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Riding for Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hunters
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
In the IHSA circuit, schools bring teams and individuals to shows held at colleges around their region, eventually working up to nationals. There are 8 levels of competition, and over 370 schools that participate. At a show, the riders will draw horses randomly, and then compete in their division with no warm-up time. This adds an extra level of difficulty, because the riders never know which horse they will select, and how well they can work with their mounts.
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Virginia Tech Dressage
Intercollegiate Dressage Association
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The IDA is run similar to the IHSA. Teams come to shows hosted by schools around the nation to compete towards National Championships. Each team draws a group of horses for their four riders to compete on. They are given a ten minute warm-up before being sent into the ring. The IDA offers a great introduction to dressage for those who have never competed, and an outlet to competition for those in colleges around the country.​
Virginia Tech Western
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
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The IHSA Western circuit is very similar to the Hunter circuit. Riders choose mounts provided by the host school, and no warm-up is allowed. IHSA is designed this way so that it's a level playing field for all riders and the best riders are placed, not necessarily which people have the best trained horses. Riders in the Beginner class are walk-jog with rail work and a horsemanship pattern. The intermediate and above classes must also lope in addition to their horsemanship pattern. Open riders compete in both horsemanship and reining. In total, there are 6 levels of competition at the western shows for teams or individuals.