IEA September 2021 Newsletter

2021 IEA Hunt Seat National Finals. Photo by Maddie Terry.

Dear IEA Members and Friends,

We are well on our way to what looks like one of our best seasons EVER in the IEA!

Membership has been running full steam since June and thousands of members have already renewed or joined for the first time. As of September 7th, we are happy to welcome 93 BRAND NEW TEAMS to the IEA as well as 47 teams returning from pre-COVID seasons in addition to hundreds of returning teams who stuck with us last season despite the trials of a pandemic. We welcome EVERYONE back and are so excited to see you in the show ring.

As Executive Director, Roxane Durant, likes to say..."IEA is a Community of equestrians all working together for the betterment of the sport." That statement rings true as the staff can tangibly feel the excitement and anticipation of our members starting the 20th Anniversary season. With more than a dozen shows already under our belt, we know you are anxious to start competing.

Our membership staff is working tirelessly to complete membership applications and answer questions in the order they come into the office. Please be patient as they sort through hundreds of daily emails, phone calls, faxes and papers.

We understand it can be a bit overwhelming and we sincerely appreciate your patience. It is a great 'problem' to have so many people anxiously awaiting to RIDE IEA!

If you have not renewed your team membership yet or are looking to start a new team, add a new discipline to your team, or just have general questions about coaching - reach out to Jennifer Eaton at jenn@rideiea.org or by calling 1-877-RIDE-IEA ext. 203. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in setting up coaches for success.

If you are planning on returning to IEA this season, please try and renew your team membership by OCTOBER 1, 2021. While there is no longer a deadline for TEAM MEMBERSHIP, in order to have the best opportunities for a full show season, you should register this month. The same is true for riders - the sooner you join, the sooner you are eligible to begin competing. Last year, IEA hosted more than 900 horse show across the nation which is a huge accomplishment thanks to the hundreds of IEA coaches who were organized and ran great shows.

Per usual, this e-newsletter is chock full of information and upcoming events.

Let's ride!

Are you getting excited for the All American Quarter Horse Congress? We are!

IEA is thrilled to be hosting the first (hopefully, annual) IEA Western horse show during the All American Quarter Horse Congress on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021 from 7am - 4pm in the Coliseum at the Ohio State Fairgrounds Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Entries for IEA@Congress are due to the show secretary by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. Check out the PRIZE LIST.

Over 200 IEA riders and their families will be in attendance to participate in our IEA@Congress show as well as shop, eat and enjoy the largest single breed horse show in the country. We are honored to partner with the Ohio Quarter Horse Association to bring this event to our Western riders. This awesome opportunity does, however, come with significant additional expense to IEA (over $10,000 more than your standard IEA show, to be exact).

We are asking for YOUR support in helping us stretch our budget.

Purchasing a good-luck ad in the IEA Congress Show Program or sponsoring the cost of "renting" a reining or horsemanship horse will go a long way to helping us continue to provide these kinds of opportunities in the future. We are also soliciting for PRIZES for classes and team awards. The IEA show will include 28 total classes in Horsemanship, Reining and Ranch Riding with indications of large class entries as well as live stream coverage, additional staffing, and other show enhancements.

IEA is offering the following SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for this event starting at only $75.

PROGRAM ADS - $75 - $400
CLASS SPONSORSHIPS - $300
HORSE SPONSORSHIPS - $100 - $160
PRIZE DONATIONS*

The SEPTEMBER 15th DEADLINE for ADS & SPONSORSHIPS is quickly approaching. Thank you for your consideration in supporting this unique IEA event.

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM AD & SPONSORSHIP DETAILS

*PRIZE DONATION EXAMPLES can include gift certificates, singular or multiple items like halters, grooming kits, buckets, apparel, home goods, horse supplies or other merchandise.

QUESTIONS? Contact IEA Director of Marketing & Communications,

Kimber Whanger at 614-542-9415 or by email at kimber@rideiea.org.

The IEA@Congress Western Show is Sponsored in part by the following:

IEA HAS BEEN 'GOING TO TOWN' LATELY...

As part of an ongoing effort to educate our new and returning members, IEA has recently developed a series of TOWN HALL MEETINGS, held virtually over ZOOM to discuss the topics and questions we receive most in the Membership Office. Whether it is about membership enrollment paperwork, how to successfully host an IEA show or how to create a solid horse grid, we have received great feedback and participation in these hour-long video educational events. Participants submitted questions beforehand or during the live Q&A and each webinar featured multiple presenters.

Designed for both new and seasoned coaches as well as adult contributing members and show hosts, this free webinar series has been fun for us to produce and we hope it has been insightful to our members as well.

DID YOU MISS A WEBINAR?

No problem. All of our webinars and videos are archived on the IEA website library page under IEA EDUCATIONAL GUIDES for viewing at any time. We encourage you to take the opportunity to learn from long-time staff members and coaches on best practices to make your IEA season successful.

Have a topic you would like us to discuss?

Contact Jennifer Eaton at jenn@rideiea.org with your ideas.

Can YOUR team help OUR team?

Help the @RetiredRacehorseProject put on an historic Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium by volunteering and get a front-row seat to the action at the world’s biggest and most lucrative retraining competition for ex-racehorses!

The #TBMakeover is looking for volunteers to fill a variety of roles. Volunteers receive a t-shirt, hat, lunch, and a weekend pass to the Thoroughbred Makeover Finale. Volunteering is a great way to learn more about this unique competition, which includes a team entry option perfect for IEA programs!

Learn more and sign up for a volunteer shift at:

https://www.tbmakeover.org/volunteer-home

IEA is proud to partner with the Retired Racehorse Project.

