Finding And Winning Equestrian Scholarships

By Dorthy Lloyd


Almost anyone can benefit from a little help when it comes time for higher education. College or university is expensive, but the fact remains that a degree helps find significant work in any field. Fortunately thousands of public, private, corporate, and civic organizations offer financial aid for tuition and other expenses. Many of these are unused, since no one applies for them. Dedicated equestrian scholarships are only one of many kinds of awards that a student interested in working with horses may qualify for.

All sorts of aid is out there, from purely academic packages to those offered to athletes. Some are based on community service, others given to winners of beauty pageants or talent contests. Institutions offer their own aid for students who meet the academic requirements but who may be unable to pay their own way completely.

Much of the money available is not too specific, but other awards may depend on certain courses of study or participation in certain activities. An academic scholarship may be used for tuition and textbooks of any kind, while an athletic scholarship might require consistent and active participation in a certain sport. Some may require maintenance of a satisfactory grade point level, while others are one-time awards that have no such stipulation.

Riding is only one facet of the horse industry, but an outstanding rider will find many opportunities as this sport rises in both popularity and popular appeal as a spectator sport. Both English and western riders will find aid packages, as horse show organizations, dressage associations, and rodeo groups seek to help high achievers get ahead in life. Winning over jumps or around barrels can help a student get a higher education.

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.

There are online websites with a lot of information, so finding help is easier than ever. The College Scholarship Organization is one of these, as is the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association site. This latter posts a list of organized school teams, listing them by region and division. A general search will turn up leads to awards many have never heard of, so don't limit the topic too narrowly.

People who can't compete at the top level or who may not even want to ride may still want to work with horses. There are courses in barn management, riding school operation, the legalities of the equine industry, equine nutrition, and in things like dentistry or hoof care for horses. This field is as amenable to individual talents and inclinations.

The internet makes it easy to search out offers of financial aid from community organizations like the Rotary Club, from youth groups like the Boy and Girl Scouts, from retail and corporate organizations, and from private sources. The schools themselves will publicize the aid they can offer. Students who want help paying for the education they need should start earlier rather than later to see what is available.




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