i know about colleges competing against each other, but my friend said some colleges have the members competing on the hunter/jumper circuit instead, not intercollegiate.
is this true? I'm just wondering because it may be a better alternative for me.

ive never heard of that and it doesnt really make sense b/c how would the college win in that situation if everyone is only competing individually and not against any other colleges in any way? There is Intercollegiate and NCAA..thats about it.

Yes it's true, I'm not sure on the details, but I know Sweet Briar does this more than regular IHSA. They have jumper teams from what I know. You can PM MyDarkEuphoria for more info, she works there with the team.

Yeah Sweet Briar has a Hunter Show team, a fall Field team, a Jumper Show Team, an IHSA team, and an ANRC team. The Field team goes to hunter paces and hunts, the Hunter Show team goes to Culpeper and shows like that just to compete on their own on either a Sweet Briar horse or their own, the jumper team takes their own horses to shows to compete for themselves, and IHSA and ANRC are obviously competing against other colleges.

IHSA isn't as big at Sweet Briar because a lot of the girls would rather go out in the real horse show world on their own horses because its more rewarding then going to IHSA, getting the luck of the draw and riding in only one or two classes. I can't say I blame them, I love IHSA but had I been given all of those choices, I don't know if IHSA would have been my choice.

I would LOVE to do that instead of IHSA, just don't think I have the money to do it :-(

I know Sweet Briar pays entry fees for IHSA, I think they might also for the show teams, but I'm not 100% sure

RMWC (now Randolph College) does local/rated shows as well as IHSA (similar to Sweet Briar). I know there it's a flat fee per semester for the show package, which includes lessons, any extra rides/schooling, entry fees, shipping, stalls, etc.

SBC makes showing A and local SUPER affordable. We only pay for classes, stall, shavings, and braiding if you need it. No tack stall fee, no transport fee, trainer's cost, and if the show is I think more than 2 hours away they will put you up in a hotel if you go. Not sure of that. If you're on the team, they also cover your entries for all SBC shows (If I recall correctly) and maybe a few of the away shows. I was on the Hunter Show Team sophomore year and it was a BLAST. I will be so bummed to graduate in May and have to go back to paying all those extra fees.

I wish our school did that, although I think doing the IHSA is a really great experience in learning how to ride anything that you're given. But still...I'm pretty jealous...I wish our school had both!

Virginia Intermont gives students the opportunity to go show outside pretty affordably.

You can use your horse or an appropriate school horse, and they do everything from outside local schooling shows to the winter circuit (Jax anyway).

Hollins does this as well. We have an IHSA team and we go to regular shows as well. For IHSA all expenses are covered and for the regular shows we pay our entries. You can take your own horse if you bring it or use a Hollins horse. I absolutely prefer regular shows to IHSA.