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Frequently Asked Questions
This page contains frequently asked questions organized by category:
General
- How long has Albion College had an equestrian program?
The Albion College Equestrian Club was founded in
the fall of 2002 and began participating in shows the following
year. The Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center opened in the fall of
2004.
- Can I visit the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center?
Yes. We love to have visitors meet our staff, students,
and horses. We simply ask that you make an appointment first so that we
have someone available to show you around. To schedule a visit to
campus and the equestrian center, please call 800-858-6770 (Office of
Admission)
or the Held Center office at 517-629-0836.
- Can I walk to the center from main campus?
It is possible to walk to the center from main campus, but most
students choose to bicycle or carpool with other riders. Students who
participate in group riding lessons are encouraged to share rides to and
from the barn. Albion College's Office of Campus Safety also acts
as a shuttle service for students who need rides to and from the
barn. (Details about this service are available here:
http://www.albion.edu/campussafety/services.asp.)
- What disciplines are included in the riding programs?
Riders and student boarders at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center
are welcome to ride in the discipline of their choosing and are a
diverse population of equestrians. The most popular disciplines are
hunters, jumpers, combined training, dressage, and western.
- What is the difference between the Equestrian Club and the
equestrian teams?
The Equestrian Club at Albion College is open to anyone who wishes to
participate and has an interest in horses. It is not limited to riders
or horse owners. The club meets periodically through the semester for
fun activities, such as horse movie nights or visits to nearby farms.
They also do several fundraising events each year for local equine
charities.
The equestrian teams at Albion College compete at the varsity or club
level, with members selected during fall tryouts. Hunt seat is a
varsity sport at Albion and the team is a member of the
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Members of
all teams travel to shows on many weekends during the academic year and
are required to take lessons with our coaches at the Nancy G. Held
Equestrian Center.
- Can I get a job at the barn?
No. Your first job at Albion College is to be a student and,
unfortunately, most of our barn work occurs during the hours when you
will be in class. We have a full staff to do all feeding, mucking, and
general tasks that spring up from day to day.
- Does Albion offer degrees in Equine Science?
No. Albion College has a liberal arts curriculum and,
through our core requirements, we address the need for breadth of
knowledge. We offer more than 30 departmental, interdepartmental and
individually designed majors and minors where students can undertake
intensive work in one or more fields within the humanities, natural
sciences, social sciences or fine arts. The majority of our
graduates go on to careers in professional fields, including
business, medicine, education, public policy, and countless others.
Those students interested in making a career in the horse industry
may take courses towards international trainers' certification with
the British Horse Society.
These courses cover all ranges of equestrian knowledge, including
stable management, riding, and instruction. Certification from
the British Horse Society is recognized around the world.
- Does Albion offer degrees in veterinary medicine?
Not specifically, but Albion has a number of academic programs that
give students excellent preparation for success in health-related
and animal-related fields. The College’s biology and chemistry
departments, neuroscience concentration and the Pre-Medical and
Health Sciences Institute provide excellent classroom, internship
and research opportunities. Both the biology and psychology
departments offer animal behavior classes, and the faculty conducts
research and may direct independent study in this field.
Moreover, Albion counts thousands of successful veterinarians,
physicians, dentists and other health-care professionals among its
alumni. More than 90 percent of Albion students who meet GPA
requirements for graduate school admission are accepted each year to
veterinary, medical, and dental schools. Visit the Pre-Health
Institute here: http://www.albion.edu/PreMed/.
- Does Albion offer scholarships for riders?
No. Albion College athletics are played at the NCAA Division III
level, which prohibits any student-athlete from receiving scholarship
money for an athletic endeavor. However, 97% of Albion students are
awarded some form of financial aid based on their academic
performance in high school, demonstrated financial need, or both.
Academic scholarships begin at $11,000 for students who meet the
academic criteria. Visit www.albion.edu/financialaid to learn more.
Boarding
- How much does it cost to board a horse at the Nancy G. Held
Equestrian Center?
Board for the 2007-08 school year is $550 per month. Each student who
brings a horse is required to sign a nine-month contract in order to secure
a stall; no part-year boarding is allowed.
- How do I reserve a stall for my horse?
Just like our students, horses are required to “apply” to Albion too.
After student horse owners are accepted to the college by the Office of
Admission, he or she must submit a video of the horse under saddle. Videos
need only be 5-10 minutes in length and must simply show what the horse
is capable of (i.e. walk, trot, canter under saddle and jumping where
applicable). Video footage helps the barn staff to make sure that
the disciplines and training levels represented at the Held Center
are diverse. Horses that are accepted for the coming school year
will be notified in March.
- If I bring my horse to Albion, will he/she become a part of the
college riding program?
No. Student horses are the responsibility of their owners. Only our
College-owned school horses are used in the riding program.
Students may, however, volunteer their horses to be placed in the
draw for College-hosted meets if they choose.
- How often are stalls cleaned? What about feeding schedules?
Our stalls are cleaned once per day and the horses are fed at 7:30
a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day. (Additional feedings can be arranged with
the stable manager as needed.)
- Are horses turned out at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center?
