<p>Am I the only one who wants to know how the horse subject of this thread is adjusting to college?</p>
<p>There are 15 or so NCAA Equestrian teams that train very hard and recruit top junior riders. Top teams include Auburn, South Carolina, Georgia,Texas A&M. But agree with showmom I think the Olympic level riders might find the level of riding limiting. Google NCAA Equestrian teams and you can get some info on those schools.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody</p>
<p>S.O.G…me too!</p>
<p>I received a private message asking for an update, and now I see some posts here asking as well, so here it is.</p>
<p>We did end up deciding to allow my daughter to take the horse to college. We brought the horse 1.5 weeks after she left for college, and that was 1.5 weeks ago from today. When we first left my daughter at college (she is the younger of 2 kids), it was much easier on me knowing that I would see her again in just 1.5 weeks when we brought the horse and car. </p>
<p>So, far she seems to be adjusting well and seems to be quite happy at her college. She has made a lot of friends on her dorm floor, and gets along well with her roommate. The equestrian team activity has started - there is one team lesson per week plus one team meeting per week, and 4 shows this semester. She is also getting involved in other activities - auditioned for and made the choir, which she is enjoying but feels outclassed by the more serious singers. She auditioned for and failed to get into an a capella group and a dance team. She mentioned a whole bunch of other things from the activity fair that were potentially of interest, but I don’t know what she is actually following through with. She seems to be very busy these few weeks while sampling the various activities, auditioning, socializing, etc. </p>
<p>I don’t think she has used the car yet other than to go to the barn several times. The parking lot she has a permit for is on the completely opposite side of campus from her dorm, so not particularly convenient. </p>
<p>Classes seem to be going OK. She was happy to have been able to select which classes to take, much more freedom than high school, but she did seem surprised by the high expectation level - lots of reading to do of very dense material, her first paper due, having to give an oral presentation in a foreign language class (in the foreign language), etc. </p>
<p>Overall, so far so good. She is busy, but that is normal for her. She is busy enough and socially adjusted enough so far, that I think she would have been fine without the horse. But we had already made the decision to bring the horse and so I didn’t want to back out of it. The day before we brought the horse out, I asked her if she was SURE that she wanted the horse to come, and she said yes. The horse (a mare) also seems to have adjusted to the move and the new barn OK. </p>
<p>When we decided to bring the horse, I made it clear to her that it was a “we’ll see how it goes and decide how long to continue” decision, rather than a “keep the horse at college all 4-years” decision. Looking at things now, I think the desire to have the horse there is in part a security blanket of sorts for her - something comforting from home. She had more fear and anxiety about going to college than I had realized, I’ve learned based upon some of our more recent communication. Anyway, she has her giant, live, expensive “security blanket” for now, and we’ll see how it goes.</p>
<p>Thanks for updating us! 
Hope everything continues to go well.</p>
<p>An update, now that freshman year is almost over.</p>
<p>As I had posted before, my daughter did bring the horse to school. In hindsight, I think it was probably the wrong decision to let her take the horse. We will be returning the horse to the owner later this month, rather than moving her back to the local barn for the summer. My daughter has had a good first year at college, but I think having an horse there was as unnecessary cost and the horse didn’t get as much attention as she probably should have gotten.</p>
<p>Luckily there were no serious horse health issues, although a couple of minor ones did prove to be inconvenient to deal with. She did enjoy having the horse with her at college. But she was very busy with lots of other college activities, and didn’t really have enough time to devote to the horse. Frankly, that is what I would have preferred, that she take advantage of the unique opportunities that attending college brings, rather than spending all of her time at the barn. Over Christmas break we brought the horse back to our local barn, and then back to school. I suggested returning the horse to its owner at that time, but she wasn’t ready to let go, so I didn’t push it. When I suggested returning the horse again at the end of the school year, my daughter agreed. </p>
<p>At the beginning of the school year, I was less confident that she would adjust as well socially to being away at college as she did. She has had a good start to college, so I can’t be too unhappy with the decision to send the horse with her, even though, with hindsight, I don’t think it was really necessary.</p>
<p>All in all, that sounds like a good outcome. Your D is healthy, happy, and well adjusted to college. The horse also is healthy and will now be available for use by someone who adores it as much as your D did. I just hope the horse didn’t pledge a sorority or make other friends that it will miss this fall. 
</p>
My dtr, a senior in high school, wants to take her horse to college as well (still awaiting most college decisions). Most coaches told her to hold off a month or two, but one said to have the horse there before school starts. Interesting perspective. She said that 1) its an instant friend maker. Meeting with other equestrian girls will help foster friendships, possible future room mates, etc. As most equestrians are committed to their horses & are very organized and responsible, they will hopefully be busy with their 4 footed friends rather than party and get into trouble. We were both reluctant to send her horse with her, but now have reversed our decision. Of course her grades will have to be up to par and any drug/drinking violations will send her horse home ASAP. And PS: we are not wealthy, my dtr has worked 3-5 days per week paying off board & lessons, even I help out at the barn 1-2 days / week to help out as well.
Please use old threads only for reference.