FAQs

Q. Do I need to own a horse to be on the team?
A. No, during team lessons you will be riding horses owned by Coach Missy Jo Hollingsworth. At every IHSA show, the horses are supplied by participating colleges in the region. Everyone in your class will draw a horse to ride out of this group, all horses are assessed to make sure they are appropriate for the class level.Q. Do I have to have any experience?
A. The IHSA is set up so that riders of all skill levels can compete, therefore no experience is necessary. The Cincinnati Equestrian Team is glad to welcome riders of any skill level.

Q. Does it take up a lot of time?
A. It’s all in what you make it, UCET can either take up a good portion of time or very little. Attendance is necessary for one hour-long lesson per week, and team meetings twice a month. If you show within the IHSA, you will have the option to participate in 10-12 shows a year (September-April). These shows typically last a whole weekend; if you are attending you are required to travel and stay with the team unless you are a student on co-op.

Q. Do I need to be a full-time student?
A. Any student may join the UC Equestrian Team. However, IHSA states that only full-time undergraduate students may participate in the competitions. This means you must currently be taking 12 credit hours a semester through the University of Cincinnati. Both the IHSA and UCET check your student status.

Q. How much does it cost?
A. Money paid to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association: IHSA membership fee is $40.00 for one discipline/year or $60.00/year for both Western and English. Note that this fee is only for members who are actively showing in IHSA, this fee will not impact the leisure team. At all shows, there is a fee of $30/class, with a maximum of two classes per show.

Money paid to the Cincinnati Equestrian Team: Dues are $500 each semester. These cover weekly lessons with our coach, team dinners at bimonthly meetings, transportation to shows and lodging. You may take more than one lesson per week or a private less, but this will go through Saddle Lake Equestrian Center and will not be covered by team dues. It is important to the Missy Jo and the board that team membership is as affordable as possible. The Cincinnati Equestrian Team currently has the lowest membership dues in the region.

Q. Where are the facilities located?
A. Saddle Lake Equestrian Center where most private and group lessons take place is located in Camp Springs, KY, 25 min south of main campus. IHSA Zone 6 Region 3 horse shows take place at multiple facilities throughout Kentucky and Ohio; transportation is provided to and from horse shows for those that are showing.

Q. What about show clothing?
A. Our coach will take the time to correctly outfit you. Show Tack, the tack store located at Saddle Lake, will carry/order the appropriate apparel, making this process time and cost efficient. This is a one time expense required to be a member of the competitive IHSA team. If you have participated in other horse shows and believe you have appropriate and well-fitting apparel, you can bring these items to be approved by Missy Jo.

Q. What do I need to bring to lessons?
A. You need to provide your own SEI certified riding helmet and suitable clothing. Our coach provides the team with horses and appropriate tack; some members choose to use their own saddles. There are lockers available to rent on site, should you choose to keep any items at the facility.

Q. Can I ride with the team before I am enrolled in classes?
A. YES! Missy Jo owns two full-service facilities, Saddle Lake Equestrian Center (Camp Springs, KY) and Saddle Lake Loveland. Both facilities offer group, semi-private, and private lessons.  Contact Missy Jo for details: [email protected].