On the Road with Anna, Part Three: Let’s Talk Riding D1 in College
By: Anna Markcrow
Hi everyone, it is Anna again! Today for my blog I am going to be talking about getting recruited to a Division I Equestrian Team. In October of my junior year of high school, I verbally committed to SMU’s D1 Equestrian Team. Since then, I have officially signed an official NLI document and am fully committed to SMU. I am going to be giving my best advice if you are interested in riding on a D1 Equestrian Team! (Disclaimer – I am not a recruiting coach and this is just me sharing my experience, it might be different for everyone!)
1. Start a YouTube Channel as Early as Possible.
Even though I realized I wanted to ride in college late, and did not make a Youtube until June at the end of my sophomore year, I highly encourage making a channel and posting on it as much as possible! It should be compiled to up to 10 rounds per video, and make sure to post the full UNEDITED round. Also, make sure to list the class and your result/score somewhere.
2. Send out Emails as Early as Possible
Another thing to ensure you do early is send out emails to coaches as early as the beginning of your freshman year. It is important to clearly introduce yourself and basics like: age, where you are from, what you compete in, why you are interested in the school, and of course– a link to your youtube channel!
3. Go to a Camp!
If possible, narrow down to a couple top schools and pick a camp to go attend! This is a great way to interact and get on the Coach’s radar! It will also show true interest in the school/program!
4. Talk to a Current Athlete!
If you know anyone who is currently on an Equestrian team, talk to them about their experience! Get to know what a typical day/week looks like in their life, meet other team members, and just get immersed!
5. Keep Up Your Grades!
Finally, an incredibly important aspect of being recruited is being a strong student-athlete! College athletics is not just about the athlete part, and trying hard academically is heavily valued. Schools/coaches are always looking for inclined student athletes. With this, I would also say familiarizing yourself with the various NCAA Eligibility rules is vital to make sure you stay eligible throughout your high school years.
These are all of my personal tips to best get recruited onto a D1 Equestrian team, thanks for reading!