IEA December Newsletter

Dear IEA Member,

As the calendar year begins to wind down, the IEA season actually begins to really ramp up for a lot of us. Most IEA riders have attended at least one show, with many of our riders qualifying, or very close to qualifying for post season Regional Finals already. Whether you are just getting started, or just finishing up - it is a very exciting time as we head into the holiday season.

This Tuesday is #GIVINGTUESDAY - a global day of giving when individuals across the world give to causes they care about. Join the worldwide movement and make your impact by supporting the IEA Benevolent Fund.

At IEA, we can't say enough how THANKFUL we are to everyone who is reading this message. Whether you are a coach, a rider, a parent, a sponsor, a show official, a horse provider or a volunteer - your contribution, whether big or small, is an important piece of the puzzle that enables our success. And we are truly grateful.

Important Upcoming Dates and Locations

Hunt Seat Zone 1 Finals - March 28-29, 2020 - Eastern States Expo Center (MA)
Hunt Seat Zone 2 Finals - March 14-15, 2020 - Old Salem Farm (NY)
Hunt Seat Zone 3 Finals - Feb 28 - March 1, 2020 - Liberty Univ. Equestrian Ctr. (VA)
Hunt Seat Zone 4 Finals - March 14-15, 2020 - NE Alabama Agribusiness Ctr. (AL)
Hunt Seat Zone 5 Finals - March 20-22, 2020 - Otterbein University (OH)
Hunt Seat Zone 7 Finals - March 14-15, 2020 - Texas Rose Horse Park (TX)
Hunt Seat Zone 8 Finals - March 7-8, 2020 - Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Ctr. (AZ)
Hunt Seat Zone 9 Finals - March 7-8, 2020 - Grays Harbor Fairgrounds (WA)
Hunt Seat Zone 10 Finals - March 21-22, 2020 - Murieta Equestrian Center (CA)
Hunt Seat Zone 11 Finals - March 21-22, 2020 - Dream Park of NJ (NJ)
Hunt Seat National Finals - April 17-19, 2020 - LA Equestrian Center (CA)
Dressage National Finals - May 9-10, 2020 - Albion College (MI)
Western National Finals - June 13-14, 2020 - Oklahoma State Fairgrounds (OK)

Check the online show calendar for your Zone Regional Finals.

Sometimes extraordinary circumstances need a little bit of ordinary help.

Please consider an annual gift of $25, $50, $100, or more

to the IEA Benevolent Fund.

DONATE to the IEA BENEVOLENT FUND

The IEA Benevolent Fund was established in 2011 to help IEA riders and coaches when extraordinary circumstances need ordinary help. Funded entirely through individual donations, this fund enables IEA to financially support the following:

Riders whose family circumstances prohibit the ability to afford participation in IEA competitions or weekly riding lessons.

Coaches who suffer loss of income due to severe illness or injury.

Coaches and horse providers who experience devastating loss of property and/or horses due to fires, hurricanes, or disease.

Each year, IEA receives dozens of requests for support from the Benevolent Fund and we try to honor those requests to the best of our ability. However with very limited funding, we are often unable to fully support those members who truly are in need.

Our goal for the 2019-2020 season is to raise $48,000

to cover these requests.

Can you help us?

Give now. Give on Giving Tuesday (December 3, 2019). Give anytime.

Thank you for your support.

PLEASE NOTE:

For the 2019-2020 competition season only, future beginner walk-trot/walk-jog and JV beginner walk-trot/walk-jog classes must be combined when there are fewer than three (3) riders in either class.

If, when combined, there are still less than three riders total in these classes, points will count towards post season qualification. For shows that occurred prior to Nov 4th 2019, points will be awarded retroactively.

We are starting to gather hotels for IEA Hunt Seat National Finals and more will be added in the coming weeks. Click HERE to book IEA discounted hotels for Nationals.

IEA Riders Shine Bright

at AON/USHJA National Championships

IEA Co-Founder and Executive Director, Roxane Durant, along with IEA Zone 10 Administrator, Colin Daly, congratulate Talise Baker-Matsuoka of Oasis Farm IEA Team.

Hunt Seat champions were crowned in Las Vegas on November 15-17 during the 2 ^nd annual AON/USHJA National Championships and riders from the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) captured several top honors at this prestigious event. For the first time, the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) invited riders from 14 affiliate organizations across nine different states to compete in a one-of-a-kind Affiliate Hunter 2’ and 2’6’ championship competition.

Emerging triumphant was Ashley Young , of Clovis, California, who captured the USHJA Affiliate Hunter 2' Championship aboard Racketeer, owned by IEA coach Katie Flannigan. Young, who rides on the BFF Equestrian Team (Zone 10), had top finishes in all four of the Affiliate Hunter 2' classes including a win over fences. BFF teammate, Rachel Lancaster secured several top finishes including a reserve championship ride in round one of the USHJA Affiliate Hunter 2’6” also aboard Racketeer. Ryley Ferguson , also of BFF Equestrian Team, participated in the 2’ classes.

IEA Zone 10 Administrator, Colin Daly coached rider, Talise Baker-Matsuoka to several top 8 finishes in the 2’ Affiliate Hunter Classes. Baker-Matsuoka rides on Daly’s Team Oasis Farm IEA Team. Isabella Steele of Liberty Riding Academy coached by Lori Clark, had impressive showings in the 2’ including a reserve championship ride in Round 2. Rounding out the IEA Affiliate riders was Katie Jorczak of Elvenstar, coached by Kaycee Bischoff, earning a 6 ^th place finish in round one of the 2’ class.

