embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

The majority of UBC students don’t know that UBC has an equestrian club. Imagine sipping brandy after a jolly fox hunt, well-heeled ladies in attendance. Indubitably, this sounds like a capital way to spend time outside of the library.

The UBC Equestrian Team isn’t quite this vision in hunting canary,  but it comes pretty close to you fulfilling your childhood fantasies—with a little more elbow grease and mud in the mix.
The club enables students, some of whom have never swung their leg over the back of a horse and others with blue-ribbon experience, to join a community of horse enthusiasts at UBC without having to own a steed. By becoming a member of the club one can expect to attend club meetings, meet other horse lovers, take riding lessons and possibly enter the show ring.

The horse network can be difficult to infiltrate, especially when taking a full course load, working part time, and commuting via public transit. But the club creates a network within the UBC community that connects horse lovers and riders to coaches in the area in as little as ten minutes from campus. Members are grouped according to riding ability, from walk-trot to flying over fences.
If you feel comfortable in your horse-wrangling ways, the club competes on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) circuit. IHSA classes range from walk-trot classes up to three-foot fences in the open jumping rounds. Even if you aren’t ready to enter the show ring, the club encourages beginners to come along, cheer on other members and learn by watching.

One of the huge benefits of the IHSA program is that it is student-budget-friendly by eliminating the expense of the horse. Horses are provided at competitions by the host school—don’t worry about asking for a pony for Christmas. Shows are usually in Washington and Oregon, so there is an opportunity to travel for those who are into hotel room parties. This past weekend, the first- ever IHSA competition in Canada took place at Southlands Riding Club along Marine Drive.

The UBC Equestrian Team has been around for five years and hopes to eventually gain Varsity status. Within IHSA, 80 per cent  of the teams are Varsity, and therefore receive generous funding. Some of the teams even have stables directly on school grounds. UBC is at a distinct disadvantage by operating at club status, but they are doing very well within the circuit. Last year, the club sent riders to Regional and Zone Championships in the IHSA—the post-season of the intercollegiate horse world. With minimal funding, the club is already representing our school on a varsity level.
All you need to join is a passion for ponies and $10 if you don’t plan on competing in shows or $50 for those who want to compete. Expect to pay somewhere over $30 for each individual lesson. Beginners are welcomed with open arms—the focus is not just on competing, but on connecting students who grew up riding with those who are interested in learning. Giddy up.