FEATURE
What a Recruiter is Looking for in You An important piece of advice from Roxane, for all prospective students: Don’t be a know-it-all! While an overzealous student may be bursting at the seams to show all the knowledge, experience, and expertise in their riding capabilities, Roxane says recruiters are searching for students who contain the very important aspect of an open mind. “Coaches want riders who are teachable!” she says. “Good horsemen are always willing to learn from others, so good college recruits are those who are eager to learn and willing to listen and try new techniques and methods.” A student should be prepared to show horsemanship skills and riding techniques by bringing recent footage of a horse show or lesson to his or her interview. Be sure that your video reflects you in the best light – proper riding attire and horsemanship should be of the utmost importance in any document you may share with officials. As with most areas in your life, it never hurts to go the extra mile – be on time for meetings, arrive prepared with all necessary documents and maintain a polite and gracious demeanor. Katie explains her thought process as a recruiter: “As we are recruiting for a team and not an individual sport; attitude and willingness to work well with others are factors as well. All teams have captains that are appointed by the coach, so we look for people with strong leadership skills and an ability to bring
a large group of students together both at competitions and on campus.” Sometimes it is advantageous for students to put themselves out there and get noticed a little. Remember, recruits are not magically able to find and see the best riders out there; they do have limited time and resources for searching the riding scene. Enrolling web bases, recruitment “shows” and tournaments, and intercollegiate equestrian fairs are all becoming more popular. These venues allow for parents and students to gain information about the options available and are all tools that a student can use to make himself or herself seen and heard. Katie adds, “There are many websites now where potential student riders can post their resumes and videos of themselves at competitions. Those websites will distribute each student’s profile to the coaches, and this is a great way to get ‘seen’ by a variety of different schools.” Again, proper attire and a professional, polite attitude at these events and in these videos are important for leaving a good impression. The best advice, Roxane says, is simply to be a good student, and the rest will follow. She explains, “Your grades are the number one way to get into any college and get good scholarships and opportunities. Be aware of your future interests and goals, and find a college that fits your career goals primarily. Then, your riding opportunities will be the bonus feature that seals the deal!” ■
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Working with You and Your Veterinarian for the Best in Equine Care A Full Service Hospital Offering . . . • Lameness Diagnosis • Upper Airway Evaluation • Sports Medicine • Surgery
• Medical Care • Reproduction Services • Neonatal Intensive Care • 24 hr. Emergency Referrals
Tufts New England Veterinary Medical Center 200 Westboro Rd. (Rte. 30) • North Grafton, MA 01536
Call 508-839-5395 for appointment
104, Equine Journal, September 2011