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 2007 by Dan Grunewald. The first WIHA show was held in Jefferson, WI, in 2007, and seven teams competed. Everyone who competed and all of the spectators were excited for the WIHA. Since this inaugural show, many youth and adults have gotten involved, wanting to know how they can start the WIHA 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
2024- 63 Teams and 323 Students
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 can 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 place (1st = 10 pts, 2nd = 9 pts, etc.)
WIHA Class List (Grade 6-12)
Western Showmanship
English Showmanship (includes Hunt Seat & Saddle Seat)
Bareback Equitation/Horsemanship
Walk/Trot Horsemanship/Equitation
Saddle Seat Equitation
English Equitation (includes Hunt Seat & Saddle Seat)
Hunter Hack Equitation
Western Horsemanship
Lead Change Challenge (even years) Dressage Type (odd years)
Ranch Riding
In-Hand Trail
Trail
Cones Driving (even years) /Reinsmanship (odd years)
Pole Bending
Barrels
Timed Class (Plug, Flag, Speed & Action, home base, LT Special, Key Race)
Timed Class (Plug, Flag, Speed & Action, home base, LT Special, Key Race)
Two Person Relay