Any student may bring their horse to Houghton, regardless of their involvement in the equestrian program. Per our boarding policy, student’s horses are never required to be used for lessons, but students may ride their own horse for college riding classes if suitable. The price students pay to board reflects the exact amount it costs the college to keep horses; when expenses go up, board increases. Contact equestrian@houghton.edu for current boarding terms and rates.

No problem! The college has its own herd of talented lesson horses specifically for lessons. Students have a variety of horses to ride, from quiet, beginner-safe mounts to dressage schoolmasters. After taking one equestrian program class, these horses are available for students to ride in an instructor supervised setting six days a week.

All students in the program need to bring their own riding attire, including an ASTM-SEI helmet, gloves, breeches and tall boots for English riders, stretch jeans and western boots for western riders. For professional appearance and safety purposes, no sandals, sleeveless shirts, tank tops, or dangly jewelry are permitted at the barn. Boarders will need to bring tack and equipment for their own horse.

College track for the lesson horses is top quality for both English and Western disciplines, including the brands County, Passier, Albion, and western brands Circle Y, Simco, and Circle A.

“Club times,” or open riding times, are Monday to Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday 3:30-5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9-11 a.m. Boarders may ride anytime the arena is available during daylight hours or during club time after dark. Sunday is the lesson horse’s day off, but boarders are still welcome to ride.

Mounted classes generally consist of three to four riders; the maximum size of a mounted class is eight students. Individual help is available during individual riding times (club times) six days a week at no additional cost.

Beginning riders can participate in Horsemanship 1 (basic horsemanship, learning walk and trot), Horsemanship 2 (work at the trot and possibly canter), community lessons taught by a CHA trainer, and may ride club times Monday, Thursday, and Friday upon completing horsemanship (or with professor approval).

While there is a lab fee connected with taking an equestrian class, there is none directly connected to program. After taking one equestrian course, students ride for free during club time, which is always supervised by a professor or a professor-appointed, CHA certified student.

Students compete both in Houghton University competitions and outside Saturday competitions within a two-hour range of the college. Students compete on a college lesson horse with whom they have been partnering, or if suitable, their own horse. Students pay their own entry fees; the college provides hauling and coaching at no additional cost. We attend local and USEF licensed shows so that students may compete in the real horse show world and be seen by potential employers who will be looking for trainers, instructors, and managers.

Every year, Houghton hosts a Western New York Dressage Association (WYNDA) schooling dressage show, a hunter jumper schooling show, a horse trial, a Christmas fun show, and a senior exhibition, as well as frequent dressage and jumping clinics . Houghton also hosts CHA clinics and conferences.  During the summers the program hosts two USEF/USDF recognized dressage competitions.

The Certified Horsemanship Association certifies instructors and accredits equine facilities to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the equine industry. Houghton requires students in the equestrian major to become certified to enhance student knowledge as well as marketability upon graduation.

The lesson horses are a group of talented, versatile horses donated to the college to meet the needs of beginners as well as advanced riders. The use of lesson horses is monitored carefully; horses are generally used once or twice a day, but not every horse gets ridden every day. No horse is ever used more than three times in one day.

Students who are CHA certified offer lessons to community members. For rates and more information, contact equestrian@houghton.edu

Houghton offers courses in five disciplines: Western, hunter/jumper, eventing, dressage, and trail riding. Some of the most popular classes include musical freestyle dressage, Western, mini-prix, 12 horse quadrille, eventing, and adventure trails.

A variety of employment options are available, including horse and barn care as part of the chore crew, repair and farm work as maintenance, teaching as a community instructor, in a summer camp position, or as an equestrian TA .

After Houghton, students are prepared to be a horse trainer, riding instructor, and barn manager. Equestrian alumni go on to train internationally, own and manage successful barns, and become veterinarians.

The Equestrian Society is the voice of equestrian program on campus. The society hosts social events, occasionally sponsor trips or service days, helps run and organize volunteers for on-campus shows. Currently, five leadership positions are available within the society each year.