College Riding Options with Virginia Tech Coach Beth Sheely — Broke Horse Moms

In this episode, I’m joined by Beth Sheely, head coach of the Virginia Tech Equestrian Team, to break down what collegiate club teams really look like and why they might be the best-kept secret for riders who want to continue in college.

We talk about everything from how these teams are structured and funded to what coaches are actually looking for, plus real, actionable ways to start exploring options for your rider.

We cover:

What a collegiate club team is and how it differs from NCAA/NCEA
How IHSA works and why catch riding matters
Costs, funding, and scholarship realities
What coaches look for beyond talent
Time commitment and what “student-athlete” really means in this sport
Confidence, nerves, and the role of sports psychology
How fear develops and how to prevent it
What parents often get wrong (and how to better support their riders)
How to start exploring college riding programs
When to begin the process (timeline for high school riders)

Resources Mentioned

College Riding Exploration

Equestrian Talent Search (ETS Clinics): https://rideincollege.com/equestrian-talent-search
Tournament of Champions Series: https://rideincollege.com/tournament-of-champions

Organizations & Competition

IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association): https://www.ihsainc.com/
NCEA (National Collegiate Equestrian Association): https://collegiateequestrian.com/
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association): https://www.ncaa.org/

Virginia Tech Equestrian

VT Equestrian Team: https://vatechequestrian.weebly.com/
VT Equestrian Team on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiatechequestrian
VT Animal Science (Equine Program): https://www.apsc.vt.edu/

Broke Horse Moms

Join the newsletter https://www.brokehorsemoms.com/newsletter
2026 Planning Workbook: https://www.brokehorsemoms.com/2026
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokehorsemoms