Can I get horse scholarships for college?

I ride competitively and am wondering if there are horse scholarships available for college. How do I find these opportunities, and what do I need to apply? Any advice from people who have been through the process would be awesome!

Absolutely, there are a number of equestrian scholarships available for college students. These scholarships often fall into two categories: those awarded by colleges with an equestrian team (often through the athletic department), and those awarded by external organizations.

If you're looking to apply to colleges with an equestrian team, you might find athletic scholarships available. Schools within the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA), an affiliate of the NCAA, are the main ones offering athletic scholarships for equestrian sports. Not all schools can provide full scholarships, but many offer partial scholarships.

Entry into such programs is often competitive, as there are many accomplished riders vying for limited spaces. Your riding skills, horsemanship knowledge, and show record will all be important in the selection process. You'd want to have a strong resume detailing your equestrian experience. Regularly participating in competitive events like dressage, show jumping, or eventing at recognized riding clubs or federations can really solidify your experience.

Additionally, there are external scholarships geared toward equestrians. These are offered by different equestrian organizations and foundations, such as the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) or the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). Eligibility criteria for these will vary, so it's important to read each scholarship’s guidelines carefully.

To find these opportunities, you could use scholarship search platforms or look at the scholarships page of equestrian organizations, or contact your school's college counselor who might know of such opportunities. Also, reach out to the colleges you're interested in and ask about equestrian team scholarships.

In all these cases, it's key to start early. Most scholarships have deadlines in the senior year of high school, but it won’t hurt to start identifying potential scholarships as early as the sophomore or junior year. This gives you ample time to gather all the necessary information, put together a solid application, and inquire about detailed requirements if necessary.

Lastly, just remember that applying for scholarships is a numbers game. Apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of receiving some sort of financial aid. Good luck!