ABOUT US
The IHSA Hunt Seat team is open to riders of all skill levels who are full time undergraduate students at Western University. Riders compete both individually and as a team at regional, zone, and national levels. The season takes place during the fall, winter, and spring at various venues throughout Michigan. During the year, riders accumulate points in their respective divisions each time they show. Once enough points are accumulated, they may move up a division. Points are accumulated with the goal of qualifying for Regional Finals, where the top two riders in each class then move forward to the Zone Finals. The top two competitors in each class at Zones then qualify for National Finals, which take place during the beginning of May, at a central location in the United States.
In order to show on the IHSA Hunt Seat team, riders will pay per division (differs based on show), and require a safety certified helmet, standard hunter/jumper show clothes (dark coloured show jacket, tan breeches, smooth leather boots and/or half chaps) and a few organizational memberships. All horses are provided by the host school, so no need to worry if you don't have a horse!
All shows take place over the weekend, but some shows take place over both days, which requires us to stay overnight at a hotel and show both Saturday and Sunday. Other shows only take place over a single day. These extended competitions allow for plenty of team bonding, and while there may be some teammates competing against each other, enthusiasm and team spirit are the major objectives of our team. Our emphasis is on learning, sportsmanship, and fun.
There is a division for all levels of riding so don’t be intimidated if you don’t have previous show experience. The divisions range from beginner and advanced on the flat, to novice, intermediate, and open over fences. The IHSA Hunt Seat team is a great way to begin or build upon your riding and showing career. We are a fun, caring, and supportive team, and we look forward to having you!