Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Team

The University of New Hampshire is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and competes in the competitive Zone I, Region 2, against other schools from the northeast. IHSA is a unique form of team equestrian competition in which each competitor draws a horse provided by the host school before their ride; no schooling or warm-up of that horse by the rider is allowed. IHSA tests each rider’s ability to quickly and accurately assess their mount and ride it to the best of their ability. Teams are comprised of riders from walk-trot up to the Medal/Maclay level. Each score counts equally.

Riders also accrue individual points and may qualify to compete at the Regional and Zone Championships.

Tryouts for UNH IHSA are held once per year at the beginning of the Fall semester. Membership is open to full-time undergraduate students at the University of New Hampshire or the Thompson School of Applied Science. Riders must be enrolled in ANSC 402 (Horsemanship) or have taken the course at least twice previously to be eligible to try out. Incoming freshmen who are interested in trying out for the team are strongly encouraged to enroll in the earliest orientation session possible to increase their chances of getting a slot in ANSC 402 during their first semester.

The UNH Equestrian Team is entirely self-funded, and members are required to complete fundraising obligations for each semester. Also, riders must pay to join the IHSA each academic year.

This year, Haley Eagan joins us as Head Coach of the UNH IHSA Team! She is excited to promote horsemanship, sportsmanship, and some awesome results in the show ring with her riders. Eagan is a New Hampshire native; she grew up riding and training in the hunter/jumper industry throughout New England—from the pony rings to the junior equitation and medal divisions.

Over the years, her passion for working with horses and competing grew. She is an alumni of Cazenovia College, where she competed on the Varsity Hunter Seat IHSA team all four years and served as captain for three years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Management with a Specialization in Equine Business Management. Post-graduation to the present day, Eagan is deeply immersed in the hands-on sector of the equine industry. She has worked and competed for several operations up and down the east coast as an FEI barn manager, rider, and an instructor. In 2022, Eagan returned to her Southern NH roots where she lives with her husband, Matthew, and Corgi, Remi. She remains an active hunter/jumper trainer, rider, and competitor.

2022 Competition Schedule

• 10/08/2022 at Middlebury College
• 10/09/2022 at University of Vermont
• 10/29/2022 at University of New Hampshire
• 11/12/2022 at Colby Sawyer College

2021-2022 Competition Results
Fall 2021
University of Vermont - 1st Place Team
Johnson & Wales University - 3rd Place Team
University of Massachusetts - 6th Place Team
University of Connecticut - 2nd Place Team
University of New Hampshire - 4th Place Team
Mount Holyoke College - 5th Place Team

Spring 2022
Mount Holyoke College - 3rd Place Team
University of Connecticut - 3rd Place Team
Johnson & Wales University - 6th Place Team

3rd Place Overall Team Region A/B
11th Place Team IDA Nationals

Emily Sandler - 1st Place Intro Rider Region A/B
IDA Intro Rider Reserve National Champion
Sarah Lombardi - 3rd Place Lower Training Rider Region A/B