​The University of Rhode Island Equestrian Team

Do you need to have prior horse experience in order to join the team? 
No experience is necessary upon joining! We take riders of all levels starting from no experience and ending with those who have been competing in rated horse shows for years. 

Where is the barn? 
The URI Equestrian Team rides out Hunter Ridge, which is located in Ashaway, RI. Don't worry if you do not have a car! We will always set up a carpool for lessons, as well as any other activity or event that is located off campus. 

What style of riding do you do?
We ride English equitation and participate in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association or IHSA (for more information on IHSA, visit www.ihsainc.com). 

Who are the coaches? 
Our coaches are Wendy Brayman and Samantha Craig (for more information, visit the Our Coaches portion of this website). 

What equipment and clothing is required? 
For lessons you are required to wear any color of riding pants (breeches), any t-shirt, polo, or long-sleeved tee, boots, and a helmet. Gloves are highly encouraged. Horse show attire consists of tan breeches, a show shirt, show jacket, black belt, black tall boots, black gloves, a black helmet, and long hair tied back into a hairnet. Men are required to wear a tie. All other tack and equipment is provided to us by the barn. 

How much are dues? 
Dues are currently set at $600 for the 2023-2024 school year. This breaks down to $400 in the fall and $200 in the spring. 

What do dues pay for? 
Dues pay for all horse shows and practice rides. They also cover our facilities, coaches, horses, and equipment (tack, grooming supplies, trailers, etc.) 

Are there any additional costs? 
Lessons at Hunter Ridge are an additional $45. Everyone is scheduled for one group lesson every week, which is mandatory in order to horse show. We encourage you to schedule additional lessons during the week!

How many horse shows do you have per year? 
Fall horse shows typically run from the beginning of October up until Thanksgiving break. There are approximately six horse shows in our fall season. The spring season is shorter, and will usually run from the end of February to the end of March. There will be roughly three horse shows during our spring semester. This does not include Regionals, Zones, and Nationals, which are optional if you do not qualify. 
 
Is this a competitive team, or can I just ride for fun? 
This is a competition team, so we do encourage all riders to compete in horse shows. If you are a less experienced rider, you will be showing in a class that matches your ability. Our goal as a team is be competitive, and have fun while we do it. 

What kinds of other things does URI Equestrian do besides riding and horse shows? 
We participate in fundraisers, meetings, workouts, and team bonding activities. 

Who can I contact if I want to join? 
All questions can be directed to our team officers. Contact information can be found using the Contact Us link on this site.