The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) is designed to allow
any college student, regardless of experience or financial status to compete
against other schools in horse shows. Competitions start regional, and those
riders who qualify through earning enough points move on to compete in zones
and finally nationals. There are 30 regions nationally and 9 zones; CU
competes in Zone 7 Region 1.
At the shows, the hosting school provides horses for the riders. Teams
competing in the show are given the opportunity to watch these horses warm up
in the ring in whichever discipline they will be ridden (rail work, jumping,
reining, etc). Before each class riders are called to the "draw
table" and are randomly assigned a horse on which they will be showing.
Riders then mount their assigned horse and are hand-walked into the ring so
that all riders, equally, have no chance to work with the horses before they
start the class.
This process is designed to create an equal opportunity for each rider.
IHSA shows are judged on equitation and horsemanship, not the ability of the
horses.
Official IHSA website: http://www.ihsainc.com
