IHSA was a very mixed bag for me. I ingrained some really bad riding habits (and learned some awesome fears that plague me to this day) and witnesses crazy team politics. I also had teammates for roommates, had a great time, and have a close friend to this day who was on the team with me. Every school is different and it can be a very mixed bag.
[QUOTE=vxf111;6553898]
IHSA was a very mixed bag for me. I ingrained some really bad riding habits (and learned some awesome fears that plague me to this day) and witnesses crazy team politics. I also had teammates for roommates, had a great time, and have a close friend to this day who was on the team with me. Every school is different and it can be a very mixed bag.[/QUOTE]
This was more or less my experience with IHSA exactly.
[QUOTE=vxf111;6553898]
IHSA was a very mixed bag for me. I ingrained some really bad riding habits (and learned some awesome fears that plague me to this day) and witnesses crazy team politics. I also had teammates for roommates, had a great time, and have a close friend to this day who was on the team with me. Every school is different and it can be a very mixed bag.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. If I could go back in time I’d do it again, but I’d maybe do it differently. It was not all rainbows and sunshine, but I learned a lot and made some good friends.
A couple of my old teammates have gotten married recently, and they all had at least one teammate in the bridal party 
Question: I’m an event rider trying out for IHSA, and since my parent’s never really let me show growing up, I focused on training and schooling at home. This past year I finally got my project horse out competing and have shown him up to 2’7 (BN) at unrecognized. At home, I school 2’9-2’11 consistently and have schooled up to 3’6. But I think I was placed in WTC. Is that an average placing for a rider like me?
Yes, it sounds reasonable for someone with minimal show experience. I grew up in pony club and was a C3 and had competed unrecognized Novice and done unrecognized jumper shows to 3’3, and ended up in the Novice division. Usually if you go to the first show and are clearly in the wrong division (one way or the other) they will adjust it then, and otherwise you can accumulate enough points to move up.
Yes. You were probably borderline when it came to placing you in a division, so they decided to put you in the easier division where you’d have a better chance of placing top 3 most of your times out. Remember this is a team competition where if you are the point rider for the day, your score counts towards the team total as well as your individual. The school would rather have a point rider slightly under utilized and cleaning up, than the other way around. While it may seem a bit of a let down to be riding in a flat only division, feel good that they are confident that you can bring home the bacon in your chosen division.
[QUOTE=katestephenson45;7166223]
Question: I’m an event rider trying out for IHSA, and since my parent’s never really let me show growing up, I focused on training and schooling at home. This past year I finally got my project horse out competing and have shown him up to 2’7 (BN) at unrecognized. At home, I school 2’9-2’11 consistently and have schooled up to 3’6. But I think I was placed in WTC. Is that an average placing for a rider like me?[/QUOTE]
That is very typical, and actually really good for you. You want to come in at the lowest level possible for your experience, so you can be as successful as possible.
[QUOTE=silver_charm;6551434]
I think your problem is thinking about the class name literally? Novice flat in no way means novice rider. I rode in Advanced W/T/C - and I had been riding my entire life, could clock around 2’6" fine on any given lesson horse, and was the one stuck on the greenies/problem horses. But I had never shown, so I wasn’t even a ‘novice’. [/QUOTE]
Yes, I think a lot of people get hung up on the names of the classes! I too started in advances walk/trot/canter even though I’d ridden most of my life and showed my jumper 3’…but only local shows. Personally, I’d be okay with novice flat because its less competitive. Don’t get hung up on the name. IHSA is a totally different ball game so its better to start lower, get confident and then move up and kick ass.
Trust me, there will be riders with way more experience than her in the novice classes. It’s all part of the game.
Ah now i get it, great thanks guys!
Keep in mind too, I’ve seen riders in your situation SHOOT through divisions. The trick for you will be learning the “equitation look”, which is different than correct dressage equitation.
I remember really wanting to be an Open rider for some reason when I started IHSA as a freshman (I ended up pointing up into it midway through), but what I didn’t realize at the time is that (at least in our Region) Open = all the crazy horses that can’t really go in any other division safely but we need all the horses we can get our hands on! lol Or the horse that just recently had a stroke and we aren’t totally sure if it can feel one side of it’s face but we’re giving it a try (he couldn’t, btw! always regret not pushing for a re-ride on that one). I don’t regret a second of it because I have a lot of great memories, but seriously if you don’t enjoy taking your life into your hands occasionally on strange and not necessarily dependable horses, don’t be in ANY hurry to ride in a higher level than your team needs you to!
I have a sort of technical question!
I’m looking in the rulebook, where it says that “Walk Trot Canter riders eligible for
class 2B are those who have not competed in any over fences class
higher than three foot (3’) in any competition, nor have those 2B
riders competed in any recognized competition.”
I have competed in a rated show (A), but in the unrated classes (i.e. Limit Eq, lower hunter stuff). Because the “competition” was A-rated, would I thus be ineligable for 2B or do they look at the class ratings?
Been a long time since I saw the rules but in plain english I read that to say you’re ineligible fir 2 B if you showed over 3’ anywhere OR showed at any rated show in any class. IIRC coaches can submit eligibility questions to the IHSA.
Have to ditto what is said about the open horses… I did open my freshman year at my college, which is a top program in a very depressed area of the country. UGHHHHH those horses were the worst, I did not continue even though I was high point rider in the region and competed in the Cacchione cup at Nationals. Not to mention I’m 5’7" and lived in fear of having to ride a small pony, as many of the available critters were ponies. Really wasn’t for me, I preferred showing my horse or at least horses who were not entirely unsuitable for the job at hand. I think that is the toughest part of IHSA. I had friends in much horsier areas who had their pick of great horses to ride, that was not my experience however. The horse our school had that I was usually assigned to for lessons (because no one else would ride it) was a serial bolter. FUN!
