Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who is your trainer? Where do you ride? 
A. We ride with Tesi Pickett at Trinity Rivers Equestrian in Watsonville, which is about 35-45 minutes south of Santa Cruz.

Q. Do I need to have riding experience to join the team? 
A. No! While the Hunt Seat and Dressage teams require a minimum of 6 months of lesson experience, our Recreation team does not require any experience. We’ve had members who have never ridden a horse as well as those who have competed nationally!

Q. Do I need to compete to be on the team? 
A. No! While many members are motivated to compete, it is not a requirement. We welcome anyone who has a passion for anything horse-related.

Q. Do I need to have a horse to join the team? 
A. No! While many of our members own or have previously owned a horse, Trinity Rivers Equestrian has many lesson horses of varying ability for the team to ride. If you are interested in bringing your horse with you to college, there are opportunities for full-care boarding.

Q. How does the team get to the barn or shows? What if I don’t have a car? 
A. Our team relies heavily on carpools to get to and from lessons and shows. In the case that riders qualify for IHSA or IDA Zones/Nationals, additional arrangements will be made through the university.

Q. How much does it cost to be a member? 
A. Please see individual team pages for more information regarding membership fees.

Please send all additional questions and inquiries to ucscet@gmail.com