“ When USHJA Executive Director, Kevin Price, invited us to participate in the Affiliate Championships, we jumped at the chance to highlight our best riders from Zone 10 where the show was taking place,” said IEA Co-founder/Executive Director, Roxane Durant. “ Because we had a limited number of available spots, we accepted applications from our riders and we were beyond thrilled with the response and the results. We’ve long known that we have an abundance of outstanding riders in our organization and it was wonderful to see them do so well. We are so appreciative of USHJA for this opportunity and their long-time support .”

Durant, along with IEA Co-founder/Chief Operating Officer and Director of Marketing, Myron Leff, traveled to Las Vegas to meet with USHJA executives and to discuss future similar collaborations, and to support all the IEA riders who competed.

In addition to the Affiliate Hunter 2’ and 2’6” championship classes, several other IEA riders earned top awards including Grace McReynolds , of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who took home the USHJA Equitation Championship for the 15-17 age group and was presented with the Equitation 15-17 Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy. McReynolds rides with Hunter Run Farm IEA Team, coached by Susan Winston and Lorelei Cudney.

After a third-place finish in the $25,000 Junior/Amateur USHJA National Hunter Derby earlier in the week, Bella Primavera , of Aptos, California, piloted Carrico Sun to the Equitation 14 and Under Championship and as such was awarded the Equitation 14 and Under Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy. Primavera rides for Belmont Training IEA Team coached by Cassie Belmont.

Dozens of additional IEA riders and coaches independently competed at the AON/USHJA Championships. Complete results can be found here .

IEA Western Youth Board members invite your TEAM to join us for an online CAN DRIVE #IEACanDrive. Anyone can participate - riders, teams, coaches, parents, grandparents, siblings - from any discipline - UNTIL JUNE 1, 2020.

Here is how it works:

Follow these 4 simple steps for the chance to be recognized at IEA WESTERN NATIONAL FINALS in June.

1. Take at least 2 CANNED or BOXED ITEMS to YOUR local food pantry.

2. Snap a photo of you (or your team) with your donation.

3. Share your photo on our new WESTERN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @RIDEIEAWESTERN to be tallied using the hashtag #IEACanDrive

4. Repeat and celebrate.

NOTE: (Photo should include TEAM NAME, # of items donated, and TEAM ZONE.) Use the hashtag #IEACanDrive to be counted. The TEAM with the most donations from now until June 1, 2020 will be recognized during the IEA Western National Finals. (No need to be present.) Anyone, anywhere can help your team collect and donate to their local food pantry. Together, we can make a BIG DIFFERENCE in our communities!

Questions? Contact Shara@rideiea.org.

Did you know that IEA recently added a new rule about formally recognizing our beloved IEA horses at regular season shows by presenting a HORSE OF THE SHOW award?

The rule ( found on page 35 of the rule book ) states as follows:

4509.5 Horse of the Show Award - The Event Host Coordinator of each regular IEA sanctioned show will award the “Horse of the Show” to be chosen by the judge and/or show steward. The award should be given to the horse, regardless of points earned during the course of competition, who best demonstrated fair and generous treatment toward its riders.

So, we want to know: What creative ways are show hosts presenting these awards?

Ribbons? Bags of Apples? Halters? Treats? Certificates? New Brushes? Buckets?

We know IEA could not exist without the generosity of our horse providers and their wonderful equine partners. We are grateful for all of them and we want to recognize them regularly. Send your ideas or photos to kimber@rideiea.org for us to share.

Photo courtesy of @sandikinneyphotography

IEA Signage for Non-IEA Horse Shows

#IEABannerContest

Attention IEA Coaches:

Are you or any of your riders attending shows outside of the IEA?

We want to make sure you have a member banner to hang in your stall, seating, or vendor area to show your IEA pride! Use it as a conversation starter to talk about your team and recruit new members.

Once you have an IEA banner, be sure to take a photo of your team with your banner hanging up during your horse show and post it to #IEABannerContest. Each month we will select a photo to win a prize for your entire team! Contact kimber@rideiea.org .

COACHES: Request your FREE IEA Banner

One (1) 20" x 36" vinyl grommet banner will be provided to each current IEA Team.

Additional banners or IEA signage may be purchased at cost.

Need promotional brochures to help solicit new team members? CLICK HERE.

Looking For A Way To Expand Your Equine Business? Become an IEA Sponsor or Retail Vendor.

The IEA is currently accepting financial and in-kind sponsorships for National Finals, Regional and Zone Finals, and General Support. Whether your budget is $150 or $15,000, IEA has opportunities for your business to get in front of nearly 14,000 equestrian members and more than 35,000 Social Media followers. From email blasts, to social media posts, to program ads, ringside signage, or donated prizes, we can help promote your business while you support our organization.

To discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities, contact IEA Sales Manager Megan Taylor at megan@rideiea.org.

Check out all our NATIONAL RETAIL VENDORS HERE

Check our our talented friends from the CRIMSON ACRES GLORY RIDERS DRILL TEAM who recently performed in Fantasia at Equine Affaire in MA last month. What a fantastic honor!

The Crimson Acres Glory Riders Equestrian Drill Team is made up of 11 riders (9 of whom are current or alumni IEA members) and coached by Sandra Whitmore and Jenna Archibald. Over half of the horses used in their performance are horses they use for IEA shows! (We always knew how talented IEA riders and horses are.)

In addition to their IEA shows, Crimson Acres drill team riders also perform a variety of demonstrations and clinics in the Western Massachusetts area. Check out their YouTube performance below. Way to go IEA riders!