NCEA teams are starting to dust off their boots and get to work for the 2024-2025 season. Collegiate riding is a unique aspect of showing, as English and Western riders come together to show as a team. Many girls dream of earning a spot on these prestigious teams, though recruiting can seem daunting.
Here are five helpful tips to get started…
Start Talking to Coaches Early
Potential Student-Athletes (PSAs) can officially start corresponding with coaches on June 15th after their sophomore year. This means it is the first time coaches can respond to athletes. However, there is no rule preventing PSAs from reaching out earlier. Starting to email coaches earlier in high school with GPA updates, test scores, and riding videos could help them get to know you sooner.
This way, when coaches can respond, they will already be familiar with who you are and your riding ability. Remember that there are a limited number of open spots at a school each year. Reaching out early can increase your chances of earning one of those spots and help you form a relationship with that coach.
“Reaching out to coaches early in the NCEA recruitment process is crucial because it helps you get on their radar ahead of time. Establishing communication early lets you demonstrate your interest and commitment, setting you apart from other athletes. This approach allows coaches to track your progress and consider you for future opportunities.” – Kylie Jacobson, UC Davis Equestrian ‘27
Ride a Variety of Horses
College riding is a unique part of the equestrian world. Riders draw a random horse on the day of the competition and only have four minutes to warm up before they compete. Coaches look for athletes who can get along with every horse they can draw.
For horsemanship, riders could have the potential to draw anything from a very green horse to a reiner. Demonstrating to coaches that you can ride these horses is a huge asset during recruitment. Riding as many horses as possible and taking videos to send to coaches would be beneficial.
“Besides the fact that you can learn something from every horse, it’s important because you never know what you will get in this game. In one of my first meets as a freshman, there was an ex-halter horse in the reining, and we all were pulling from past experiences to try to get the most out of him.” – Kate Davis, UTM Equestrian ‘25
Focus on Being a Well-Rounded Student
Schools have a minimum academic threshold regarding grade point averages and test scores that PSAs must meet before officially signing on to a team. These vary from school to school. However, if you exceed the minimum requirement, it demonstrates to coaches that you can keep up with college-level academics.
Additionally, coaches love seeing well-rounded students who are involved in activities other than riding horses, such as clubs, volunteering, or leadership positions. These activities demonstrate to coaches that you will be an involved member of the athletic community at your school.
“Being a well-rounded student opens a lot of doors to be able to go to top-riding schools that are competitive academically. It shows coaches that you are organized, serious, and willing, in addition to the skills riding promotes. Being a well-rounded student also opens doors for additional scholarship money that academic departments provide.” – Leah Anderson, UGA Equestrian ‘24
Attend Camps
Most NCEA schools offer collegiate prep camps where PSAs can ride the team’s horses, receive training, and learn what it is like to be a collegiate equestrian. Typically, girls can attend prep camps in 9th grade, a great way to get in front of coaches and demonstrate your abilities on college horses.
Another bonus of attending camps is that PSAs get to explore the school’s campus and team facilities and sometimes even participate in an NCEA-style scrimmage. Coaches can assess your skills throughout the camp and might consider you a potential athlete for their team.
“Attending camps is a great way to see what collegiate riding is all about in terms of how practices are run, as well as the academic aspect. It also gives you the ability to meet the coaches and girls on the team and see if you can picture yourself at that university.” – Ruby Nahum, UC Davis Equestrian ‘25
Create a YouTube Channel
Once you compile videos of your riding, create a YouTube channel so they are in one centralized location. This way, coaches can quickly locate your videos and have a place of reference to look back on. You can link your YouTube channel in emails and update the channel as you get new videos.
It is important to have videos of riding at home, at shows, and doing pattern work. The horse’s name, age, and discipline should be noted in the video’s description. The channel can be updated throughout your youth years, allowing coaches to see your progress.
“It is so important to create a YouTube channel during the recruiting process! Coaches like to see potential recruits riding different horses, so I posted videos of me riding reiners, all-around horses, green horses, etc. It can show them a lot about your riding ability!”- Ava Holman, Baylor Equestrian ‘28
There is not one “right” way to get recruited to a team; however, these tips are a solid approach. Current and former NCEA athletes are very willing to help and offer advice, so reach out to team members if you have any questions. Good luck!
