They walk and trot. Some of them canter. Some of them jump. The horses may be asked to do many things, but the students who make up the Virginia Riding Team are the ones being judged.
Riding is a club sport at the University whose members compete at shows sponsored by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
Members compete in different classes based on experience. As they earn ribbons, they can enter new levels that test additional riding abilities.
"The assumption is that everyone has experience, but that's not necessarily true," third-year College student and team member Chrissy Cadigan said, adding that recruitment can be necessary to fill the beginning level, which consists of walking and trotting.
According to team member Whitney Roper, a third-year College student, students with horseback experience naturally seek out this local opportunity.
"We all love the horses and feel very fortunate to be able to ride while at school," Roper said.
As members of a team, students also gain companionship.
"It's really nice to find people who have a similar passion," Roper said. "We have a great sense of camaraderie."
According to Cadigan, the club is a new experience for many students because it offers their first chance to enjoy the sport beyond the individual level.
"I've ridden my entire life and it's always been a solo thing," Cadigan said. "This is my first team sport."
Team member Paige Nichols, a fourth-year Commerce student, pointed out that there are still important individual components to the sport.
Riders are judged on their personal efforts to ride smoothly and continuously on horseback, Nichols said.
Roper compared the shows to figure skating competitions because of the emphasis on style.
Team members are judged on equitation, meaning that "the rider is being judged as opposed to the horse's performance," Roper said.
The judges look to see how well riders can control their horse and whether they use the ideal form, Cadigan said.
It is a matter of showmanship and horsemanship, Roper said: "Can you get the job done and can you look good doing it?"
There is a significant catch involved. The horse each student rides is chosen randomly, and students are not given any time to practice or warm up.
To prepare for events like this, team members are required to attend small group practices twice a week.
Many students, however, sign up for extra time.
"I do it because I love it," Nichols said. She said she also enjoys spending time "outside the school environment."
Students practice their riding at The Barracks, a farm 15 minutes away that "provides a nice escape," Roper said.
One practice can add up to three hours away from Grounds, Roper said.
While the commitment can be intense, Cadigan said she would not be happy without the opportunity.
"I guess you can ask why the football players go out and do it," Cadigan said. "Everyone has their hobby or their thing."
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