What is the Amherst Equestrian Team?
The Amherst Equestrian Team is an active, competitive club of approximately thirty riders. As a club organization, membership is open to ALL students who simply express an interest in learning or improving their hunt seat equitation. While riding is truly a sport of individual skill, the Amherst Equestrian Team emphasizes both teamwork and bonding.
Who is the Amherst Equestrian Team?
We're a group of overly enthusiastic horse lovers representing every class at Amherst College. Because we do not hold try-outs, we have riders of all abilities and different riding backgrounds. Outside of riding, Amherst riders are also involved in tons of other activities from varsity sports to student publications to community service groups. Simply put, we're a great mix of students at Amherst, but we all share the love of horseback riding.
How Do Riding Lessons Work?
We take lessons at Biscuit Hill Farm in Shelburne Falls, MA, which is owned by John and Beth Manning. Riders take one to two lessons a week with up to four other riders and lessons are grouped according to skill level. Riders who jump in shows are required to ride twice a week. Riders carpool to the barn and should ideally leave up to an hour before lesson time in order for transportation and to tack and groom. The barn is able to accomodate our busy schedules by offering lessons Mondays through Saturdays.
How Much Do Lessons Cost?
For once-a-week riding, lessons are $280 for an eight-week semester. Twice-a-week riding is $560. Because we are a club sport instead of a varsity sport, we are not supported by the athletic department and must cover our own fees. We are, however, co-sponsored by the Student Activities Fund of the Association of Amherst Students (AAS). Therefore, the AAS Budgertary Committee subsidizes some of the costs and we are reimbursed at the end of the season. We realize that riding is an expensive sport and not accessible to everyone who is interested. However, we have recently made very strong efforts to cut costs where we can and with the help of AAS, we have made this club more reachable for those interested. For those who are unable to front the costs of lessons, we are able to take care of their fees with the help of the AAS because we do not want to deny anyone the chance to ride becuase of financial limitations.
What About Horse Shows?
In addition to the lessons, riders are able to compete in five or three weekend shows per semester. The Amherst Equestrian Team is a Zone 1, Region 3 member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The coach assigns each rider to a class in which to compete based on his or her riding ability. This ensures that everyone within a class competes with other riders of a comparable ability. No one is required to show, but we encourage anyone who has an interest to try it. Shows are always on Saturdays and the team leaves very early in the morning from Amherst. The morning of a show, every rider is randomly assigned a horse to ride. Because we ride the hosting colleges' horses, the rider gets a brief description of the horse and some tips. During the show, when we are not preparing for our classes, we are responsible for helping and supporting our teammates. We encourage everyone to stay the duration of the show to cheer on other riders and, of course, to have fun. Riders who earn enough points by winning several ribbons at weekend shows can go on to compete in a Regionals, Zones, and even Nationals.
Who Do You Compete Against?
Amherst College competes against the following schools from Zone I, Region III in Hunt-Seat Equitation: Becker College Clark University Hampshire College Holy Cross College Mount Holyoke College Smith College Springfield College University of Massachusetts Westfield State College Williams College Do you need previous show experience to ride with the Amherst Equestrian Team? Absolutely not! The IHSA Horse Shows has entries at the Beginning Walk-Trot level (those with very little to no show experience) to the Open Flat and Fences (for the very experienced rider). Several riders have become members of the club with no prior show experience and have gone on to ride very successfully in IHSA shows. You also do not need to own your own show clothes because we often share clothes between the team.