IHSA Organizational Structure
The IHSA was founded in 1967 by Bob Cacchione, a student rider at Fairleigh-Dickinson University in New Jersey. Half-dozen colleges attended shows the first year in the New York metro area, before Bob named a Board of Directors and incorporated his association. Mr. Cacchione is the Executive Director of the Intercollegaite Horse Show Association and maintains an active leadership role.
Where the IHSA Exists
From that first group of colleges, the association expanded in all directions with the formation of new regions of competition. Currently the IHSA is divided into 8 zones with 30+ Regions in the United States and Canada and there are 373 college teams with 8,000+ riders involved in IHSA competition.
Regional Presidents
In each region, coaches elect a Regional President every two years. The president college is responsible for all regional records, organization and planning, and acts as liaison between the colleges of that region and the association. The regional president is the best person to answer your questions and offer advice, and will be the person most directly involved in helping you to establish a new team at your institution.
National Board of Directors
The IHSA is governed by a National Board of Directors, which consists of every Regional President, plus the National Executive Committee, and several Directors at Large. The National Board meets in June and again in January each year, to set national policies, make rule changes, and develop new programs within the association. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors consists of the Executive Director, National Vice President, National Secretary, National Treasurer, and the National Steward plus two rotating Zone Chairmen, and is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the association and its policies.