Horses can teach students many valuable lessons, and participating in a riding program while in school (whether an organized team or a lesson program) can help create well-rounded students. Many students are already proving that they can excel in both the classroom and the riding arena! These opportunities are available right here in Maryland and Washington DC, as many schools provide equestrian teams and/or riding programs. The following is a list of local associations and the middle schools, high schools, and colleges that participate in those leagues. Some of these schools even offer riding programs outside of the competitive teams. If your school has a program and is not listed here, please let us know by emailing editor@equiery.com.
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
The following Maryland area colleges and universities compete as members of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Some schools offer both Hunter Equitation and Western teams. For more information about the IHSA, visit their official website at ihsainc.com.
American University – Washington, D.C.
Georgetown University – Washington, D.C.
George Washington University – Washington, D.C.
Goucher College – Towson
Hood College – Frederick
John Hopkins University – Baltimore
Mount St. Mary’s University – Emmitsburg
Salisbury University – Salisbury
St. Mary’s College of Maryland – St. Mary’s City
Towson University – Baltimore
University of Maryland – College Park
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Baltimore
Washington College – Chestertown
Interscholastic Equestrian Association
This association offers Hunt Seat Equitation, Western and Saddle Seat competitions. It is a nationally recognized organization open to middle and high school students. Maryland is part of Zone 3. Teams may be made based out of a school or barn. The list below is only the schools that participate in IEA. For more information, and a complete list of participating barns and schools, visit their website at rideiea.com.
Barrie School – Silver Spring
Garrison Forest School – Owings Mills
Glenelg Country School – Ashton
Good Council Equestrian Team- Gaithersburg
Oldfields School – Glencoe
St. Timothy’s School – Stevenson
John Carroll Equestrian Team– Churchville
Wilde Lake Equestrian Team- Marriottsville
Inter-School Horse Show Series
The following schools participated in the Inter-School Horse Show series (ISHS) for the 2014-2015 season. All middle and high school teams are welcome to join. These are Hunter Equitation horse shows that offer classes from walk/trot up through 2’6’’ Medal classes. For more information, visit their website at interschoolhorseshow.org.
Academy of the Holy Cross – Kensington
Alice Deal MS/Wilson High School- Washington, DC
Archbishop Spalding – Severn
Barrie – Silver Spring
Bethesda Chevy Chase – Bethesda
Boonesboro High School – Boonesboro
Butler Montessori School – Germantown
Cedar Brook Academy – Clarksburg
Centennial High School – Ellicott City
Connelly School of the Holy Child – Potomac
Damascus High school- Damascus
Dulaney – Timonium
Georgetown Visitation – Washington, DC
Glenelg HS/Glenwood MS – Glenelg
Holton-Arms – Bethesda
Indian Creek – Crownsville
Julius West Middle School – Rockville
Key School – Annapolis
Kent Island- Stevensville
Linganore – Frederick
Little Flower- Great Mills
Magruder- Rockville
Matapeake- Stevensville
Northwood – Silver Spring
North Bethesda Middle School – Bethesda
Oakdale – Frederick
Our Lady of Good Counsel – Olney
Poolesville High/John Poole Middle School – Poolesville
Quince Orchard – Gaithersburg/
Reservoir- Fulton
River Hill High School – Clarksville
Sandy Springs Friends- Sandy Spring
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School – Potomac
St. Mary’s of Annapolis High School – Annapolis
St. John College High School- Chevy Chase
St.Peters- Waldorf
Sherwood High School – Ashton
Siena- Silver Spring
Sligo- Takoma
Stone Ridge High School – Bethesda
Trinity Middle School – Ellicott City
T.S. Wootton High School – Rockville
Urbana High School – Ijamsville
Walter Johnson High School – Bethesda
Westland Middle School – Bethesda
Wilde Lake High School – Columbia
Winston Churchill- Potomac
Washington International- Washinton, DC
Middle Schools and High Schools with Riding Programs
The following Maryland schools offer equine riding programs outside of competitive teams. Students are not required to participate on a team in order to participate in the program.
Barrie School – Silver Spring
Butler School – Darnestown
Garrison Forest School – Owings Mills
McDonogh School – Owings Mills
Oldfields School – Glencoe
St. Timothy’s School – Stevenson
Maryland Schools with Equine Studies Programs
The following are Maryland colleges and universities that offer Equine Studies as part of their curriculum.
Allegany College of Maryland
Offers online continuing education classes. Students earn a certificate but not a degree.
Cecil County College
Offers certificates in Equine Studies and Equine Studies Management as well as an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Prince George’s Community College
Offers online and continuing education classes. Students earn a certificate but not a degree.
University of Maryland
Offers Equine Studies & Animal Science degrees.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is just one campus of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Offers various degrees in Equine Studies and Animal Science as well as degrees and doctorates in Veterinary Medicine.
