Equestrian College Recruiting Seminar - Bridget Imparato Presented by

Equestrian College
Recruiting Seminar
    Presented by
 Bridget Imparato

About Bridget Imparato
•I have successfully run
 ShowtimeHorseSales.com for 15+ years
• USEF Judge “R” J, “r” HE & “R” Steward
•USEF schooling supervisor
•30 years in the horse business
• I currently train riders for local through “A”
circuit
• I am a 4H Leader
• I have coached IEA teams                       2

•Founded September , 2008
•Started searching colleges for   my eldest son
Micheal.
• We found little info, what we did find was
scattered all over the internet.
•Michael competed at the College Bound
horseshow run by Denna Johnson
•Not enough coaches in attendance, cost,
distance time expended.....
• We left with a feeling that the process needed
to be easier and more efficient
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One website to find answers about college riding.

Riders could make coaches aware of them and
showcase their talents

Place for the schools to advertise.(NCEA is not
allowed to advertise)

A portal for high school athletes to find which colleges
offer collegiate teams and clubs

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1.NCEA ( National Collegiate Equestrian Association,formally
NCAA)
2.IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association)
3.IDA ( Interscholastic Dressage Association)
4.ANRC ( American National Riding Commission)
5.NIRA ( National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association)

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23 teams, Division 1 & 2
Females only ,due to Title IX
 Athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility
Center.(Eligibilitycenter.org
 Fill out Form 48H
NCAA Eligibility Center 877-262-1492
SAT & ACT scores must be sent directly to NCAA.

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Coaches can receive emails letters at any time.
Coaches are permitted to send written info after
  September 1st of the athletes Junior Year.
Calls cannot be returned to prospective athletes
until July1 after Junior year;the official start of
Senior Year
Official visits paid for by the college(Limit 5)
Unofficial visits paid by parents( unlimited)
Contacts ( any face to face conversation )

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 Riders can not win money in competition.
Keep records of all winnings and expenses for each
individual show.
During college, no prize money is allowed to be
received.
Teaching lessons is allowed
Amateur status for the NCEA differs from that of
the AQHA or USEF.

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Riders compete in Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat / Over
fences and Western Horsemanship and Reining.
The more advanced rider that has been successfully
competing at the 3’6” level(medal/maclay) or showing
successfully in western horsemanship or reining.
Do not count yourself out if you don’t have a big “A” show
record or extensive show career..
Grades… Grades… Grades….
Each NCEA school can give out up to 15 scholarships.
Those 15 scholarships can be divided into 30 or more
partial scholarships
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No recruiting guidelines.
38o + Co-Ed ( except all girl colleges)
No set amount of scholarships
Varsity sport vs Club sport
Start recruiting heavily in Junior Year
Grades… Grades… Grades….

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IHSA riders compete in the following
 divisions:
Beginner Walk-Trot to Open, in four
disciplines:
Huntseat Equitation Flat
 Huntseat Equitation Over Fences
Western Horsemanship
Reining
Schools can have English , Western and
Dressage Teams
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Walk-Trot riders, no more than 24 weeks of
instruction and have not competed in a mounted
competition which required them to canter or lope.
Walk-Trot riders have 2 years of eligibility starting
with their initial completion of the online individual
membership form.

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Walk-Trot-Canter riders (2A)have had more than 24
weeks of instruction and who have not competed in a
mounted competition that required them to jump
more than 18”
Once you accumulate 18 points you must move to
Walk-Trot-Canter Huntseat Equitation (2B)
  To be eligible for class 2B you may have not
   competed in any over fences class higher than 3’ in
   any competition nor have competed in any
  recognized competition. ( one “A” show can
   jeopardize eligibility for that division.)
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Novice riders on the flat have won no more than 5
Hunt Seat Equitation classes on the flat in recognized
competitions.
Novice riders over fences have won no more than 6
classes in any over fences class 3’ or higher in
recognized competitions.
To be eligible for class 4, Novice Equitation Over
Fences, riders must have had at least 6 months
continuous professional instruction over fences within
the past year.
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Intermediate riders on the flat have won 6-10 Hunt Seat
equitation classes on the flat in recognized competitions.
Intermediate riders over fences have won no more than 6
classes in any over fences class 3’6” or higher in
recognized competitions.
Open riders on the flat have won more than 10
   Hunt Seat Equitation classes on the flat in recognized
   competitions.
Open riders over fences have won more than 6 classes
over fences 3’6” or higher in recognized competitions.

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Beginner riders are those who have had no more than
24 weeks of instruction and who have not competed in
a mounted competition which required them to canter
or lope. Beginner riders have two years of eligibility
starting with their initial completion of the online
individual membership form.

                                                    16

Intermediate (1) riders for class 12A are those who
have had more than 24 weeks of instruction and who
have not competed in a mounted competition that
required them to lope or canter. Once the Intermediate
(1) rider has accumulated 18 points, s/he must move to
Intermediate II. Intermediate II riders for class 12B are
those who have competed in non-recognized
competitions which required them to lope or canter.

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Novice Riders are those who have competed in
recognized competitions. Novice riders may not have
earned more than 25 points from any breed association
in western classes excluding roping, games, halter,
showmanship, novice classes or non-loping classes.
Note that 4-H state and regional competitions will be
considered recognized for Western Horsemanship
only.

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Advanced Riders are those who have won more than 5
blue western horsemanship ribbons in classes of five or
more in recognized competitions, or have earned 26 or
more points from any breed association in western
classes excluding roping, games, halter, showmanship
or novice classes.

