The IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) Club at Kansas State University is sponsoring a regional horse show September 16-17 at Vermillion Valley Equestrian Center, Belvue, Kansas.
This will be the first show hosted by the Wildcats since the athletic department dissolved the equestrian team in 2014.
“We are excited to welcome students from 13 universities from the Midwest to this competition,” said Ann White, hunt seat (English) team coach.
“Entries are not yet complete, but we are expecting about 100 participants,” White commented.
Riders will draw a horse provided by the KSU host and enter the arena without any warmup. Classes start with introductory walk trot and go through advanced levels with jumping.
Last year, the KSU English team went undefeated in this region and advanced to zones and nationals.
“I am looking forward to another successful year. We have a lot of promising riders,” Coach White said.
“The mission of IHSA is to provide equestrian competition for all college and university students regardless of riding level, gender, race, sexual orientation, or financial status,” White explained. “The IHSA is dedicated to promoting sportsmanship, horsemanship, and academic excellence.”
With more than 60 members (and growing), the IHSA club at KSU has students who have never been around horses through those who have competed at a national level.
“Our club membership has the option to join the competition teams,” Coach White said. “But a student does not have to compete to be part of the club. Team members have more financial and time commitments.”
The club has educational seminars, clinics, guest speakers, social events, and fund raisers which involve equine as a focus.
“We also have a Western team coached by Sarah Mattocks. That competition offers introductory riding through advanced ranch riding,” White informed. Several students participate on both teams.
White and Mattocks volunteer their time to serve as team coaches and club advisors.
The KSU IHSA team is self-funded, and the students must pay for their ride times, White pointed out. Horses are provided by the Vermillion Valley Equine Center which is located 30 miles from campus.
“The team is lobbying that as Kansas State University expands their equine facilities and equine curriculum, they will provide support and opportunity for this club to exist on campus as the rodeo club does,” White said.
“The IHSA is a huge recruiting tool across the country and the team at KSU is hoping that the administration will take notice, consider them as such,” Coach White commented.
“It is really eye opening to travel all over the country to other schools and see the support of their equine activities and incorporation of their teams,” White observed. “While we are part of a big agricultural university with a well-known animal science department, our riders have to travel off campus and totally fund themselves.”
The IHSA club continues looking for fund raising opportunities and sponsorships.
Additional information about KSU’s IHSA team is available at ihsaatkansasstate.com, with more Intercollegiate Horse Show Association details at ihsainc.com.
Vermillion Valley Equine Center facts are at vermillionvalleyequine.com.
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CUTLINES
Vermillion Valley Equine Center (VVEC) near Belvue will host a regional IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) show September 16-17, sponsored by the IHSA Club at KSU.
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Hunt Seat Team at KSU has won regional championships the past four years.
