News, news, news Charles Towne Equestrian Team

There has been a lot going on. As usual I've been burning the candle at both ends. I've got a couple of big announcements.

The first is the formation of a high school equestrian team. I will be coaching the team while Susan Batten will be sponsoring us. The team is open to students at all of the area high schools, but we have partnered with a Wando teacher to help us promote it within the school as well.

So you ask what is different with being on an equestrian team. You already have a trainer/coach/instructor, and may have your own horse. Why would you want to be a part of an equestrian team? Well many of you have dreams and goals of competing at the University level. Perhaps even at the NCAA Varsity level. The University level is a very different competition to anything that you have done in your show career to date. This team will be goverened by the Interscholastic Equestrian Association.

The format imitates the University system. When we go to competitions the only things we will take with us are our show clothes. The show organizers will provide the horses and equipment for us to use. We will be allowed to watch the horses schooled in the morning, but will not be allowed to get on them. During the day they will do a lottery draw to determine which horse/pony each rider will compete on. You will be allowed 10 minutes to acclimate yourself to your mount on the flat, and allowed 2 fences before you enter the ring to compete. One big difference will be the height that you compete at. The association has standards for what height each rider will compete at based on the height you jump at home. The assocation heights are considerably lower than you compete at home. There is sizeable consideration given to safety as you are competing on horses that you aren't familiar with. For example if you jump 3'3" at home you will compete at 2'6". If you jump 2'6" at home you will compete at 2' at the shows.

The competition is scored in 2 parts. Everyone competes at the individual level and can win their division. There is also an open division championship round for the top riders at the Varsity open level.

The second part is a team points total. The coach is responsible to submitting 5 riders in advance to be totaled for the team division. These 5 riders can change at each competition and will be determined the week of the competition.

Again this team will be open to any high school students in the area. If you are interested please comment on the blog and we will add you to the mailing list. We are planning an organizational/information meeting for the first weekend of August.

You can learn more at www.rideiea.com