How is horse riding seen as an extracurricular activity if you don’t compete? I spend significant time on it, and have been riding since I was four. I even own my own horse. I just don’t know how it’s going to be seen if there’s nothing to show how much work I’ve put into it.
You can think about whether you can incorporate it into your essays or whether there’s another angle such as the job of caring for your horse. As you note, there are quite a few well off kids who do this at an elite level, so you might want to find a way to translate your experience into one of responsibility, caring, etc. to differentiate yourself from the girls who went to the big eq finals. Are you thinking of vet school in the future?
Probably not vet school, although I am interested in possibly minoring in equine studies or joining a riding team in college. How could I incorporate the job of caring for my horse? Is that an extracurricular itself or more of something to possibly mention in essays?
It is something you enjoy doing that is not related to your school’s curriculum. Some people enjoy going to the movies. Others like to fish. Some people enjoy cooking. Your horse back riding is just like those activities. I don’t think it will impact at all on college applications. If you did compete, then you would be able to show increasingly advanced skills-if you won of course. But as you didn’t, it is your hobby or a way you spend your leisure time. Most people have activities that don’t impact on college decisions. You are fortunate to own a horse. Some students own bikes or skateboards. I’d view all those as similar.
You could list it as an EC and note hours per week. But it sounds meaningful to you, so think about whether it defines you enough to feature in an essay.
I think there’s a pretty good chance I’ll talk about it in my essays, as it’s definitely very meaningful to me.
Good!! There’s a lot to be learned about life from spending time with and caring for an animal.
Colleges will care about things you are passionate about not things that you thought would help you get into college.
Can you show leadership? Have you been asked to help out at the barn/teach kids?
Can you try to start doing those things?
Do you work (for $$) at the barn?
I currently keep my horses on my grandparent’s property, not a boarding facility. As such, I don’t get paid, but I do take care of the horses, if that’s what you mean by helping out. I don’t currently teach kids, as neither of my horses are well trained enough for kids to learn on. I am, however, interested in doing that in the future. I’m not quite sure of other ways to show leadership until that becomes a possibility.
I think it’d be best to present it as a hobby, and if that hobby means a lot to you, by all means talk about it in your essays! However, have a clear idea of what aspect about you that you want to present through your hobby. Has taking care of your horses helped you learn to be more responsible? More caring? And how have the qualities that you have developed through owning/taking care of horses influenced your life outside of horse riding?