The IHSA offers showing to its members in the disciplines of hunt seat equitation on the flat and over fences, western horsemanship and reining. As of 2009, over 300 colleges participate in the association's shows. The riders are rated by riding ability at levels from beginner walk-trot to three-foot jumping courses for hunt seat equitation and walk-trot to advanced western horsemanship patterns and reining. Ratings are decided by the coaches and the Rider Placement Form questionnaire provided by the IHSA.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) currently has equestrian listed as an emerging sport for women, and a number of Division I and Division II schools compete. The NCAA does not have ratings for riders like the IHSA does, but also offers hunt seat equitation on the flat and over fences, western horsemanship and reining disciplines.
If you are only interested in hunt seat equitation, especially the American System of Forward Riding, and are interested in showing over natural fences, you may want to look into the American National Riding Commission (ANRC). Though not as well known as the IHSA and NCAA varsity equestrian teams and having existed only since 2006, ANRC has started to spread across the United States. Riders are rated from the introductory level to level five based on fulfilling requirements for the levels before. Riders can also receive certifications at the levels from ANRC.
For dressage riders, there is the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, or IDA, which is based on the IHSA and was formed in 1995. Though the number of colleges initially competing was very small, IDA has grown into an association with members all over the country. IDA riders can compete from introductory to open divisions, based on their competition experience as riders.
Some colleges with equestrian degree programs offer their own rider ratings even for students not on competition teams. These ratings are often used to dictate what horses the student can ride and what the student can do in lessons.