Now that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has classified equestrian as an emerging sport, Division I and Division II colleges and universities are able to offer equestrian scholarships. Each school is limited to 15 scholarships, so there is some competition for many of them. Coaches and selection committees review the academic records of applicants for equestrian scholarships, as well as participation in extracurricular activities besides horse-related sports. Applicants should supply a resume of their riding history. Depending on the equestrian programs at a particular college or university, coaches and selection committees may be interested in applicants that have experience in a wide variety of horsemanship styles. They also want to know about the different types of horses that an applicant has ridden.

In addition to a riding resume, videos of an applicant on horseback can be helpful. This gives coaches and selection committees a quick and clear impression of the applicant's abilities. The videos should contain information about the horses shown in the videos, and should be as recent or up-to-date as possible. Videos of performances at shows or competitions can also be helpful. It is important that the videos show the applicants in proper riding attire. They should wear boots and breaches for English events, and jeans for Western-style events.

Although Division III colleges and universities cannot explicitly offer equestrian scholarships, many such schools are interested in attracting talented riders with excellent academic records. They may be able to help equestrians garner merit-based or need-based scholarships in order to have talented equestrians in their programs. They also often offer work-study assignments at the school's barn, assisting with upkeep and maintenance.

Those who are able to attend college through full or partial college major scholarships can move on to a wide variety of careers. Many graduates move on to veterinary school to become large animal veterinarians. Others may move into related careers in zoology or biology. Knowledge of horses can be helpful in many careers related to animal husbandry or agriculture. The leadership skills gained from participating in competitions may lead others into business or education. Many graduates wish to continue their participation in equestrian sports, and work to become coaches or managers of equestrian teams. Others may enjoy the administrative aspect of the participation, and take on careers in athletic management or athletic marketing. A winning record at riding and horse-related events while in college, along with a degree, can help a graduate find employment managing or planning equestrian events.