Yes. The Equestrian Center has 34 half-acre grass turnout pastures
for student boarders and our own school horses. When weather
permits, horses are turned out individually to graze.
- What
if horses are not able to be turned out, due to weather or another
reason?
Two covered, European-style horse walkers allow horses stabled
at the Held Equestrian Center to be exercised daily, even in
inclement weather. The walkers can be programmed to work
horses at the walk, trot, and canter and workout programs can be
customized for the needs of individual horses.
- Are there required items that my horse will need if we
board at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center?
As with most barns, we require that each resident horse have the
necessary and up-to-date vaccinations, including a Coggins test for the
current year. They also must have an appropriately fitted halter and
lead rope. We do not, however, require any other particular items (such
as special wraps or a blanket of a certain color/make). Each horse
simply needs that equipment which is adequate for him/her.
- How often does the vet/farrier come? Can I bring my own vet/farrier
in to treat my horse?
The farrier visits Albion once every week, though he can be called in
for special cases as necessary. Most horses at the Nancy G. Held
Equestrian Center are on a 6-7 week shoeing schedule. Outside farriers
may only be brought in with permission from the stable manager.
The vet also visits Albion on a weekly basis and as needed. Most simple daily
tasks (including administration of necessary medications) are handled by
the Equestrian Center staff, however. Students are always notified when the vet
will be coming in case he needs to see an additional case. Outside vets
may be brought in with permission from the stable manager.
In addition, an equine dentist visits the Held Center annually and
other specialists (including a chiropractor) are brought in on an as-needed basis.
- Can I work off some/all of my board?
No. Your first job at Albion College is to be a student and,
unfortunately, most of our barn work occurs during the hours when you
will be in class. We have a full staff to do all feeding, mucking, and
general tasks that spring up from day to day.
Riding Program
- Do I have to own my own horse to ride at Albion?
No. The Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center owns lesson horses for
student use.
- How much do lessons cost?
Lesson costs can vary based on how long a lesson lasts, whether it is
private or group, and how many lessons a student takes per week. The
current breakdown is available here:
http://www.albion.edu/heldcenter/training.asp.
- I don’t want to ride on the team but I’d like to ride. Is that
okay?
Absolutely. Anyone can take lessons at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian
Center, whether they ride for the Albion College team or not. Contact
the center director for details.
- Can I ride a horse at the Equestrian Center if I don’t own a horse
and don’t wish to take lessons?
No. All College-owned horses must be ridden under the supervision of
one of our instructors at all times.
- What types of horses are the school horses at Albion?
Our school horses are all types, but mostly Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and
Thoroughbred crosses. Their average age is 9 years old and most are
around 16 hands. They are all capable of doing basic dressage work on
the flat and some jumping, though we do have a few who specialize in one
particular area, such as Bronson, our Third Level dressage schoolmaster.
(Fun fact: All of the school horses at Albion are named after Michigan towns,
normally the town that they come from.)
- How do I donate a horse to the riding program at Albion?
Guidelines for donating a horse to the Nancy G. Held Equestrian
Center can be found at:
http://www.albion.edu/heldcenter/donate_a_horse.asp.
- Can I bring in an outside instructor to work with me?
The Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center is for the sole use of those
student riders and boarders who participate in the Albion College riding
program. Due to heavy stable and arena traffic, we cannot allow outside
instructors to come in.
- I’ve never ridden previously but I’ve always wanted to. Can I take
lessons if I’m a beginner?
Yes. Lessons at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center are open to
everyone, regardless of previous experience with horses. If you’ve never
ridden or been around horses before, expect to spend your first few
lessons on the ground learning how to handle a horse on a lead rope,
tack up, and other necessary skills before you take to the saddle.
- What clothing is required for riders at the Nancy G. Held
Equestrian Center?
All riders at the equestrian center must wear an ASTM/SEI approved
helmet when mounted. No exceptions. Those students who do not own a
helmet may borrow one of the helmets stocked by the center. Women must
contain their hair under their helmets.
Students must wear appropriate hard-soled footwear when working
around the horses. When riding, jeans or breeches with half-chaps or
tall boots are recommended for English riders; western riders may wear
jeans with appropriate boots.
- What times are lessons scheduled?
Lessons are scheduled around the times our students are in class.
Group lessons are usually in the evenings to accommodate the different
schedules of the riders; individual lessons can be scheduled whenever
the student has a break period. Lessons are usually held Monday through
Thursday, as Friday and Saturday tend to be show days.
Equestrian Teams
- What
is the difference between the Equestrian Club and the equestrian
teams? Can anyone join?
The Equestrian Club at Albion College is
open to anyone who has an interest in horses and wishes to
participate. It is not limited to riders or horse owners. The club
meets periodically through the semester for fun activities, such as
horse movie nights or visits to nearby farms.
The equestrian teams at Albion College compete at
the varsity and club level, with members selected during fall
tryouts.
- What
are the competitive equestrian teams at Albion College?
Albion’s varsity-level team is hunt seat
and the team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show
Association (IHSA). Team members travel to shows on many weekends
during the academic year and are required to take lessons with our
coaches at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center.
