About Us
What is WIHA? How is it different from other Youth Equestrian Organizations?
WIHA is an equestrian competition where individuals compete as a team. Your team belongs to a district that corresponds to the county where your school is located. The goal of WIHA is to get as many schools as possible to recognize this as a sport and allow the students to letter.
Mission Statement
This constitution is established to facilitate interscholastic competition, promote a sound program of educational enrichment value and encourage a cooperative, democratic process of fair and good horsemanship.
Purpose
This organization is to promote continuous growth in programs fostering horsemanship education, sponsor activities to encourage interscholastic participation and to have cooperative adult supervised leadership (coaching) for all students in grades 6 through 12 who are desirous to participate regardless of race, creed or national origin and meets the association rules and regulations.
History
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Horsemanship Association (WIHA) was founded in May of 2007 by Dan Grunewald. The first WIHA show was held in Jefferson, WI in 2007 and had seven teams in competition. Excitement for the WIHA was felt through everyone who competed and all of the spectators. Since this inaugural show, many youth and adults are getting involved wanting to know how they can get the WIHA started in their school.
2008 – 10 teams
2009 – no info collected
2010 – 54 teams and 255 students
2011 – 43 teams and 301 students
2012 – 63 teams and 357 students
2013 – 70 teams and 391 students
2014 – 67 teams and 377 students
2015 – 66 teams and 334 students
2016 - 96 teams and 360 students
2021
2022
2023
How Does It Work?
There are several districts throughout the state of Wisconsin. Each team competes at their corresponding district shows. A district is required to hold 3 shows throughout the season for their teams to advance to the state competition. Districts are allowed to have all 3 shows in one weekend (one day is double-judged, the other single-judged). The top teams from each division at each district show have the opportunity to move on to the state championship competition.
4 divisions in WIHA are dependent on the size of your team.
Division A = 11-14 riders
Division B = 6-10 riders
Division C = 3-5 riders
Division D = 1-2 riders
The classes are placed 1st-10th with point numbers assigned to each placing (1st = 10 pts, 2nd = 9 pts, etc.)
WIHA Class List (Grade 6-12)
Western Showmanship
Saddle Seat Showmanship
Hunt Seat Showmanship
Bareback Equitation/Horsemanship
Walk/Trot Horsemanship/Equitation
Saddle Seat Equitation
Hunt Seat Equitation
Hunter Hack Equitation
Western Horsemanship
Lead Change Challenge (even years) Dressage Type (odd years)
Ranch Riding
In-Hand Trail
Trail
Reinsmanship
Pole Bending
Barrels
Timed Class
Timed Class
Two Person Relay