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Open Riders are those who have competed in a
Nationally Recognized Qualifying Competition such as
a World show, a National breed competition, or the
Quarter Horse Congress Team Competition; have
finished in the Top Five at a Non-Qualifying World or
National breed competition; or finished in the Year-
end top three in a recognized state breed association in
any western class excluding roping, games, halter,
showmanship or novice classes.

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Currently 47 teams
No recruiting guidelines
Riders compete at the following levels:
Introductory, Lower Training Level,
Upper training level, First Level & Open

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Currently 27 member colleges
The overall goal of the ANRC is to promote a
contemporary, systematic approach to riding, training,
and teaching that is appropriate for horses as well as
riders at various stages of learning.
These goals are accomplished through instructional
clinics, rider Certification centers, and hunter
competitions called "Equitrials", that are conducted by
qualified ANRC clinicians and judges, and designed to
provide a positive learning experience.

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Freshman Year of High School
This is a great time to start keeping track of
expenses and winnings (NCEA)
Keep records of any school awards won,
community service, etc.
Keep records of any big classes won as well as
any year end awards.
Keep the video camera taping at all shows

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Keep in mind your equitation/horsemanship
Horse show video is always beneficial
Be turned out in breeches and clean boots and
a helmet and make sure the horses are turned
out in a professional manner.
Western an appropriate shirt, jeans and boots.
No special effects.
High Quality Video

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Show examples of flat work
Include basic dressage type maneuvers such as
circles, sitting trot, halt transitions, lateral
movements and no stirrup work.
Include jumping video and include some
informal practice at your barn doing bending
lines and equitation turns.
Multiple Horses/ describe your mount

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Include clips from some of your horse shows.
Send practice footage showing the walk, jog and lope
in both directions as well as displaying some practice
patterns.
Try not to send video that is really old. The coaches
want to see how you are riding now.

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Include clips from some horse shows.
Include reining maneuvers from your practices
or lessons.

Dressage clips from tests
Dressage movements from lessons

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Be careful what you post on Social Networking
Sites
Act and dress appropriately when visiting the
school.
Wear boots in the barn, no flip flops!!!
Always show good sportsmanship.
Don’t get caught up in any gossip.

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Our riders were offered scholarships to the following
schools.
Staisha Bejerano ( Baylor-UTM)
Elizabeth Tirado Perez ( VIC)
Kristin Brennan ( Converse)
Ashley Rioux ( Converse)
Cate Billings ( Converse-UTM)
Maddie Martin ( Converse)
Alexandra Walsh ( UTM)
Hannah Huntington (Baylor)
I stay in constant contact with the coaches and have
become very passionate about helping riders get
scholarships.
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EquestrianCollegeRecruiter.com
Attend camps offered by colleges that
you are interested in
College Prep Invitational Wellington, Florida
The Equestrian Talent Search is produced by Beckett
Run Inc, that is a clinic and a rider rating combine.
Send information to individual schools
Stay in contact with coaches from schools you are
interested in
Walk on

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8th Grade
Visit the counselor at your future high school
and ask about what you need to be prepared for
high school.
Join an IEA Equestrian Team; if one is not in
your area encourage your trainer to start one.
Take a career assessment to see if your
interests can become your career.
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Make a four-year plan of courses you will take. Include classes
that will help prepare you for college.
Remember, your grade point average counts starting now, so
work hard!
Commit yourself to extracurricular activities
Create a resume that documents your successes such as honor
roll awards won and equestrian accomplishments
Evaluate your equestrian goals, make needed changes to stay
on track.
Take advantage of summer camps offered by equestrian
colleges.
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Start taking ACT and SAT
Review your equestrian goals
Keep up on attendance, GRADES and
leadership.
Create a resume or add any new
accomplishments to your existing resume.
Stay committed to your extracurricular
activities
Attend summer programs                    33

Meet with your guidance counselor and riding trainer to plan
your senior year and discuss colleges to explore.
Attend college fairs and review colleges that you are interested
in
You can retake the ACT and/or SAT
Keep up with GRADES, attendance and leadership!
Decide which teachers and others you would like to write your
senior year recommendations
Schedule visits to your top college picks
Keep up on your resume

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If you have not taken the SAT or ACT take it early fall because of early
college deadlines
Keep up your GRADES don’t get senioritis
List your top schools; know requirements, know deadlines for applications,
fees, test scores, teacher recommendations, transcripts and essays. Be sure
to have important contacts on your list.
Get application forms, financial aid and scholarship information from your
top schools
Prepare applications, write essays and ask teachers and others to write
recommendations at least one month before deadlines.
Watch your mail for acceptance letters and return any requested forms
promptly.
Good luck making that final decision!

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Host colleges shall provide suitable horses, and
equipment for all entries.
Horses are chosen by random draw
No coaching allowed from the rail
Riders do not have the opportunity to warm up or test
over a jump before entering the show ring.
Riders are judged in accordance to
USEF/USHJA/AQHA/NRHA rules.

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As with the IHSA the host school provides all the horses, tack,
etc.
Riders compete on unfamiliar horses that are determined the
day of the show.
In a varsity format, one rider from each team will compete on
the same horse.
The rider with the highest score on that horse earns a point for
their team.
Riders are given 4 minutes with their mount (depending on
event) to figure out as much as possible before they enter the
show arena.
Varsity Equestrian Championships are now bracketed like
basketball, football etc.

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Again the host school provides horses, facility, tack
etc..
Riders have a 10-15 minute warm-up time and may be
assisted by coaches.

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www.fastweb.com
www.cappex.com
www.fafsa.gov ( financial aid)
Parents file your income tax early in your child's senior
year as you will need the info to file for financial aid. If
the student has a job he or she will need to do the
same.
Every school needs you to fill out the financial aid
form even if you do not qualify for aid.
Many more scholarship sites are listed on
EquestrianCollegeRecruiter.com
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