Saddle Up for Fall

Clinics, Campuses, & Crunch Time

Author

Randi Heathman
September 11, 2025

Well, we’ve made it, folks. September has arrived, pumpkin spice is back (again), and show season is rolling toward Indoors, Regional Finals, and Quarter Horse Congress. Whether your student is a seasoned senior, a just-launched freshman, or somewhere in between, this time of year always comes with a shift in pace, mindset, and priorities.

This month’s newsletter is short, I admit, but it’s also action-packed: essentials only, no fluff.

First up: fall and winter clinic season for campuses is heating up - including a few with deadlines that are right on the horizon. If your student is considering any of the schools offering opportunities below, now is definitely the time to start planning where to show up (and show off).

Second: it’s worth noting that getting into college is one thing and BEING in college is another. There’s always work to be done and questions to ask and I’m sharing a really good article about what comes after move-in, especially as higher ed makes some shifts and we start to see budget cuts impact campuses across the country.

As always, the idea here is to help you stay in the loop without losing your mind.

Happy fall, y’all -

Randi

Upcoming Clinic & Showcase Opportunities

Auburn’s winter camp dates are up!

Other Educational Opportunities

Plaidcast in Person, hosted by Plaid Horse publisher Piper Klemm, gives attendees the opportunity to engage directly with these standout voices, hear personal insights from the panelists in real time, and take part in an interactive conversation that blends sport, career, horsemanship, and lifestyle in the modern equestrian world. If you’re in New England, be sure to grab your FREE ticket and attend!

News You Need to Know

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Fifty-seven percent of students at all levels of higher education end up having to spend more time and money on college because their campuses don’t offer required courses when they need them, according to a study last year by Ad Astra. 

Why are students taking longer (and paying more) to graduate?
A new report shows that required college courses are only offered when students need them about 15 percent of the time, delaying graduation, increasing costs, and forcing many to switch majors or drop out entirely. This article from The Hechinger Report explores how a scheduling bottleneck across U.S. colleges is becoming a quiet crisis — and what a few schools are doing to fix it. Read More

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