Intercollegiate Horse Show Association – IHSA

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) promotes competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams, at Regional, Zone, and National levels.

The IHSA was founded in 1967, based on a competitive prototype created by then-Fairleigh Dickinson College sophomore, Robert E. Cacchione, on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her financial status or riding level.

The IHSA emphasis is on learning, sportsmanship, and teamwork. The objective of IHSA is to offer students the chance to compete, as individuals and as members of a team, whether they are in their first years of riding or are seasoned competitors. Eliminating the expense of shipping or even owning horses puts IHSA competition within reach of many who might otherwise miss the equestrian experience.

Since its beginning, with just two intercollegiate competing colleges, today's IHSA is an organization that encompasses 36 Regions in 8 Zones with more than 370 member colleges in 47 states and parts of Canada - representing more than 8700 riders in Hunter Seat Equitation, Western Horsemanship, and Reining.

Teams that advance to Nationals represent their Zone for National Champion Team honors: winning the Collegiate Cup for the Hunter Seat division and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Trophy in the Western division. Individual riders advancing to Nationals compete for top honors in their division, and Regional high point riders are eligible for National Individual Championships in Hunter Seat and Western.

For more information, visit the official IHSA website at www.ihsainc.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter, @IHSAINC.