Founded in 2000, the Lander University Equestrian Team is open to all students regardless of academic major or horsemanship experience. Team members range from those with little to no riding experience, to those who have competed on regional and national levels. Each member is placed into classes according to their experience level.
The Lander University Equestrian Team (LUET) is a Club Sport that competes in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) events. IHSA competition offers students a unique opportunity to continue their riding and showing career while attending college without the burden of owning their own horse. Students compete as a team and as individuals, earning points as they show and win ribbons. Horses and equipment are provided by the schools.
Before becoming a member of LUET, tryouts will be held at the beginning of each semester to determine a rider's skill level and to place them into the appropriate division. Once selected, members will pay team fees pertaining to the Division they are placed in.
The Hunt Seat teams competes in IHSA Zone 5, Region 3 while the Western team travels to Florida to compete in IHSA Zone 5, Region 5.
Hunt Seat Divisions: Walk/Trot, Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter, Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, Novice Flat and Over Fences (2'3"), Intermediate Flat and Over Fences (2' 6"), and Open Flat and Over Fences (2'9")
Please visit IHSAinc.com for more information.
The Lander Equestrian Team competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) which has sanctioned events and shows across the Southeast. Riders who ride Hunt Seat will compete in Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat and over Fences. Western Riders will compete in Western Horsemanship and Reining. The regular season shows are within Zone 5 Region 3, with shows being hosted at different schools throughout the season.
The coach will choose riders to compete based on how each rider is performing at home and based on the number of riders allowed for each competition.
When a rider accumulates 36 points, they will qualify for Regional Finals in that class and move up to the next level of class (1st place= 7pts, 2nd place= 5pts, and on down). Riders will compete on horses provided by the hosting University and are not allowed any prep time with the horse that the rider draws.
Competition Region:
Division 1 - Show Team - ($700/semester) a show team rider receives two lessons per week and takes part in competition.
Division 2 - Non-Show Team - ($400/semester) a non-show team rider receives one lesson per week and does not participate at shows. However, they are encouraged to come to all shows to support their team. It is the goal that all Division 2 riders eventually become Show Team Riders.
Club Member - ($75/semester) club members are non-riding members that wish to watch lesson and go to shows to offer support to their riding members.
Member Responsibilities - all riding members must attend workouts at the Lander gym at least twice a week. Riding members are also required to feed at the Lander barn at least once a month and are encouraged to help with all fundraisers and team events.
Showing
Riders are required to pay a membership fee to IHSA if they are on the Show Team. If they are only participating in one discipline, the fee is $40. If they wish to show both Hunt Seat and Western, the combined fee is $60.
Once the rider has joined IHSA, they are assigned a rider number and the Coach is able to enter the student in a show. Show fees are $40 per class. Usually a rider only participates in one class per show unless they compete in over fences or reining. Then they will have two classes: one rail class and one pattern or jumping class.
