Volunteer your horse for OSU's annual double western horse show – an exclusive opportunity for horse owners to make a meaningful impact on collegiate equestrian competitions. By lending your horse to our dedicated team, you can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of young riders while showcasing the incredible qualities of your equine partner. 

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Lending your horse to our team is not just an act of generosity; it's an investment in the development of riders and the promotion of equestrian excellence. Here's why you should consider contributing to our annual show.

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1. Empower Future Riders: Your horse's contribution can empower aspiring equestrians to gain valuable show experience, improve their skills, and grow as confident riders. Your horse becomes a mentor in their journey.

2. Showcase Your Horse: Your horse is more than a companion – it's a talented athlete. Lending your horse gives them the chance to shine in collegiate IHSA shows, garnering recognition for their abilities.

3. Forge Lasting Connections: Your generosity won't go unnoticed. You'll build connections with dedicated riders, coaches, and fellow horse enthusiasts who deeply appreciate your role in their success.

4. Support Equestrian Education: Your horse becomes an essential part of our program's educational foundation, contributing to a comprehensive and hands-on learning experience for riders.

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How It Works:

1. Sign-Up: Our sign-up form is linked under resources on our webpage. We will have you fill out one form per horse. We will ask questions regarding your horses limitations and your personal instructions. We will also ask you to provide helpful information regarding your horse to be provided to the athlete(s) who draw/show them.

2. Stalling: Our school will provide stalls for the weekend. If you are comfortable, you are welcome to drop off horses with feed and care items for the weekend. Experienced OSU members will oversee feeding and care schedules for horses that are dropped off.

3. Showing: Horse owners are asked to warm up their own horses before the start of each show. Warm-up riders from OSU are available if needed. Several schools will attend our show. There will be draws for each class assigning riders from these schools to horses. Your horse will only show in classes you decide it is capable of. 

4. Benefits: Lunch will be provided by OSU to all horse donors both Saturday and Sunday. A "Horse of the Day" will be picked by the judge for each show. You and your equine have an opportunity to win a prize! If your horse provides monetary value on a day to day basis to you (i.e. a lesson horse or other service providing horse), you may be eligible for tax benefits. See our page on this under the resources tab. 

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Eligibility:

We welcome horse owners who have a passion for supporting equestrian growth. Your horse should have a calm temperament and be comfortable in a busy show environment.

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Get Involved:

If you're ready to share the magic of your horse with eager riders and help elevate our annual IHSA Show, we invite you to become a part of our Horse Volunteer Team. We also encourage you to look into volunteering your horse to other schools teams within our zone. Sign-up or contact us to get involved!

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* Volunteered horses will only be used as instructed by owners. Our annual show lasts 2 days giving owners the option to donate horses within that time period. 

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** We appreciate owner assistance during our show however experienced OSU equestrians will be available to provide care. Owners are asked to warm-up their own horses however OSU riders will be available if needed. 

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*** Horse owners are encouraged to talk with riders who draw their horses for the classes. There will be handlers available to hold horses between classes as well.