What are the best equestrian colleges?

Well, I started off at an equine school, the University of Findlay in Ohio. While searching for a school, I also looked at Sweet Briar, Virginia Intermont, Lake Eerie College, Mount Holyoke, and Centenary College. They were all good schools with slightly different equine emphases. I settled on UF because you spent the most time in the saddle and I received a hefty scholarship offer.

However, I really hated the equine program at my school. I don't want to go into huge details, I just disagreed with some of the practices going on there and I thought some of the horses shouldn't be pushed the way they were. I also quickly realized that an equine degree was not really worth much after college since most major barns don't know what to do with them. There are no set standards for equine programs, so trainers don't know what you learned. The best colleges offer internships at top barns, but these programs are usually short. I ended up leaving the program to go work as a working student for a Grand Prix show jumper. This was the better option for me personally because I made some great connections, got my name in the horse world, and had the opportunity to travel and show at some great competitions.

If you have your heart set on working with horses, I highly recommend you skip the equine degree and get real world experience with the best trainer you can find. By all means get your degree, but major in something else that interests you. Every college with an equine program will encourage you to double-major anyway, since they know it's hard to do anything with an equine studies degree alone.

If you're like me, you're probably brushing off this advice, because that's what I did. I learned the hard way and I could have saved myself thousands of dollars and a lot of wasted time if I'd taken this same advice. Of course, every school is different and times are changing. But I still don't put much faith in equine degrees. Applicants who come to me for jobs are judged on the amount of real world experience they've had: who they've trained with, how much they've shown, and what they've won. The degree never enters the equation.

Also, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association can be a great way to stay involved with horses while you're at college. There are IHSA riding teams at over 400 schools now, and many practice 3 times a week or more. They're active at a variety of schools and they can be a great way to stay active in the show world without needing your own horse. There are downsides to the IHSA, too, since they're no guaranteeing what horse you'll ride and that can play a big part in your placing. But it is something to consider.

If you're set on equine school check out http://horsesmarts.com/ for information on all schools with equine programs and IHSA riding teams. Best of luck.

Equestrian Colleges

Are you willing to go anywhere?

If you're willing to come to Canada, the college in Olds, Alberta has a great equine studies program - look up Olds College and info of the program is there on the website. They have a stable on site where you can bring your own horse and board etc or they have horses for yearly lease etc so youre around the stables and horses all the time. Otherwise you can check out Guelph University which is in Ontario they also have a really solid Equine Science and general studies program. Both reputable colleges/universities.

Happy Studying : 0)

I'm applying to the University of Louisville. I'm majoring in Equine Business, but I hear they have a great equestrian team. I don't have a horse ready for it, so I won't be competing until at least junior year.

Best of luck!

Lake Erie College in Ohio.

They an 85 acre horse facilty

they focus mainly in HUnter jumpers, dressage and eventing

they have a team

you can bring your own horse and compete and take lessons on him

or

you can ride a school horse and show him

they have outside shows you are allowed to compete in

NCAA-you can not ride your own horse-it stays @ home or becomes the colleges

You can not show outside of school even in the summer unless you quite the team no matter whoose horse you ride.

They also offer degrees in coaching, equine sciences, mangment

plus you can easily get a major in another feild such as english or buisness while still being envolved in the equestrain program.

-this is the school i want to attend very badly so i have down lots of research.

William Woods University in MO is smaller, but they have a very equestrian focus, along with other majors as well. I know they have horses available there to ride for lessons, as well as to travel to shows with. This was one of my choices before I switched to a pharmacy major.

in ohio the really good equestrian universities are Ohio State University, University of Findley and University of Miami.

There is one riding program in Michigan called Albion which has all new facilities and is very prestige.

i live in california....

cal poly pomona is a really really good college for a person who wants to be around horses...

you dont have to have your own horse to be in the equine program.....

cal poly pomona is also the biggest arabian breeding facility that i have ever seen

they have monthly shows that the public can come to and there is jumping and dressage (i think)

you might also consider cal poly san louis obispo (not sure about the spelling) ive never been there but ive heard really good things about it

i will be going to a city college and hopefully transfer to one of these amazing colleges

Midway College in KY http://www.midway.edu/index.html

Midway has huntseat, and dressage / eventing :]

and

Lake Erie College in OH http://www.lec.edu/equestrian

Well I hope this helps you and good luck!

Our neighbor went to Sweet Briar in Va. Being able to bring her own horse was the deciding factor for her. I don't know anything about it except that it is pricey.