<p>Does anyone have experience with the horse barn at Earlham or the equestrian team?</p>
<p>I went to see the facility during my D’s Orientation. I’m not a horse person myself, but it looked pretty nice to me. Do you have specific questions?</p>
<p>D and H will go visit both Earlham and Vermont over spring break and they will visit the horse barn. My D has a notion that she will bring her horse to college. Both of these schools have on campus barns. How hard is it to get a spot for your horse. Is it difficult for a freshman to get all their studying done plus find the time to ride and put in the required time for working at the barn.
Can one find a social life through riding. My D is not overally social. In HS she has a few good friends and her horse. Being with the horse and working at her barn are top of her list above socializing with friends.</p>
<p>Before they visit, your D may want to contact Admissions (both schools) to tell them she’s interested in the program, and ask if she could spend a little time with a student who’s currently in the co-op. I think spending an afternoon in the center would answer a lot of her questions, and give her a feel for what it’s like.</p>
<p>As I said, I don’t have any first-hand knowledge of the Earlham equestrian program, but it does sound like a level of time commitment. Bear in mind that your D’s schedule will probably be very different than it is in HS; she will be in class 3-4 hours per day rather than 7-8; the time that she now spends on ECs will be freed up; and she won’t have the daily commuting time that she probably does now. Also remember that her “co-workers” would be other students, who have the same pressures and expections about keeping up their studies. </p>
<p>I find a lot of value in this kind of activity. My D is in leadership of another student-run group, which takes about 10 hours/week of her time, and she’s able to do that as well as keeping her grades up. She’s learning a lot of great things that will stand her in good stead all her life – managing people, solving problems, making decisions, coordinating projects, budgeting, thinking fast on her feet, etc. And of course, if a student is shy, there’s no better way to meet compatible people than spending time together on a shared interest.</p>
<p>The Center is beautiful, and it’s more than a barn – there are pastures and paddocks, an outdoor ring, and indoor arena. It’s on the back end of campus with acres and acres of trails through the woods.</p>
<p>You’ve probably already seen this, but just in case. See especially the FAQs on the left:</p>
<p>[Earlham</a> College | Equestrian Program](<a href=“http://legacy.earlham.edu/equestrianprogram/]Earlham”>http://legacy.earlham.edu/equestrianprogram/)</p>
<p>D is on the Earlham equestrian team. Earlham is unique because the barn is a co-op run by the students. Riding is much more affordable than at other schools because the students are doing the work. My daughter teaches lessons as her co-op. She also works for the admissions office hosting prospective students, so you might want to request and equestrian team member as a host.</p>
<p>Thank you both for the feedback.
LasMa she has a non traditional HS program the last two years. She takes all of her classes at the CC and spends almost every afternoon working at a local barn.
NEmomof2- great idea.
It also sounds like both of your D’s have found their place at Earlham. On paper Earlham looks like a good fit for my D.
LasMa- does your D fly into Indianapolis from Ca? The weird thing is we had never been to Indiana till our older D ended up at Purdue. It will be strange if we end up with two kids having gone to college in Indiana.</p>
<p>She flies into Dayton. It’s only a half hour from Richmond, whereas Indy is more than an hour. </p>
<p>You’re right, there is a lot of good higher education in Indiana, of all places – who knew!</p>
<p>I agree, fly to Dayton if possible; the Indy airport is on the west side of that city which will add another 1/2 hour on top of the distance already described.</p>
<p>DD who is still just in 7th grade is pretty horsey and would love a place with a coop she could really feel a part of. Maybe both kids will end up at EC eventually!</p>
<p>My daughter often flies into Indy because that is where Southwest lands. SWA is much cheaper and allows two bags free. That is an important consideration when they are going to school far from home. (Note to the wise, weight limits do apply).</p>
<p>One of the few students already active on the Earlham College 2016 facebook page, besides my son, is another early decision accepted student–and from her profile, she seems very into horses. So if your daughter does decide to go, she might want to check out that FB group and introduce herself–she might find a fellow equestrienne friend!</p>