TAKE THE SURVEY

The American Horse Council's Youth Engagement Task Force is conducting a survey for all youth and young adults regarding their level of engagement in the equine community, and perceptions of the community's support and efforts to assist with youth and young adult involvement.

As a member of the @americanhorsecouncil (AHC), IEA has been asked to post this survey on our social media and circulate to our youth members, coaches, participants in barn lesson programs, etc. to help AHC get the greatest, most diverse responses.

One lucky survey respondent will win a $100 gift card!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP OFFICE POSITIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKETING POSITION

HAVE YOU MET OUR 2021-2022 YOUTH BOARD MEMBERS YET?

In August, IEA announced the results of our Youth Board voting and named the following sixteen riders to the 2021-2022 IEA National Youth Board. They are already hard at work helping IEA members and staff kick off an exciting 20th Anniversary Season. READ MORE about the Youth Board.

IEA 20th ANNIVERSARY

COMBINED NATIONAL FINALS

with all three disciplines

(Hunt Seat, Western and Dressage)

APRIL 28 – MAY 1, 2022

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex

and Expo Center

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Speaking of being hard at work - last week a dozen IEA staff leaders traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a three-day planning retreat to begin pulling together the hundreds of details involved in coordinating the 20th Anniversary combined NATIONAL FINALS.

Two arenas, three disciplines, four days of horse showing and a myriad of other fun activities were discussed as IEA leadership toured the historic and beautiful Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. Whether qualified or not, we hope many of our members will mark their calendars and plan to attend what is shaping up to be a most fantastic IEA National Finals event.

IEA will release a tentative class schedule later this Fall with the full Prize List to follow by January.

OK, ALL YOU FABULOUS FOLKS WHO OWN AND/OR OPERATE EQUINE RELATED BUSINESSES OR SERVICES...

Here is your chance to get in front of approximately 900 youth riders competing at IEA's biggest event ever! Not only riders, but parents, friends and teammates, too!

BECOME A 20TH ANNIVERSARY IEA NATIONAL FINALS VENDOR OR SPONSOR! With everyone (literally) under one roof at the same time - this is an event you won't want to miss.

IEA National Finals are widely supported by dozens of colleges and universities, vendors, sponsors, member partner organizations such as USHJA, USEF, NRHA, APHA, and major sponsors including Troxel, Weaver Leather, Bob's Custom Saddles, RJ Classics, Schneider's Saddlery, Cinch Jeans, The Show Trunk II, Rod's Western Palace and many more. Book your space early and save.

Contact IEA Sales & Sponsorship Manager - Megan Taylor at Megan@rideiea.org for more details.

Note: IHSA is hosting their National Finals a few days after IEA Finals in the SAME LOCATION in Harrisburg.

IEA IS HEADING TO EQUITANA USA!

Grab your tickets and join IEA and thousands of other equine enthusiasts in Lexington, KY for one of the largest equine expos in the nation! IEA will join hundreds of other vendors for this three-day extravaganza.

LEARN MORE at www.equitanausa.com.

EQUITANA USA is a proud sponsor of the IEA.

Psssssst.....spread the word.

DID YOU KNOW THAT IEA HAS AN AFFILIATE DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR NEW COACHES?

DID YOU KNOW EXISTING IEA COACHES COULD ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY JUST BY TALKING TO POTENTIAL COACHES ABOUT JOINING IEA?

2021-2022 AFFILIATE DISCOUNT PROGRAM

New coaches that join receive a one-time 10% discount off of their coach application if the coach is a member of any of the following IEA Affiliates: 4H, APHA, AQHA, CHA, IDA, IHSA, NRHA, NSBA, USDF, USEA, USEF, USHJA, or USPC.

2021-2022 REFERRAL PROGRAM FOR MEMBER COACHES

The “Referral Program” aims to utilize our existing coaches as recruiters of new coach members in an effort to increase team numbers across the United States.

***Program Goals

Refer another equine professional (coach) who is new to the IEA. Each referral will pay the IEA member coach $50.

• Only 1 referral will be credited per new professional / new team.

• There is no limit to how many Referrals an IEA coach member can be credited for.

***Eligibility 2021-2022

Any adult member of the IEA who is responsible for the enrollment of a new equine professional (coach) that successfully enrolls a new team (3 members) with the IEA for the 2021-2022 20th Anniversary season. Membership of the new team is required to be in effect on December 1, 2021 and it may not have a returning coach or more than two (2) returning riders.

Questions? Contact IEA Membership Marketing Coordinator, Jennifer Eaton at Jenn@rideiea.org or by calling 1-877-RIDE-IEA ext. 203

BOB'S CUSTOM SADDLES

IS THE OFFICIAL WESTERN SADDLE OF THE IEA.

#RIDEIEAINABOBS

The IEA Horsemanship Program is open to any youth member of the IEA.

Participants in the program will complete online quizzes on a variety of topics from Colors and Breeds to Equine Nutrition. The quizzes are released throughout the season, from September through February.

Members who also participate in the riding program will find that the online quizzes will help prepare them for the Region, Zone and National Horsemanship Tests given in person at the competitions.

In May of 2022, each participant will receive a Final Quiz which shall be a collection of questions from various quizzes offered throughout the season. Participants who complete all aspects of the program, and complete the Final Quiz with a passing score of 75% or better, will receive a certificate of achievement and a commemorative shirt.

The horsemanship program also offers a TEAM COMPETITION for teams of 3 or more riders who participate in the program. These riders will have their Final Quiz scores averaged and the team with the highest final score will win BONUS GIFTS provided our generous sponsors.

FEES: $35 for Junior Contributing Members | $15 for Rider Members