<p>While moving D in at Amherst, bumped into parents of a girl who brought her horse. Apparently, the horse was enrolled a while before D was officially accepted, and she will be competing for the school. Their FA is very good.</p>
<p>Check out Dartmouth.</p>
<p>We have an excellent equestrian team and awesome facilities for boarding horses.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Edrc/%5B/url%5D">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~drc/</a></p>
<p>I didn't read the whole thread, but i wanted to point out that even schools that don't allow freshmen to have cars will make exceptions for special circumstances. My school doesn't allow freshmen or sophs to have cars, but if you have a job or volunteer at a place that is driving distance, you can have a car.</p>
<p>I also have a friend who rides horses, and she has had a car the 2 years she has been here. I don't know if it's her own horse, but she rides frequently, and goes to shows.</p>
<p>ejr1--I just can't resist. Did the horse apply ED? How'd he do on the SATs? :)</p>
<p>Texas A&M and Texas Tech both have horse accomodations. There are a lot of schools in the south that have rodeo/polo/etc.</p>
<p>I know, I know, (that's what the mother told me) but they only take a certain amount each year into the equestrian program), and there is a waiting list for the horse! If the kids is accepted , the horse is in! This horse was accepted about 6 months before the student (the previous spring).</p>
<p>I have to comment- mount holyoke has been mentioned several times but it is by no means affordable to bring your horse there. A friend of mine has a horse at the Eq Center, and the cost of board plus lessons totals an extra $7,000 a semester. That is on top of the $40,000+ cost of attending the school itself.</p>
<p>The Amherst team rides at Biscuit Hill Farm, which has a waiting list, so it doesn't surprise me that the horse was "accepted" first.</p>
<p>The University of Vermont has a coop horse barn where students care for their own horses. Board is $150 a month and includes shavings, morning feed, use of indoor and outdoor, and feed. Students care for their own horses and share "watch" of the horses when they're outside. The barn is well outfitted and it's a close knit group.</p>
<p>It's made it very affordable for many of our students to keep horses here and it's a really fun experience. While it's a big time committment many seem to really like the structure it provides.</p>
<p>We have several eventers and the local events are quite good, as well as a short jaunt to NH or upstate NY. </p>
<p>I know it's out of your geographical region but this is one way schools have made riding and keeping student owned horses affordable, without boarding (here average cost is $400 up, MHC is about $850).</p>
<p>I sold my horse before coming to college and I've found that since I've been a college student, finding free horses to ride is much, much easier. I currently have two that I am riding at no cost to me since their owners don't have time. I certainly preferred having my own horse, but this is a nice, less time consuming solution, and one of the horse's owners pays for me to show her horse as well. It's a really nice arrangement.</p>
<p>Caledonia-- Maybe this has been said, but Brown actually recruits for riding, as does Cornell. Brown's facilities aren't great but I've heard the team is good. Dartmouth, as mentioned, has a varsity equestrian team. Bringing a horse to school is very expensive, and if your daughter wants to be on the team chances are she won't be able to practice on her own mount, which then becomes impractical time wise. My daughter has been riding seriously for years. Many girls go off to school with horses and/or the intention of continuing their riding, but very few are able to follow through. Skidmore, by the way, has OUTSTANDING facilities right on campus and they also recruit. Good luck!</p>
<p>Like Carolyn and several other posters said, your D might go 180 on the horse thing. I am also a rider- been riding since I was six! Ever since I've been in college, it's quite a challenge to keep up with my riding lessons, academics, extracurriculars, friends, etc that sometimes my riding priorities take the backseat unintentionally. </p>
<p>I really do love horses to death, don't get me wrong. But sometimes being on a very active campus can force a student to open up her eyes to see opportunities beyond her normal routine. I get so excited hearing about my friends' trips and research opportunities that I just want to pile them on my schedule/future plans that I have to step back and look at the big picture and see how things fit. </p>
<p>I did take weekly riding lessons at Smith in my first year- I wanted to do the equestrian team but my parents wanted me to wait a year so I can "settle" down. (Facilities- barn and ring are very nice but the turn out is terrible, I dno't recommend it if you've got a frisky horse) Then when I moved to Colgate, I did join the equestrian team in my first semester. Then I got pretty involved and there were other things on campus that I wanted to try. Then spring semester, the captains and I <em>mutually agreed</em> that it'd be best if I took time off to explore my other interests. I was definitely much happier- still took lessons but cut it down to once a week. This semester... well, haven't set up anything yet! :) </p>
<p>I've decided that I really need this semester to do well in my academics as I'm looking to apply to grad school and I will be going abroad in the spring and will not be able to transfer the GPA over. While I'll be sacrificing my riding in my upperclassman years, I'll have grad school/post-college to look forward to as I'll have a lot more free time to enjoy horses. </p>
<p>My cousin sold her horses when she went to school- primarily because she knew that she wouldn't have time and doesn't regret it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I know several people who have horses at school and they said that it's very, very difficult because time management is very crucial so the academics and the horse can both be happy. So make sure that your D has a plan for action too- including the time needed to change for riding and to get to the barn!</p>
