The world of equestrian sports, including riding, jumping, rodeo and barrel racing,
has grown in popularity across the country, and it's no longer concentrated in Western schools. As the sport grows in popularity, so does competition for scholarships, and the sport is definitely one where talent matters if you're
vying for an award from a top equestrian program. If you consider yourself a top
equestrian, you could be eligible for a full or partial scholarship from your intended
college. To be eligible for college-based NCAA scholarships, equestrians must have
minimum GPAs and maintain good grades throughout their time at their intended schools,
so it would be smart not to rule out academic scholarships to supplement your financial
aid package if you only receive a partial scholarship.
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Equestrians who aren't at the skill level to be accepted into a top riding program
but are still interested in the sport as a hobby or on the club
level should look into scholarships run by local teams and organizations. Many of
the scholarships from equestrian foundations are disbursed based on not only an
applicant's dedication to the sport but other criteria such as financial need, school and community involvement. College-based rodeo scholarships will often come
from funds set up by alumni.
American Quarter Horse Association Scholarships
If you're a member of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) or the American Quarter
Horse Youth Association (AQHYA), chances are you could be eligible for scholarships through
that organization. Awards are typically awarded through the state chapters of both
groups, so make sure you contact your state sponsor to know the kinds of awards
you could be eligible for. AGHA scholarships, which range from $500 to $75,000, are
awarded based on financial need, academic merit, and American Quarter Horse involvement.
Check out some examples of where to find rodeo/equestrian scholarships below. For
additional information about awards based on different criteria, try conducting
a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.
The Appaloosa Youth Foundation awards scholarships to outstanding youth members of the Appaloosa Horse Club or Appaloosa Youth Association wishing to pursue higher education. Scholarships are awarded annually, with the entire amount paid to the financial office of the college or university the student will be attending. The entire award is paid at the beginning of the student’s first semester; is [...] More
The Territory Scholarship awards up to $1,000 to one graduating senior from high school. “At-Large” scholarships may also be awarded, at random, in the category. Each applicant must be a current member of the Appaloosa Horse Club or the Appaloosa Youth Association to be eligible to apply for an Appaloosa Youth Foundation scholarship. Students who are in the immediate family of an employee, [...] More
You will be asked a series of questions and required to upload materials electronically which include signed letters of recommendation (Optional. Seal may be broken to scan and upload), current official transcript (Optional, but may be requested at a later date. Seal may be broken to scan and upload), Student Aid Report (SAR) received in response to you filing the FAFSA; If you have not already [...] More
The Sagebrush Circuit - Lew & Jo Eklund Educational Scholarship will be awarded to a college junior, senior, or graduate student pursing a degree in an Equine-Related field. The applicant must be currently maintaining a GPA of 3.5 of a 4.0 scale or 5.2 on a 6.0 scale. Each applicant must be a current member of the Appaloosa Horse Club or the Appaloosa Youth Association to be eligible to apply for [...] More
The Stockton Student Athletes Scholarship Fund was originally established as the Jester’s Club Athletic Scholarship Fund in 2015 at the Community Foundation of San Joaquin. The fund was renamed the Stockton Student Athletes Scholarship Fund in 2020. Two renewable scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each will be awarded this cycle, which means you could receive up to $6,000 over four [...] More
The Washington Thoroughbred Foundation Scholarship is available to a student attending a college or university in Washington state, pursuing a career in pre-veterinary medicine (equine emphasis) equine science, racetrack management, equine business or pasture management and equine marketing and/or communications as it pertains to racetracks, horse farms, and other related fields.
The West Coast Equine Foundation is a non-profit organization working to advance the equine industry through scholarships and grants that support a variety of equine health and youth agricultural programs. The intention of this scholarship is to advocate for the educational opportunities of youth pursuing a career in an equine related field. Students will be selected based on their academic and [...] More
When you get acceptance letters from multiple colleges, there’s nothing wrong with taking some time to celebrate. But once the mental confetti has fallen, it’s time to decide: which school do you actually want to attend?
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Did you know that there are more scholarships with deadlines in March than any other month? Now is the time to put in a little bit of your time to apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can. Of course, you are going to want to prioritize wisely, with just over a week left in the month. [...]
Most major tech companies offer scholarships for prospective or current college students. While some of those are geared toward all students, other scholarships are designed to fix the racial disparity within the tech industry. According to research from 2021, fewer than 10% of STEM employees in the workforce are African-American. The Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship aims to close the gap and encourage more Black students to major in STEM-related fields. [...]
