was huntseat rather than her usual saddleseat. After her "sea of...
Sea of Green Ribbons
BY CADY WAKITSCH
College freshman, Cady, wanted horses in her life and headed to equestrian team tryouts only to realize that collegiate riding was a lot different than the saddleseat lessons of her youth. You...
Lake Erie College: Where Equestrian Career Dreams Can Become Reality
Originally from the September 2020 issue.
By Elyse Schenk
Contrary to popular belief, the start of college doesn’t have to mean the end of horses. In fact, higher education is a jumping-off point for an equine-based...
Lost in College – A Saddleseat Rider Uses (Hunter!) Horses to Find Her Way
BY CADY WAKITSCH
I never expected to continue riding horses after high school. I had been riding saddleseat since I was four, but I never owned or leased and didn’t get serious into competing. I...
Entering the Western World as a Hunter
BY MCKENNA DEBUS
Growing up in the hunter world, the most exposure I had to western riding was from cowboys in movies. My perspective of western was that it was rough around the edges and...
9 FAQs for Riders Interested in College IHSA Teams
BY ELIZABETH SOUSA
During college, there are a lot of questions that arise—ones you ask, and ones you’re asked. Being the captain of an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team, I’ve had my fair share...
Lessons Learned from Collegiate Riding Last After the Season Ends Short
BY TAYLOR MCRAE
Collegiate riding offers the opportunity to learn lessons that lectures and labs can never hope to impart. The experience of riding in university is unparalleled, and I am so thankful to have...