<p>While it will be HARD for your D but consider keeping the horse behind in her first semester and offer her lessons so she can see if she can do <em>everything.</em> If after a semester, she feels that she has too much time on her hands, then let the horse go :)</p>
<p>Oh gosh, all the things I want to do in college are going to have to take turns because they require money and time... riding, skiing, and traveling! The life of a princess :P</p>
<p>(BTW- Colgate's very competitive as an equestrian team. Freshmen are alllowed to bring cars. Full board's $400 at the local barn with huge turnouts)</p>
<p>Hollins Univ. and Sweet Briar Collegein VA; Miami University of OH and Willimington College in OH;</p>
<p>My D. has had her horse with her since fresh. year in college. The cost has been about the same as board was at home. He is boarded at the school barn and she is able to ride him in some classes plus do extra private lessons. Since she is at barn every day anyway (equine major) this has worked out great. The school even trailers him when she shows him in shows that the school is participating in (not intercollegiate ones). They have 2 indoor arenas plus outdoor riding areas and event courses--so plenty of opportunities to ride in all weather conditions.</p>
<p>At least we are talking about the horse <em>in addition</em> to college. Back in the dark ages, I know one girl who was offered a choice of her own horse or going to college! </p>
<p>She chose the horse and was working in the customer service department of a fading downtown department store -- and riding at night and on her days off.</p>
<p>What school does your daughter attend for equine science</p>
<p>horsegirl, if that question was directed to me, my D. attends Virginia Intermont College. Equine is their most popular degree.</p>
<p>Carolyn,
What I want to know is what happened to your daughter's horse? I have a feeling I will be inheriting my daughters and I get saddle sore just thinking about it...>></p>
<p>This summer, my daughter made the very difficult decision to sell her horse. She considered leasing him, considered bringing him home to our property to live (I would have been the one taking care of him) to save on costs, considered shipping him back and forth between California and her school in Wisconsin, and none of the options made financial sense nor ultimately seemed like they would be fair to the horse. </p>
<p>After a great deal of thought, she decided that the best choice for Dusty himself was to find a new owner who would have the time and love that he deserves. It was a sad day indeed, but she is happy with the person who purchased him (they talk now and then via email so she knows Dusty is doing well), he has stayed at the facility she kept him at, and she has "visiting rights" to see him whenever she is home. </p>
<p>She likened it to the choice of putting a child up for adoption. While emotionally it might have been best for her to keep him, four years of not having a full time owner for one reason or another would not have been best for Dusty. Now, if she were majoring in equine studies, or dedicated enough to an equestrian collegiate team, or felt ready for the added responsibility of being his sole caretaker, fully in charge of his care (It's amazing how much Moms actually do when it comes to their daughter's horses! Do take that into account when making the decision - how much time do you spend arranging vet visits, paying board, checking on the horse when she can't -- factor that into the decision and make sure she's ready/willing to do it all) then she may have reached a different decision, but for her this was the choice she reached.</p>
<p>Although she misses him, she is also relieved that she has found a good home for him, and admits that having at college would not be realistic for her. As Tickle said above, college has a way of changing your priorities and putting a different spin on the demands for your time. Things she <em>thought</em> were important in high school are now taking a backseat to new adventures. </p>
<p>She thought she needed a TV at college too. Hasn't turned the darn thing on since she got there. :)</p>
<p>Obviously, however, there is no single "right" answer for everyone --</p>
<p>I go to a school, and ride on our riding team, and there is no academic horse program here, but a ton of people have horses with them and just board at local stables. My school as a general rule doesn't allow freshmen to have cars, but if they have a real reason, like having a horse, they are allowed to have a car as freshmen. If there is a riding team at the school, whichever barn they ride at, the trainer/barn owner might allow a discount in board in exchange for using the horse in their lesson program or for the team. Also remember that if your daughter goes to college in a rural area, board is much cheaper. </p>
<p>I can also say that I know people who are getting financial aid and have their horse with them. Financial aid people don't ask you if your bringing a horse to school with you. </p>
<p>Just remember that there are barns allover the place, just because the school doesn't have one, does not mean that there aren't fabulous local barns.</p>
<p>Findlay University in Findlay, Ohio</p>
<p>University of Vermont has an equestrian program.</p>
<p>UC Davis has an equestrian center on campus- walking distance from the dorms. I keep my horse there and LOVE it. There are four teams students can compete on at UC Davis, see [U.C</a>. Davis Equestrian Teams](<a href=“http://www.davisequestrianclub.com%5DU.C”>http://www.davisequestrianclub.com) for details. UC Davis also has a great animal science department where you can emphasize in equine studies.</p>
<p>Again, I am consistently surprised at how people find these threads. This one is FIVE YEARS old.</p>