College Riding Options with Virginia Tech Coach Beth Sheely

About this episode

Angie Trueblood interviews Beth Sheely about collegiate riding options and the structure of equestrian teams.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Angie Trueblood

Guest: Beth Sheely

Topics covered

• collegiate riding
• equestrian teams
• sports psychology
• high school riders
• catch riding
• parent support

Keywords

• college riding
• equestrian
• club teams
• sports psychology
• IHSA
• NCAA
• scholarships

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Virginia Tech Equestrian Team, IHSA, NCEA, NCAA

Places: Virginia Tech

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