United States Eventing Association

Admittedly, there are particular regions of the country that come to mind when one mentions the discipline of eventing, places that conjure images of riders galloping cross-country while focused on making the optimum time:

Lexington, Kentucky; Ocala, Florida; Aiken, South Carolina.

But Albion, Michigan? Mention the name and most eventers won’t recognize it.

Situated directly between Richland Park to the west and Cobblestone Farms to the east, the small industrial city isn’t considered an eventing mecca by any means; in fact, for many in the horse world, it might not even be considered horse country. Yet Albion is home to two things that have convinced several young eventers to base themselves there in recent years: Albion College and its Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center.

The College has been part of the fabric of Albion since 1835 but the equestrian center and its related programs weren’t established until 2004. Since then, however, students from across the country have chosen Albion as the place to pursue their dreams – both academic and equestrian, having discovered a school that offers the opportunity to strike the delicate balance between earning a solid liberal arts education and utilizing top of the line facilities to keep and train their horses with full professional support.

The Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center. Photo via Albion Equestrian's Facebook Page.

Senior Jackson Regen came to Albion from Nashville, Tennessee with his horse Major Tom and says, “When looking for a barn it was important to have my horse somewhere safe and close by. With the barn under a mile away, Albion instantly had my attention. It was very important for me to be able to continue to ride in college.”

Freshman Annika Markovich, who traveled from Eden Prairie, Minnesota last fall to join the Albion student body, agrees. “When I saw the school, I really, really liked it, but then after I saw the equestrian center, I knew it was the school for me. I’m able to ride my horse almost every day and go to a school I love. It was a no-brainer.”

Perhaps no one had more specific requirements for her college choice than Wenatchee, Washington freshman Jessi Fore, however. She sought a school that would allow her to major in music while pursuing a path to medical school and one where she could build the confidence of her show jumper-turned-eventer Katie. In fact, circumstances transpired in such a way that she never even set foot on campus until she arrived for orientation in August.

“I’ll be honest,” Fore says, “I’d had my heart set on another school for a really long time and didn’t think this school fit. But now I can see how the opportunities I have here will take me where I want to go and I have a lot of fun in my riding lessons. My horse is improving and I’m learning a lot about my own riding because I’m part of the dressage team and catch-riding at meets has been eye-opening.”

The Held Equestrian Center earned its approval from the British Horse Society in 2007 and, with stalls for 79, ample turnout in the form of 35 grass paddocks, miles of trails, and indoor and outdoor arena facilities for riding in any weather, it’s ideal for the needs of horsemen and women of all backgrounds. What’s more, a summer 2016 renovation to the existing indoor arena will expand its footprint beyond its already impressive 100’ by 400’ span and allow for additional training and competition space not only for students, but also for Midwestern riders who hope to keep their horses sharp during the winter months without the expense of traveling south.

That Albion College’s lack of an equine major program might seem like a deterrent to some prospective students, but for others it’s a plus. Senior Paige Beliveau of Boston, Massachusetts (who describes herself as “more conservative than most eventers”) maintains a summer show schedule that winds through Groton House, GMHA, and Stoneleigh-Burnham School but ultimately came for the strength of Albion’s Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service and will enter a PhD program in psychology this fall. She’s also been a four-year member of the dressage team and maintained a rigorous schedule of riding lessons – something that she’s quick to point out isn’t necessarily possible at all colleges:

“The big equestrian schools almost always have large equine studies degree programs where they draw most of their intercollegiate team members from,” Beliveau says. “I quickly realized that at most of these schools, you weren't going to be able to ride unless you were majoring in horses.”

For those who wish to know more about the horse industry, the educational offerings at the Held Center aren’t lacking, however. Regular lectures by veterinarians, equine nutrition experts, equine business and accounting professionals, and clinics with noted trainers are scheduled year-round and Albion students typically have access to these programs at little or no out-of-pocket cost.

Of course, a school of 1,400 students in the Midwest won’t necessarily be the right fit for every single eventer in the country, nor will Albion, Michigan likely ever be synonymous with Lexington, Kentucky and Ocala, Florida. But for the students who call it home – the same students who skipped move-in weekend festivities to cheer Jackson Regen around Richland Park last August – it’s the right school in the right place and they can’t see themselves anywhere else.

Says senior Emma Stapley, “I love eventing for the ever-present drive to improve, the constant and dynamic challenge, and the welcoming and supportive community that makes you feel like part of the family from day one. I love Albion for exactly the same reasons.”

To learn more about Albion College's equestrian opportunities, check out their website or Facebook page.

About the USEA Intercollegiate Program

In 2014, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the Intercollegiate Eventing Program as an official program of the USEA. Originally proposed with input from the Intercollegiate Eventing League, the program was established to provide a framework on which Eventing teams and individual competition could flourish at universities and colleges across the country.

Don’t forget if you have not yet renewed your membership with the USEA – Collegiate members get a $25 discount! Log onto your Online Services Account to renew, and a $25 refund will be issued after the USEA has received proof of enrollment.