About an hour north of campus, a group of Indiana students saddle up in preparation for practice for their long-awaited competition. Though a competitive spirit is more than welcome, with a variety ranging from more advanced jumps and exercises to leisurely riding, members of all skill levels and backgrounds are invited to participate in practices.
At CharLu Farm in Brazil, Indiana, home to Equestrians of Indiana University, the trek from Bloomington breeds progress in riding along with physical and mental toughness, even if the conditioning is tough.
“It’s a little different than doing something like push-ups,” club president Sierra Shambaugh said.
She mentions a common practice called no stirrups, where the frame that holds a rider’s feet is removed. “The stirrups are removed from the saddle, and that means we have to use our legs to balance. Doing a lot of flatwork also conditions us to make sure our legs are still and we’re focused on gaining that muscle back.”
Practicing flatwork could consist of simple movements such as turns on flat ground. Though the club’s methods may seem unorthodox, equestrianism demands precise technique, cardio and lower body strength to succeed.
And yet, while skill and experience remain of the utmost importance, adaptability is perhaps a lesser-known commodity in the world of hunt seat, a type of riding practiced by the club. Renowned for elegance, hunt seat essentially refers to any forward seat style riding.
In the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, show horses are drawn out of a hat for competitors. Thus, riders have an extremely slim chance of riding a horse they have already ridden, and there are only minutes to adjust before showtime.
“With IHSA you draw horses from other schools and you have no idea what their buttons are or what their temperament is,” Shambaugh said. “But for the minute that you’re jumping around, you’re not trying to fix every little thing with the horse, and you basically become a team. It teaches you a lot about rolling with the punches.” Although choosing an unknown horse is a minor inconvenience to experienced riders, familiarity enhances the experience, according to Shambaugh.
Sophomore Jackie Freni began riding at the age of 9. Freni, like so many other club members, shares a profound love of animals.
With ample experience from competitive shows, she did not want to put her years of riding and hard work to rest once arriving at IU.
“I wanted to join the team at IU because I wanted to meet people who love the sport as much as I do, and I did not want to stop my riding career when I came to school,” Freni said.
Shambaugh got her first horse and began hunter jumping in middle school. After focusing on academics and various school sports throughout high school, Shambough returned to equestrianism once she came to IU. Noting the strong team bonds and improved horsemanship from the club, she says that the equestrian club is where she has met her best friends.
Freni said she has her sights focused on gaining more points at competitions this season in order to reach nationals, a feat yet to be achieved by Equestrians of IU.
For Shambaugh as the club president, the focus is on creating an inclusive, fun environment within the club.
“I want to make sure that everyone feels welcome and excited about the team, and I want to ensure that everyone is making friends. This team has given so much to me and I want to give back to the team,” said Shambaugh.
Like Shambaugh, Freni addresses the importance of the team’s relationships outside of practice and competition.
“My favorite moment on the team was our banquet last year because we all got to ride at sunset and got a bunch of cute pictures,” Freni said.
With two shows at CharLu Farm this semester, Equestrians of Indiana University practice whenever they can, but still plan to provide myriad opportunities for members such as fundraisers and social events.
