Daphne Mollod was a Summer 2020 intern for LRT and a member of the 8-time National Championship winning Skidmore College Equestrian Team. As one of the shortest members of Skidmore Equestrian, Daphne has earned the unofficial title of “Pony Wrangler.” As a competitor in the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association), Daphne knows first hand how different IHSA tryouts are compared to other collegiate athletics, so she shares here her top 5 tips for IHSA tryouts.
- Make sure you like the school aside from the riding program
- Unlike other collegiate sports, IHSA does not have any recruiting, so everyone has to try out. It's important to like the school because you don't know whether or not you will make the team.
Related: School Ratings
- Save the competition for the horse shows, don't compete against your potentially future teammates
- Don't be afraid to ask for feedback
- Do not complain about the horse you're assigned to tryout on – Horse shows are always a random draw, so welcome the challenge
- Don't be discouraged if you don't make the team your first year – You can try again next year
* Originally published on September 16, 2021, by Daphne Mollod
