Contests involve oral reasons and the determination of grade, length, yield, variation, purity, and character of fleeces. Usually two teams of four individuals each compete at each contest. Students are not required to have any prior wool experience. Students for this team are selected from ANSC 3550. The emphasis is on learning, sportsmanship, and fun.
Competition plays a role, but the students' enthusiasm and team spirit are the major factors.
The competition is unique in that riders are mounted on horses supplied by the host college, each horse being drawn by lot. The theory behind this structure is to equalize variable factors of competition and to test the ability of the rider and his or her horsemanship skills. Students are judged on their equitation and horsemanship ability alone, with the horse not being judged. The IHSA is involved with top professionals in the field, as all competitors are judged by AHSA and AQHA recognized officials. The University of Wyoming began showing in the IHSA in 1992.