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Finding And Winning Equestrian Scholarships

Finding And Winning Equestrian Scholarships

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By Dorthy Lloyd


Everyone should know that many scholarships go unclaimed because no one applies for them. Since higher education costs are high, making use of free money just makes sense. Major awards may be hotly contended for, but others go unnoticed by the general public. Equestrian scholarships are one fairly restricted field that students interested in a career in the horse industry, or talented riders who want to focus on other fields, should definitely check out.

Of course, there will be some awards strictly for riders, but there are also academic ones. Beauty pageants often offer scholarship money as their prize, as do talent contests. Community organizations like the Rotary and Lions Clubs, or the 4-H, have money to give. The schools themselves have access to aid for qualified and deserving students.

Some scholarships are broad enough to include any kind of study, stating merely that they be used for educational costs. Others depend on certain criteria the award winner must fill. For example, an athlete who cannot play because of injury or bad grades may lose their award. A student who does not maintain a satisfactory grade point average might lose their academic aid. Aid from one school will not transfer with a student who changes schools.

Riding can pave the way to college. Both English and western organizations proudly award financial aid year after year. As horse shows and rodeos gain popularity as a spectator sport, schools have come to offer degree programs in all sorts of equine activities and to field teams for intramural competitions. Whether the sport is barrel racing, polo, or Grand Prix jumping, success in the arena can count for more than ribbons or belt buckles.

Horse owners have another source of potential financial aid, as well. Breed associations often have small - $500 or $1000 - one-time awards that they offer to those who show pure-bred animals like Arabians or Appaloosas. Sometimes all that is required is to own one such animal. Most of the breed and showing organizations have this kind of participation award, so it's well worth checking their home sites.

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association maintains a list of college and university teams across the country. Their website offers a lot of other information as well and is a good starting point for those who are top-notch riders. Schools with horse-based programs place a high priority on winning in intramural competition.

Those who don't excel in riding may be interested in other facets of the horse industry. There are courses in barn management, equine law, animal husbandry (general care), running a riding school or camp, and animal nutrition. There are millions of horses in the country, and millions of riders, so the field is a wide-open one which shows no signs of decline.

Civic groups like the Lions or the Rotary Club offer aid, as do corporate and retail entities. The Internet makes is easier than ever to find out about even obscure offers of help with tuition and books.




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