The Equestrian Team at Northeastern University is a club sport competing within the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association in Hunt Seat Equitation. Our team rides in Marshfield, Massachusetts at Cranberry Acres Farm with head coach Kate Roncarati.

All undergraduate students at Northeastern University looking to continue their equestrian career through college can join! The Northeastern Equestrian Team is open to all levels of riders ranging from Walk-Trot to Open divisions. Our team members come from many different discipline backgrounds including hunter/jumper, eventing, dressage, reining, stock horse circuits, and more!

As a club sport, the Northeastern Equestrian Team receives some funding from the university. However, this amount does not fully cover the extensive cost of lessons, practice, and showing. Therefore, every rider on the team must pay dues and participate in fundraising. Dues are subject to change every year, but are typically range from $400-700. If dues are prohibitively expensive, please feel free to reach out during the tryouts process to speak with our executive board to find the best solution for you!

The Northeastern Equestrian Team does require those interested in trying out have some riding experience. Participating on the team is a great way to advance your riding skills, but would not be best suited for people with no experience at all. Also, transparency about skill level and riding history is imperative through out the tryout process so that each rider finds the level placement that is best suited for them! 

Tryouts are typically held once every academic year early in the fall semester (September) and can last 1-2 days. More information will be published each September containing specific details.

Previously, tryouts typically cost around $60 per rider and includes transportation, riding history interview, a flat round evaluation, and a jumping round evaluation (if eligible).

Appropriate riding attire is required at tryouts: riding boots with a heel, a riding helmet, a collared shirt with sleeves, breeches or jeans (please no jeans with buttons or decorations on the rear pockets), and a belt. We strongly encourage all riders to wear "clinic attire" or to look otherwise polished and professional. 

Please also bring the fee for tryouts, a snack, and water as tryouts can be a long day.

All tack is provided by the barn (saddle*, bridle, etc.) and show attire is not necessary for tryouts (show shirt*, show jacket*, etc.). 

Transportation to and from the barn is provided for tryouts. Cranberry Acres Equestrian in Marshfield, Massachusetts is accessible via Northeastern University passenger vans driven by certified teammates, personal carpools, Zipcars, as well as public transportation. 

The Northeastern University Equestrian Team rides in Marshfield with head coach Kate Roncarati at Cranberry Acres Equestrian. 

In years past, team members ride in small groups of 3-4 people on weekday mornings and evenings. Weekday morning blocks leave campus around 6:30 AM and return around 10:30 AM. Weekday evening blocks leave campus around 6:30 PM and return around 10:30 PM. Weekends are typically reserved for shows or makeup lessons. 

This is subject to change depending on transportation, lesson and show programming, as well as team member & coach schedules!

Transportation to and from the barn is provided for lessons and competitions for team members. Cranberry Acres is accessible via Northeastern University passenger vans driven by certified teammates, personal carpools, Zipcars, as well as public transportation. Train tickets and gas are typically reimbursed by the team using yearly fundraising income. 

Practice timing for the Northeastern Equestrian team can be seen below and heavily dependent on traffic:

Typical morning practice itinerary:

• Depart campus (6:30 AM)

• Arrive at the barn (7:15 AM)

• Groom & tack up (7:15 AM - 7:45 AM)

• Warm up & lesson (7:50 AM - 9 AM)

• Untack, groom, clean up (9 AM - 9:30 AM)

• Depart barn (9:30 AM)

• Arrive back on campus (10:30 AM)

Typical evening practice itinerary:

• Depart campus (6:30 PM)

• Arrive at the barn (7:15 PM)

• Groom & tack up (7:15 PM - 7:45 PM)

• Warm up & lesson (7:50 PM - 9 PM)

• Untack, groom, clean up (9 PM - 9:30 PM)

• Depart barn (9:30 PM)

• Arrive back on campus (10:30 PM)

Yes! Every member of the team is expected to attend weekly team meetings, weekly team workouts, participate in team fundraising, and volunteer activities including home competitions hosted or co-hosted by the Northeastern Equestrian Team. Throughout the year, fun activities such as tack shop trips, pot luck dinners, paint nights and clinics are hosted for team members to further foster good camaraderie!

The Northeastern Equestrian Team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) and competes in the competitive Zone I, Region 2, against other schools from the northeast such as: Middlebury College, University of Vermont, and University of New Hampshire.

A unique format built for collegiate athletes: IHSA is a team equestrian competition in which each competitor draws a horse provided by the host school before their ride. No schooling or warm-up of that horse by the rider is allowed. This format tests each rider’s ability to quickly and accurately assess their mount and ride it to the best of their ability. Teams are comprised of riders from Walk-Trot up to Open divisions. The lower two divisions (Walk-Trot and Novice) compete in only Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat. The upper three divisions (Limit, Intermediate, and Open) compete in both Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat and over Fences. Rider's points from their class placings contribute to both the team's overall standing and their individual rider standing.

Riders may accumulate points to qualify to compete at the IHSA Regional Championships, also allowing them to move up a division. Regional qualifiers also have the opportunity to compete at the IHSA Zone and National Championships if they place first or second at the preceding championship.

For more information, please visit: https://www.ihsainc.com/about-us/general-information 

Riders of all levels can choose to register with the IHSA for the show team roster. You do not need to have shown before to participate in IHSA. Those with less than 6 months of training can participate in Walk-Trot, all the way to Medal or Maclay riders in the Open Division. During each competition, our coach, Kate Roncarati, will select riders from the show team roster to compete based on individual performance, practice attendance, and overall attitude. Team members can also elect to not show if they prefer.

The number of riders who are able to show varies by season and the size of the show. Anywhere between 10-15 riders will be able to travel and compete in a given regular season competition. Not all riders on the show team roster are selected to compete at every show. 

The IHSA show season consists of about 6 shows throughout the fall, usually in October and November. A few shows are held in the spring, usually in late February and March. Post season championships are also held in late spring.

The expected commitment for these shows is the night before (if the team stays in a hotel) and the entire day of the show. Arrival back to campus on show day is typically in the early or late evening and subject to change based on the pace, location, and size of the show.

Yes! Class fees are subject to change depending on the IHSA region regulations but range between $50-55 per class with a two class maximum. Team members who are showing are also asked to contribute to the compensated cost of the hotel and food, other than designated team dinners. 

Show attire consists of: 

• A properly fitted show coat (dark navy or black strongly preferred)

• A white show shirt

• Tan knee patch breeches

• Black belt

• Black tall boots

• A black riding helmet

• Hairnet

• Black gloves

Many riders have show clothes that newer members can borrow. The team also takes routine trips to local tack stores to outfit our new riders!