Fairfield, CT - The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association is pleased to announce that 2011 defending national champion, Berry College, is among the Western teams qualified for the 39th edition of the IHSA National Championships, May 3-6, at the Hunt Horse Complex of the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

IHSA executive director, Robert E. Cacchione, and St. Andrews University coach Peggy McElveen report that the following IHSA Western teams will be going to Raleigh to compete for one of the most prestigious team titles in college equestrian sports:

Alfred University
Berry College
Michigan State University
Ohio State University
Oregon State University
St. Andrews University
University of Findlay
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
West Texas A&M University

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association began in 1967 between two competing New Jersey university campuses (Fairleigh Dickinson-Madison and Fairleigh Dickinson-Teaneck) and today is a nonprofit national organization representing 36 Regions in 8 Zones for more than 376 educational institutions in 43 states and Canada, and serving more than 8600 riders in Hunter Seat Equitation and Over Fences, Western Horsemanship, and Reining.

The IHSA mission is to promote competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional and national levels. IHSA is based 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. Learn more at www.ihsainc.com.