Horse Riders Get Scouted by Colleges and Universities at the College Bound Invitational
The show’s founder is Denna Johnson. “I got started doing the event because I am a trainer myself and I saw a lot of opportunities for young riders to get scholarships for riding, but a lot of times the kids did not have the information that they needed to take advantage of those opportunities,” says Johnson. She likes to think of the show as a way to inform riders of what is available.
To participate in the shows, students send in a video and an entry form. They are then placed in the class that he or she would qualify for in collegiate competition. With the show’s growing popularity, space has become limited. 180 to 200 students attend each show. “When you make your video you should keep it short and at the same time show off your talents,” says Johnson, “You should send in a tape with four or five different horses on it and jump two courses with USEF tests in one of them.”
This winter, high school junior Sarah Hinder participated in the College Bound Invitational. Sarah rode in one flat and one over fences class two days in a row. When asked about her experience she said, “It was very different. The meetings were helpful because we gained a lot of knowledge regarding the NCAA Clearinghouse and things of that natureâÂ?¦what coaches are looking for et cetera. The horses were not flashy but it helped to show who could really ride.” After the show Sarah received letters from schools such as the University of Tennessee, Virginia Intermont, and Saint Andrews College.
At the show, college coaches are usually looking for students who fit in well with their program and can fill available spots at any level. They also want students who can work well as a team and it is important not to get too upset if you have a bad ride. “They want riders to act professional and to be upbeat and positive the whole time,” says Johnson.
The show offers many other opportunities as well. Students can win different prizes during the show, including riding clothes and saddles. There is even a Team Championship, which groups of 2 to 5 students can participate in. Scholarships are available outside of the riding aspect of the show as well. These include essay, sportsmanship, and horsemanship scholarships that are available. The Full Partners Farm offers a Horsemanship Test through which students can receive a free week of camp.
The College Bound Invitational prep camp is held in June and July. The camp helps students better prepare for the show; only 18 to 20 students can participate in a camp session. Johnson says, “We cover how to choose a school, what questions to ask coaches, rules for both NCAA and IHSA riding and we do to lessons a day where the riders learn to ride many different horses.”
Sarah offers her advice to students who are considering participating in this great event: “Do your homework before you go down – if at all possible, contact the schools you are interested in and see if they are or are not going because it might not be worth it if there are no coaches you want see you ride. Also, really practice on many different horsesâÂ?¦it will really help.”
The College Bound Invitational is a great opportunity for students interested in riding during their college years. Students really learn a lot about the IHSA, the NCAA, and what riding in college involves. The next show will be held July 28th- 30th and entries are due by July 20th. For more information about the College Bound Invitational see their website: http://www.collegeboundinvitationalhorseshow.com.
