Everyone should know that many scholarships go unclaimed because no one applies for them. Since higher education costs are high, making use of free money just makes sense. Major awards may be hotly contended for, but others go unnoticed by the general public. Equestrian scholarships are one fairly restricted field that students interested in a career in the horse industry, or talented riders who want to focus on other fields, should definitely check out.
Of course, there will be some awards strictly for riders, but there are also academic ones. Beauty pageants often offer scholarship money as their prize, as do talent contests. Community organizations like the Rotary and Lions Clubs, or the 4-H, have money to give. The schools themselves have access to aid for qualified and deserving students.
Much of the money available is not too specific, but other awards may depend on certain courses of study or participation in certain activities. An academic scholarship may be used for tuition and textbooks of any kind, while an athletic scholarship might require consistent and active participation in a certain sport. Some may require maintenance of a satisfactory grade point level, while others are one-time awards that have no such stipulation.
Outstanding riders, both English and western, will find opportunities from show associations and from schools which field competitive riding teams. Equine sports are becoming more popular and more of a spectator sport, as jumping, eventing, and rodeo events are televised and high profile people compete. A well-rounded education can be paid for if a rider has shown true excellence in competition.
Horse owners have another source of potential financial aid, as well. Breed associations often have small - $500 or $1000 - one-time awards that they offer to those who show pure-bred animals like Arabians or Appaloosas. Sometimes all that is required is to own one such animal. Most of the breed and showing organizations have this kind of participation award, so it's well worth checking their home sites.
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association maintains a list of college and university teams across the country. Their website offers a lot of other information as well and is a good starting point for those who are top-notch riders. Schools with horse-based programs place a high priority on winning in intramural competition.
Those who don't excel in riding may be interested in other facets of the horse industry. There are courses in barn management, equine law, animal husbandry (general care), running a riding school or camp, and animal nutrition. There are millions of horses in the country, and millions of riders, so the field is a wide-open one which shows no signs of decline.
There is a treasure trove of financial aid out there, given by groups like the Boy Scouts or retailers like Wal Mart. Many corporations offer aid packages, as do civic groups and individual philanthropists. Any serious student should be able to find help to pay for higher education.
Of course, there will be some awards strictly for riders, but there are also academic ones. Beauty pageants often offer scholarship money as their prize, as do talent contests. Community organizations like the Rotary and Lions Clubs, or the 4-H, have money to give. The schools themselves have access to aid for qualified and deserving students.
Much of the money available is not too specific, but other awards may depend on certain courses of study or participation in certain activities. An academic scholarship may be used for tuition and textbooks of any kind, while an athletic scholarship might require consistent and active participation in a certain sport. Some may require maintenance of a satisfactory grade point level, while others are one-time awards that have no such stipulation.
Outstanding riders, both English and western, will find opportunities from show associations and from schools which field competitive riding teams. Equine sports are becoming more popular and more of a spectator sport, as jumping, eventing, and rodeo events are televised and high profile people compete. A well-rounded education can be paid for if a rider has shown true excellence in competition.
Horse owners have another source of potential financial aid, as well. Breed associations often have small - $500 or $1000 - one-time awards that they offer to those who show pure-bred animals like Arabians or Appaloosas. Sometimes all that is required is to own one such animal. Most of the breed and showing organizations have this kind of participation award, so it's well worth checking their home sites.
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association maintains a list of college and university teams across the country. Their website offers a lot of other information as well and is a good starting point for those who are top-notch riders. Schools with horse-based programs place a high priority on winning in intramural competition.
Those who don't excel in riding may be interested in other facets of the horse industry. There are courses in barn management, equine law, animal husbandry (general care), running a riding school or camp, and animal nutrition. There are millions of horses in the country, and millions of riders, so the field is a wide-open one which shows no signs of decline.
There is a treasure trove of financial aid out there, given by groups like the Boy Scouts or retailers like Wal Mart. Many corporations offer aid packages, as do civic groups and individual philanthropists. Any serious student should be able to find help to pay for higher education.
