Notre Dame Equestrian Club

Home
United States
Niles, MI
Notre Dame Equestrian Club

The Notre Dame Equestrian Club is open to students of the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College. The club rides at Lucky Horse Equestrian Center.

The Equestrian Team/Club of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's is led by coach Kerry Hilgendorf. This will be her fouth season as coach to the ND/SMC team. She has previously coached the western team at Purdue and is a national champion in intercollegiate showing. The ND/SMC Equestrian team currently competes in IHSA Zone 7 Region 4, and has sent many riders to the regional, zone, and national championsh

ips! The Team continues to preform well, sending multiple members to regionals and nationals with the long term goal of taking the whole team to nationals!

05/05/2026

End of season lasagna dinner was a success! Our seniors received their cords, and everyone ate some delicious pasta made by our favorite coach , Kerry, to celebrate our awesome season! Thank you to our awesome officers for all the hard work they put into running this season smoothly and successfully. And of course, thank you to our seniors!! Good luck in your future endeavors.

Looking forward to this upcoming season already! GO IRISH!! 🍀🐴✨

05/04/2026

Loving on our ponies for all the hard work they put into our 2025-2026 irish eq season! Thank you to everyone who donated to our ND Day fundraiser, your donations will go towards spoiling and providing our horses with the top care they deserve! 🌟🏇🏻

05/03/2026

Senior Sunday Spotlight 👵🏻☀️
Dedicated rider, Kathryn S!

“Hi! I’m Kathryn, and I’m a senior physics major at Saint Mary’s College with minors in Theology, Spanish, and math. This is my third year on the equestrian team, and I could not be more grateful! I’ve loved horses my whole life but didn’t get the opportunity to learn how to ride until joining NDEQ. I’m so grateful for the past 3 years with the team (and our lovely team horses - shoutout Eeyore). I’ve absolutely loved getting to know the other team members and share our passion for horses! Go Irish! 🐴☘️”

04/05/2026

Irish Eq wishes everyone a fun and safe Easter!!🐰🐣🌷🫧

03/29/2026

Senior Sunday Spotlight 👵🏻☀️
Our very loved, Tara Quinn!

Tara brings endless joy, bright smiles, and constant laughter wherever she goes. She lifts our spirits effortlessly and carries that same warmth and positivity into every ride. We are so incredibly grateful for her and will truly miss her unmatched comedic timing and the light she brings to every moment.

“Hi everyone!! I’m Tara and I am a senior at Notre Dame studying Biological Sciences and Chemistry. I’m originally from New Jersey and have been riding since I was 8 years old. This team has been a highlight of my last four years here and I’m going to miss it so much. After graduation, I will be pursuing my PhD in biology at Northwestern University!”

Tara’s walk up song is: Nice for What by Drayke

Go irish!! ☘️

03/23/2026

ND Day is here! 🐴☘️

OUR ND EQUESTRIAN ND DAY MAIN PAGE LINK:
https://notredameday.nd.edu/organizations/equestrian-club

The Notre Dame Equestrian Club is so grateful for the continued support of our program and everyone who believes in what we do. All funds raised go directly toward supporting and caring for our horses. They are expensive animals, so your generosity truly makes a difference because horses give us so much in return, offering us a place to learn, grow, and find joy away from the classroom.

You can start donating today! Click the general link to visit the main ND Day page, or click a specific rider’s link to show your support. No matter which link you use, all funds still go directly to the Notre Dame Club Equestrian team. The number of unique individual donors truly matters not the amount, so every single person who gives helps us reach our goals.

Be sure to tune into the broadcast from April 21–22 as ND Day comes to a close (ending April 22 at 12 AM), and keep an eye out for future posts about Challenge Days, where we can earn double the funds.

Thank you for supporting our riders, our team, and our horses!! Go Irish! ☘️

03/22/2026

Senior Sunday Spotlight 👵🏻☀️
Up next, our PR for spring semester, Ryley Finch!

“Hi! My name is Ryley Finch and I am originally from Indiana. I am double majoring in art and k-12 education. I am the PR this semester and I was also the secretary my junior year; I have loved being an officer & serving the team. I started riding when I was little and knew I wanted to continue in college but I have one horse at home, his name is Jed! Thankful for SMC & ND EQ for the best four years!! Go Irish!! ☘️”

Ryley’s walk up song is: “Are You Listening Yet?” By Harry Styles

03/21/2026

Meet our Coach: Kerry Conroy Hilgendorf 📣🐴

With over a decade of experience, Kerry truly embodies what it means to be a horsewoman. Her knowledge spans across hunters, equitation, and jumpers, with additional experience in 4-H and western events. Her a well-rounded perspective benefits every rider she works with. From the regular show ring all the way to IHSA nationals, she has consistently guided riders to success with confidence and care.

Kerry’s impact goes far beyond her accomplishments. She brings genuine gratitude and compassion to every lesson, always putting the well-being of both horse and rider first. Her support, humor, and passion create an environment where riders can grow while still having fun.

We are so grateful for everything she brings to our team and cherish her more than she knows 🤍

☘️☘️

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Irish Eq ☘️💚

We love ND, we love the Irish, and truthfully… being Irish isn’t just for one day a year, it’s something we get to celebrate every single day 🐎💚 From the barn to the show ring, we carry that spirit with us in everything we do. Today just gives us an extra excuse to wear a little more green, feel a little more lucky, and say it a little louder… Go Irish!! 🍀✨

03/06/2026

Remembering the incredible life and legacy of Lou Holtz. His impact on University of Notre Dame and the countless students and athletes who passed through this community will never be forgotten.

Our team holds a special gratitude for the Holtz family. His daughter helped start the Notre Dame Equestrian Team, creating a place where riders could grow, compete, and build a community that continues today. Because of that vision and hard work, we are able to do what we love and represent Notre Dame together.

We are deeply grateful for the legacy the Holtz family has left here. Our thoughts are with them as we honor a life that meant so much to this university and to so many people.

Address

71487 Kline Rd
Niles, MI
49120

Website

http://www3.nd.edu/~ndhorse

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Notre Dame Equestrian Club posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Notre Dame Equestrian Club:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Gym/sports Facility in Niles?