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Drop by the Equestrian Center from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. Make sure you sign the guestbook! Mount Holyoke College, one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges, has equestrian facilities and teams that dominate college riding. The MHC Dressage Team is the three time Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Champion Team for 2002-2004 and the Reserve National Champion in 2005. The Dressage Team also holds numerous individual titles at both the national and regional levels. Interested in getting information from MHC? If so, click on the link below to fill out your information. Rider Recruiting Form Q: What is Dressage? A: The word dressage is taken from a French term meaning “training.” It is not only a method of schooling, but also a competitive equestrian sport. Basic training is the same for every horse, regardless of what they specialize in later on. “The object of Dressage is the harmonious development of the physique and ability of the horse. As a result it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible but also confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving perfect understanding with his rider” (USEQ Rule Book). Because dressage uses gymnastic exercises it also improves the seat, coordination and feel of the rider. The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) offers four divisions of riders. The Introductory Level is for riders new to dressage competition but have a solid foundation in riding and are able to ride an Introductory USDF test (walk-trot). Lower and Upper Training Level are for competitors who can ride the horse freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, showing that the horses muscles are supple, loose and accept contact with the bit. First Level requires showing the standards of Training Level but with more pushing power, and a higher degree of balance and thoroughness must be developed. Q: What level should I try out for? A: IDA competitions are challenging, even for the most seasoned competitors. Riders should tryout for the lowest level they are qualified for. We are always looking for riders in each level. Usually about 30-40 people try out for 14-18 spots. Everyone interested in being on the Team must try out each semester, even people who have been on the team before. The level restrictions may change from year to year and are posted on the IDA website. Once a rider is registered with the IDA, the only way to move up a level is to point out of a division or to win in an individual national competition class. Once you have joined the IDA, any showing that you do outside the team will not affect your division. Q: How successful has the Dressage Team been? A: The Team has been extremely successful! In 1995 Michelle Hoffman, a MHC student, helped create the IDA. Since then, MHC has won 8 Team Regional Champion Titles, and 3 Team National Titles. We have numerous Individual Regional and National Champion riders in all divisions. Overall MHC has the distinction of having the most titles and team and individual wins in the IDA! Q: Who is the Dressage Team Coach? A: Rebecca Schurink has been the instructor and head coach for the Dressage program at MHC since 1998. Under her guidance, the Team has won 3 IDA National and 1 Reserve Championship Team titles, and 8 Regional Championship titles. She has been on the IDA Rules and Guidelines committee and is a member of NEDA. Rebecca competes her two horses at the FEI levels. Visit Becky's page to learn more about her. Q: How do IDA competitions work? A: At IDA shows a team consists of four riders: one rider at each of the four levels. The hosting school provides the horses and prepares them for competition (bathing, braiding, tacking etc.). The morning of the show there is a horse draw in which each team draws a group of horses. The horses are presented under saddle during the Parade of horses and each coach decides the horse and rider combination of the group. Each rider is given ten minutes to warm up with the assistance of their coach, and then ride a USDF test from memory in full show attire. The lowest score from the team is dropped and the remaining three scores are averaged together. The school with the highest team average wins the show. Tests are returned at the end of the competition with constructive feedback from the judge and an award ceremony is held for all the competitors. Q: What horses does the Team use? A: The Equestrian program designates 4-5 horses as “dressage horses.” These horses are used in dressage lessons and Team practices. MHC is very lucky to have several wonderful seasoned dressage horses in our program. Both dressage horses and equitation school horses are used in the IDA shows. In order to prepare for home shows, the Team does occasionally ride the equitation school horses in practice. Q: Where is the Equestrian Center? Can I bring a horse? A: The MHC Equestrian Center is located ON CAMPUS. There are approximately 30 stalls for students. Applications for stalls are due in April. Contact Director Paula Pierce (ppierce@mtholyoke.edu) for a boarder application. Some people on the Team have their horses at MHC, but having your horse here is not required. Boarders may ride in dressage lessons with Rebecca Schurink or with another MHC instructor. The Equestrian Center has two indoor arenas, a standard outdoor dressage arena, an outdoor jumping arena, trails and a cross country course. For more information and pictures of our facilities, please visit the Equestrian Center webpage. Q: When I come visit MHC can I stay overnight or talk with a Dressage Team