The VUET was created for students who would like to be very involved in horseback riding. Team members
are required to ride at least once a week in a team lesson under the supervision of our coach. The IHSA
will hold up to 10 shows per year (6 in the fall, 4 in the spring) and members are encouraged to attend
as many shows as they can. Occasional mandatory meetings are held on campus in order to plan events and
discuss team business. When special events are held nearby, such as the Devon Horse Show, VUET may plan
a team trip that is optional for its members.
None, technically. Because the IHSA offers a range of class levels at each show, a rider with any amount
of experience can find a level appropriate for them! Some first-time riders have joined the team and been
successful at the lower show levels. However, it is recommended that you have some experience before you
join. New riders should take several lessons with the team before they consider competing.
Riders of any ability are welcome to apply to join the team.
Nope! At IHSA shows, you aren't even allowed to ride your own horse. To ensure that riders are on an
even playing field, riders take part in a random draw for horses at each show. Horses are supplied for you
at both the lessons and the shows, so you don't need to own one!
Many of the team members who own a horse choose to keep their horse at home. Because you cannot ride your
own horse at shows, members will benefit most if they ride different school horses each week in lessons.
However, members are welcome to ride as much as they want, wherever they want outside of the mandatory weekly
lesson. There are many barns in the area if you would like to board and continue riding your horse.
No, all tack will be provided for you at both lessons and shows. Despite this, some members choose to bring
their own saddles to lessons to use on the school horses. You're welcome to use your own saddle at lessons,
but you must use the tack provided for you when at shows.
IHSA shows will probably be unlike any other horse show you have attended. A typical show day would go
something like this: Team members (usually wearing comfy clothes) bring all of their show apparel to the
morning meeting place (usually between 5:30 and 7:30 am). A certain number of team members drive their own cars, first to Dunkin' Donuts ☺,
then to the showgrounds. All shows are within a 2 hour radius in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or
Maryland. Once at the show grounds, team members get dressed and review courses for fences classes.
Depending on their class time, members will either get ready to ride or sit ringside and support their
teammates. Before her class, a rider will find out what horse they have drawn and mount outside the ring.
Riders are not allowed to school or hack their horse! They can only walk their horse outside the ring
before the start of the class. A team member can ride in up to 2 classes per show, flat and fences.
If a rider is competing in both flat and fences, they will most likely have
be riding a different horse for each. Villanova always supports its riders, no matter
how well they place! At the end of the day, usually between 3 and 6 pm, team members load
back up into the cars and head back to Villanova.
VUET can be a very time-consuming commitment. A reasonable average would be 5 hours per week for the
mandatory team lesson (this estimate includes travel, grooming, tacking, etc.). Shows, of which there can be up to
10 per year, average 12 hours each. Most of our members have no problem balancing VUET with other
Villanova activities such as clubs, sororities, and community service.
There's just no way around it--horseback riding is an expensive sport. VUET does all it can to
minimize the costs incurred by its team members. Our riders are never obligated to: ride more than
once per week, participate in costly special trips or events, or buy Villanova Equestrian team apparel. Riders must however: pay for their
team lesson ($35/week), pay for their show entries ($23/class), pay a coaching fee ($10/show), and provide
their own riding apparel. Team members are also asked to pitch in a few dollars to the driver of each lesson/show trip.
Because you do not need to own your own horse or tack, members need only their own riding apparel.
A show outfit would include: helmet, hunt coat, ratcatcher (show shirt) and choker, gloves, breeches, and
tall show or field boots. During lessons, riders can wear paddock boots and jeans with chaps if
they prefer.
The first step to joining VUET is to fill out this form.
We will place you on our team mailing list and let you know everything you need to join. New members ride
in a half-hour private lesson ($35) with our coach to determine IHSA level placement. If you
decide you'd still like to join, you'll be invited to a team meeting to meet all of our team members.
We'll be in contact with you to inform you of your membership status.
