The Equestrian Club aims to encourage and develop the equestrian abilities in students of JMU and to promote participation in all types of activities dealing with horses and competitive riding. Participants will also strive to represent James Madison in all situations in an upstanding and honorable manner as a sports team and as individuals. Visit the Equestrian Club web site!

Members
Each semester, we have about 50+ members to our roster. We have an open roster all year, so we encourage anyone interested to join the team! To be a member, it is not required to ride and take lessons. The majority of the club does, but we welcome individuals just wanting to be a part of the club! On the other hand, we highly discourage having members only wanting to ride and not participate in the club. The club and riding are intended to be one unit in order to accomplish the “team” feeling we always strive to achieve. If an individual truly does not have the time to commit, we will not deny them lessons, but will require them to still pay club dues, regardless. In addition, those riders will not be eligible for show team.

Prices
Each semester, mandatory club dues are $70. If the member chooses to ride, additional prices will vary according to how many times they would like to ride each week. There are a few different lesson packages to pick from. Also, members without a car who ride are asked to give gas money to the driver in their lesson, since our facility is off campus.

Practice Schedule
The team rides at Seventh Heaven Farm, owned by our coach Bobby Jones. It is located about 15-20 minutes north of JMU in Broadway, VA. Each member interested in taking lessons can chose a lesson package, depending on how often they would like to ride and what package suits their financial capabilities. Members usually ride once or twice a week. However, riders chosen by our coach to compete on the show team are encouraged to ride three times a week.

Season
The club and riding lessons take place throughout the academic year. We compete in four to five IHSA shows per semester with the Regional, Zone, and National Championships at the end of the spring semester. Each semester we also attend/compete at outside shows and host our own In-House show. All riders taking lessons are eligible to compete in the In-House.

Conference
We compete in Zone 4 Region 2 of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. There are 11 other teams in our region including Bridgewater College, Hollins University, Liberty University, Longwood University, Lynchburg College, Radford University, Randolph College, Roanoke College, Sweet Briar College, University of Virginia, and Washington and Lee University.

Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
The IHSA promotes competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional, zone, and national levels. The association was founded 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. Emphasis is on learning, sportsmanship, and fun. Competition plays a role but the students’ enthusiasm and team spirit are the major factors. The objective of IHSA competition is to offer the opportunity to riders in their first years of riding as well as to students with show experience. Eliminating the expense of shipping or even owning horses puts IHSA competitions within reach of many who would otherwise miss the equestrian experience.

2009-2010
          One National Qualifier
                    Bekah Jarzombek: Walk/Trot
          Three Zone Qualifiers
                   Bekah Jarzombek: Walk/Trot
                   Jade Irby: Walk/Trot
                   Maggie Foley: Walk/Trot/Canter

2008-2009 Sixth in the Region
          One National Qualifier
                   Lawler Watkins
          Two Zone Qualifiers
                   Lawler Watkins
                   Danielle Parkinson
          Six Regional Qualifiers

2007-2008 Fourth in the Region
          Four Zone Qualifiers
                   Bridget Holroyd
                   Vanessa Colley
                   Danielle Parkinson
                   Maggie Foley
          Six Regional Qualifiers

2006-2007 Sixth in the Region
          One Zone Qualifier
                   Kathryn Johnson

2005-2006 Third in the Region
          One National Qualifier
                   Catherine Roddericks: Novice Fences
          Five Zone Qualifiers
                   Sarah Petri
                   Meghan Jones
                   Catherine Roddericks
                   Danielle Parkinson
                   Kari Kilgore

2004-2005 Fourth in the Region
          One National Qualifier
                   Amanda Phillips: Novice Fences
          Four Zone Qualifiers
                   Noelle McNeill
                   Amanda Phillips
                   Kathryn Johnson
                   Stephanie Knowles

2003-2004 Sixth in the Region
          Two Zone Qualifiers

2002-2003 Fourth in the Region
          Four National Qualifiers
          Four Zone Qualifiers

2001-2002 Third in the Region
          Cacchione Cup Qualifier
                   Jaime L. Auletto
          One National Champion
                   Elizabeth K. Bearer: Intermediate Flat
          One Reserve National Champion
                   Jennifer R. Ross: Novice Flat
          Four National Qualifiers
          Four Zone Qualifiers

2000-2001 Fourth in the Region
          Two National Champions
                   Mara C. Sinopoli: Walk/Trot
                   Elizabeth K. Bearer: Novice Flat
          Four National Qualifiers
          Six Zone Qualifiers

1999-2000 Fourth in the Region