Dressage is a competitive club sport at Albion. The team regularly
competes as a member of the Intercollegiate Dressage Association
(IDA) against teams that share our region, including Lake Erie
College. During the school
year, members of all teams travel to a minimum of four shows, where
they compete successfully both as a team and as individuals. Team
members are required to take lessons with our coaches at the Nancy
G. Held Equestrian Center.
Western is also a competitive club sport at Albion. The team
regularly competes as a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show
Association (IHSA). Due to heavy arena traffic at the Held
Equestrian Center, this team trains off-site in nearby Marshall
with a professional trainer who shows horses on the breed circuit.
- I’ve
ridden a lot but I’ve never shown before; should I even bother to
try out?
Yes! We seek riders of all levels to be on
our teams. Those riders who have not shown previously often have an
advantage over those who have. Both the IHSA and the IDA have levels
that range from introductory walk-trot through open division where
Albion College riders have competed successfully at national levels.
- How do I become a member of one of Albion’s equestrian teams?
Joining the equestrian team is as simple as trying out. Tryouts are
usually held during the second week of classes in the fall and are open
to all riders. Prior to tryouts, a separate meeting is held for riders
to fill out paperwork that will indicate which level of the
Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) or Intercollegiate
Dressage Association (IDA) they qualify for; riders then try out in
those divisions.
- How many people make the teams?
Our teams are small – varsity hunt seat is 12 members, western is 8
members, and club
dressage is 8-10.
- What will I have to do at tryouts?
At tryouts, you will simply ride with other members of your division
and be assessed by our coaching staff. Horse owners may ride their own
horses and non-horse owners will be assigned a horse from the Albion
College lesson program. Riders may be asked to switch horses during the
course of the tryout.
- I’ve ridden a lot but I’ve never shown before; should I even bother
to try out?
Yes. We seek riders of all levels to be on our teams and those riders
who have not shown previously often have an advantage over those who
have.
- What equipment/clothing will I need for the team?
Those members of the Albion College Equestrian teams will need to
provide their own show clothes:
- Hunt Seat: Breeches of a neutral shade, tall boots, short or
long-sleeved show shirt with appropriate neck wear, hunt coat, dark
gloves, and ASTM/SEI approved helmet.
- Dressage: White breeches, tall boots, short or long-sleeved show
shirt with stock tie OR dickie, black or navy blue jacket, white gloves,
and ASTM/SEI approved helmet.
- Western: Show pants, chaps, equitation shirt/blouse, cowboy boots,
gloves of the appropriate color for outfit, cowboy hat.
- Do you have to own a horse to show in college competition? And if I
have my own horse, will I be showing him/her?
No and no. IHSA and IDA competitions take place on horses borrowed from the
home school. Riders draw their horses once they arrive and are given
information on the horse that they have drawn. They may have an opportunity
to watch the horse go before their class but they do not actually meet
the horse until it’s time to go into the arena. Hunt seat and western
riders get no warm-up time; dressage riders are allotted 10 minutes to warm
up under the supervision of their coach.
- Where are meets held? Does Albion host any meets?
Albion hosts one or two intercollegiate meets per year (usually in
the winter due to the size of our indoor arena). Other meets take place at the University of
Findlay (OH), Lake Erie College (OH), Grand
Valley State University (MI), Michigan State University (MI) and Western Michigan University (MI).
- How long is the show season?
Meets are held year-round, beginning in the middle of September and
going through the beginning of April. For IHSA, Regionals, Zones, and
Nationals go through the months of April and May. For IDA, Regionals and
Nationals go through the end of April. Students and teams must qualify
to compete at each level (Regional – National).
- Can anyone go watch a meet?
Yes. Meets are open to the public. Check the Held Center web page for
dates or visit the IHSA online at www.ihsainc.com.
- How much does it cost to be on a team?
Costs for riders can vary. Each member of the varsity hunt seat team
must pay for two lessons per week with one of our team coaches. (Lessons
can be private or group; the choice is the student’s.) The varsity
athletic budget covers all other costs, including travel, entry fees,
and food and hotels.
Riders on the club dressage or club western teams must pay for two
lessons per week with one of our team coaches, as well as all of their
food while traveling to meets and the travel expenses for our coach.
Other costs, including hotels, travel, and entry fees, are covered by a
budget from the Albion College student senate.
- Are riders ever on two teams, such as hunt seat and dressage or
hunt seat and western?
No. Because meets often occur on the same weekends, riders must be on
one team only.
- I show in multiple divisions (i.e. English and western or combined
training and jumpers); which team should I try out for?
You may try out for multiple teams and our coaches can assign you to
where your skills will be of the most use.
- I also play a varsity sport (i.e. basketball, volleyball, etc.).
Can I do that and be on the equestrian team?
Because of the time commitment required with a varsity sport
(including training times and traveling to away meets and competitions),
we discourage riders from attempting to participate in equestrian and
another varsity sport at Albion. Students are encouraged to try out for
the team and, if they are not selected, are encouraged to continue their
riding at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center while participating in
their other varsity/club sport.
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