To get involved, please contact the team and include a description of your riding experience. We will add you to the listserv so you can begin receiving updates from the team.  Our team captain will go over registration and policies with you.

Any and all interested students are welcome. We have highly experienced members who can teach you what you need to know in order to tack up, handle, and care for our horses. You can temporarily borrow necessary safety gear from the barn.

Commitment is an important part of the team.  Members of our competitive Show Team are required to ride at least on a biweekly basis, although it is best to ride at least once per week. Riding Club (non-competitive) members can ride as often or as little as they please. The team offers several practice times each week to fit the scheduling needs of students.

Horseback riding is a notoriously costly sport, but it doesn't have to be! NU Equestrian prioritizes inclusivity of all interested members. Pricing differs for Show Team members versus Riding Club members, but we are dedicated to offering all members the opportunity to apply for team scholarships. Additionally, the collegiate circuit is designed as a significantly more affordable means to show. For detailed pricing, please contact us. We also encourage financial transparency; do not hesitate to reach out to the team Captain or Treasurer with any questions or concerns. We are here to help!

The university provides free team transportation. Sometimes, members have personal cars that they drive to get to the barn, but having a car is not required.

​The Show Team and Riding Club are two different sectors of Northwestern Equestrian, designed to create the ideal experience for all members. The Show Team is the competitive face of the team; these riders are committed to attending shows throughout the school year, and in turn receive great benefits such as subsidized lessons, apparel, free team bonding events, and more. The Riding Club is a more casual, commitment-free group of riders who just wish to take lessons, whether that be on a weekly basis or every once in a while. Regardless of membership type, all riders are wholeheartedly welcomed into the entire NU Equestrian community!

Absolutely! Our riders come from all levels of experience and disciplines. The collegiate circuit has classes to fit all riding levels. We highly encourage showing as it builds confidence, brings teammates closer together, and is always a super fun experience regardless of how well we place. Plus, attending shows means escaping campus for a weekend (which we all need sometimes)!

The regular IHSA season runs from September through March. We typically attend 3 shows during Fall Quarter and 2-3 shows during Winter Quarter. The post-season (Regionals, Zones, Nationals) runs during April and May (Spring Quarter).