member? A: Prospective students are encouraged to attend the Equestrian Center Open House each November (Sign up through Admissions). To arrange a visit another time or to talk to a Team member, please e-mail Team Captain Asheley Ireland at aeirelan@mtholyoke.edu. Q: What is required to be on the Dressage Team? How much of a time commitment is necessary? A: Riders are highly encouraged (but not required) to be enrolled in a dressage physical education class, which count as PE credits towards graduation requirements. Group PE classes meet twice a week and private lessons meet once a week. Team practices are used to polish your dressage skills, but more of the foundation is given in the dressage PE lessons. Each Team member rides once a week in a 45 minute group practice. Members are required to participate in workouts, practices, team meetings, educational events, and fund-raising activities. There are usually 4-6 horse shows a semester and a National competition at the end of the spring semester. All shows are held on the weekend and the team may stay overnight at a hotel. We usually send two teams (4 riders per team) to each show, but the entire Team usually goes to all the shows to support our riders. MHC hosts a home show each semester and members are required to help prepare and run the show. Being on the team does not guarentee that every rider will be competing. The Team definitely involves a commitment of time and energy, but the opportunity to improve one’s skills as a dressage rider and to be supported by fellow team members makes it all worthwhile! Many of our members balance their school work with riding their own horse and being on the team. A few of our riders are also on the Riding Team (IHSA team). All students must be in good academic standing and abide by the MHC’s honor code. Q: Can I also be on the Equitation team (IHSA Riding team)? A: Yes, dressage team members are also allowed to be on the riding team or any other varsity sport. Please make sure you have the time to commit to both teams. Q: Does MHC have an Eventing team? A: There are students this year who are in the process of creating an eventing team. If you want to help get an eventing team established at MHC, please contact Lucy lbcheney@mtholyoke.edu or Asheley at aeirelan@mtholyoke.edu. Currently, MHC students are allowed to join the UMass eventing team. You can contact Maryanne at smurfyblue39@hotmail.com for more information about the UMass eventing team. Q: What do Team members have to pay for? A: The Dressage Team is a club sport and the MHC Student Government Association covers a large amount of the team’s expenses. The Team is required to fund-raise in order defray the cost of show entries, travel and other expenses. Members must pay $25 to register with the IDA each year. Members are encouraged to purchase team jackets ($140). Q: Are there riding scholarships? A: MHC does not offer athletic scholarships for tuition. When funds are available, dressage lesson scholarships are available to help defray some of the cost of lessons. Riders can apply for scholarships at the begining of each semester. Q: Does the Equestrian Center hold clinics or shows? A: Yes, both dressage and jumping clinics are held. Lilo Fore, Gunnar Ostergaard, Lendon Gray, and Sarah Gieke have held clinics at MHC. If possible, the Team helps make the costs reasonable. Each spring MHC holds a very popular Dressage and Combined Training show. Q: How can a rider prepare for tryouts? A: When choosing a strong Team, Coach Rebecca Schurink looks for riding ability and athletic fitness, as well as a positive attitude, team camaraderie and willingness to learn more about the sport of dressage. All levels of riders are encouraged to tryout, but must be able to walk and trot safely on their own. Tryouts are held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and are run like an IDA show. Each rider is given 10 minutes to warm up without assistance and then ride an appropriate USDF test for their level from memory. Riders may be asked to ride another horse at the end of the division or to do additional movements or ride without stirrups. Riders must be in full show attire for tryouts. People who do not have show clothes borrow from other riders. Please be respectful and return people's clothes. In order to prepare for tryouts, riders should ride as many different types of horses as possible and practice riding accurate tests. If you don’t make the Team the first time, keep trying and stay active with the dressage team! Dressage team workouts and many of our social and educational events are open to anyone who is interested. More infomation about the Focus on Riding: November 2005 This Open House is an opportunity for serious riders (participants must be a seniors in high school) to explore Mount Holyoke’s world class riding facilities. Guests will spend the night with a current student rider, take a tour of the Equestrian Center, attend an information session, and talk with coaches and trainers. The program begins at 4:00pm on Thursday, November 18 and formally ends at 8:30am on Friday, November 19. Students wishing to stay on for an admission interview*, class visit, campus tour or lunch at the Equestrian Center, are encouraged to do so. *All Admission interviews must be previously arranged. For further information contact: Rebecca Schurink: Dressage Team Coach Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center South Hadley, MA 01075 (413) 538-3018 or (413) 538-2272 rschurin@mtholyoke.edu Asheley Ireland: Dressage Team Captain aeirelan@mtholyoke.edu Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) www.teamdressage.com Updated July 2005 |