FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions from Prospective Students

Q. What specifically do you learn in the discipline courses (i.e., hunt seat, dressage, etc.)?

A. In each respective discipline, you can learn as much as you want to learn. We encourage students to try all three disciplines (hunter/jumper, dressage, and eventing) and it is required for Teacher/Trainer majors. After completing Riding Skills III, the T/T majors are then expected to start with the separate disciplines by taking Introduction to Hunters, Intro.to Stadium, Intro.to Eventing, and Intro to Dressage. Each of the Intro. classes has a Theory component to teach the students about the history and theory involved with each discipline, as well as the rules governing competitions. Students ride a variety of horses throughout each class to become well-rounded riders.

Q. Do the professors teach you how to ride in that discipline and work on your riding ability?

A. Yes, each instructor is highly accomplished and very eager to pass on their knowledge. The students are taught to be thinking, effective riders with a thorough understanding of the discipline and its respective history, purpose, and rules of competition.

Q. Do you go out on hunts and ride cross country?

A. We will host mini-trails in the Spring.

Q. Some colleges require certain tack or to "bring your own" polo wraps, etc. Does this school require anything to be brought by the student?

A. Students are required to bring a grooming kit including a mane pulling comb, an ASTM-SEI approved helmet, whip, gloves, and tall leather riding boots or paddock boots with boot-style half chaps (not suede).

Q. Approximately how many schools do you compete against in ICTA?

A. Currently, ICTA is not an official organization but Lake Erie College is trying to pioneer this organization and get other schools on board with creating ICTA teams. There have been unofficial ICTA events in combination with the IDA shows.

Q. If my horse gets hurt, are there school horses available for me to ride?

A. Yes, it is encouraged to ride a school horse for riding classes. If you want to ride a school horse and you are not in a riding class, you may pay a fee to ride. Also, if you are a member of a riding team, you may ride school horses during practices.

Q. What are some local events that the CT team goes to?

A. The team has competed at places such as South Farm in Middlefield, OH; Winona Horse Trials in Winona, OH; Stonegate Horse Trials in Hanoverton, OH; Erie Hunt Saddle Club in Erie, PA and Team Challenge at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Q. How many students are in the Equine Studies major?

A. Approximately 125 student

Q. Do you help students find internships?

A. Yes, there are many wonderful local businesses who continue to accept interns as well as many exciting opportunities throughout the country. (see website) Internships are a requirement for the Equine Studies majors and should be viewed as an experience in discovery.

Q. What are equine student riding fees?

A. The first riding class is $800 and any additional class is $500 per semester.

Q. What would a basic riding class consist of?

A. All riding classes consist of two one-hour lessons each week and recreational riding available on Fridays and Saturdays. The Balanced Seat classes focuses on developing a good seat with independent aids and an understanding of horse behavior and only consists of flat work; the Riding Skills classes are similar to the Balanced Seat in the objectives with the inclusion of jumping skills; the specialized classes (hunters/jumpers/dressage/combined training) start with an Introductory course which includes a Theory component on Fridays. The class size ranges from 4 to 7.

Q. What is the availability of work/study programs at the equine facility?

A. The work/study program is available to anyone who qualifies and there is ample opportunity.

Q. What major is AI included?

A. Artificial Insemination is done in the Stud Farm Management concentration.

Q. Do the students learn how to physically inseminate a mare by themselves?

A. Yes, students do all the breeding themselves.

Q. Do the students do any centered riding?

A. Yes, centered riding is synonymous with balanced riding which is the only correct way to ride. Each instructor has their own style of using imagery and awareness techniques to improve balanced riding.

Q. What does it cost to board your horse at LEC?

A. Full care board is $1,870 per semester and part-care board is $1,540 per semester.

Q. Can you ride on the team without being an equestrian major?

A. Yes, the riding teams are open to all LEC students.

Q. I am studying pre-vet and I was curious if I could take just a few classes within the equestrian program?

A. Yes, anyone may take equine classes as long as they meet the pre-requisites for each class.

Q. What level do eventers ride?

A. We have students from Beginner Novice through Intermediate and Advanced.

Q. Where do horses go when school is closed?

A. During the summer break, some horses are leased by a summer camp, some are leased by LEC students, and the rest stay at LEC for rest and recuperation.

Q. Can I ride on more than one team?

A. Yes, you may join more than one team, but there may be times when there is a conflict in schedules.

Yes

Yes, you may compete as an individual on your own horse or a school horse in the winter series hunter/jumper shows or dressage shows or mini-events. There may also be occasions in which a student shows as an individual at an intercollegiate event.

The horses range from quiet beginner horses through horses that have shown FEI level dressage and High Amateur Jumpers.

Yes, we have clinics with top professionals in each discipline. Recently we have had Chris Kappler (hunter/jumper) and will continue to do so indefinitely. Also, we have Nancy Smith (dressage) who operates her training business out of the LEC equestrian center for 6 months out of the year. We are open to suggestions from our students.

Graduates go on to work in a wide variety of equine professions, such as: trainers, assistant trainers, farm managers, stud farm managers, instructors, sales reps for equine products, performers in the White Stallion Lipizzan shows, show managers, equine transporters, grooms for international trainers, business entrepreneurs, and many more.