July 15, 2021 - (Columbus, Ohio) - The Texas heat was not nearly as hot as the competition going on in the rings during the 2021 American Paint Horse Association (APHA) World Show and IEA Western National Finals this month in Fort Worth.
For the first time ever, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Western National Finals, presented by the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) partnered with APHA to host a beautiful 2-day finals for IEA riders in grades 4-12 from across the nation who had qualified earlier in the IEA season.
Set in the historic Will Rogers Coliseum and the newer Watt Arena, the IEA Western Finals saw nearly 200 individual and team competitors in Horsemanship and Reining classes. The IEA uses a draw-based format for competition, whereby riders randomly are assigned the horse(s) on which they will compete just minutes before entering the show arena (with no little to no warm-up). Horses were generously provided by local professional barns, IEA teams, university programs and APHA exhibitors. More than $8,000 in cash scholarship awards was presented at this National Finals to qualifying seniors. IEA riders enjoyed special activities with APHA youth members including a boot scramble, ice-cream social, youth lounge, stick horse race, APHA office tours, the chance to watch the APHA World Show, shopping and more.
Judges for the IEA Western Finals were Daren Wright (APHA, AQHA, NSBA) from Chillicothe, Ohio and Debra Jones-Wright (AQHA, NRHA, NSBA) from Abbeville, South Carolina. Show Stewards were Dan Bergstresser and Jill Bergstresser, from Oswego, New York. Tammy Braham of Grove City, PA served as the Show Manager.
“We absolutely loved being a part of the APHA World Show and felt very welcomed by all the APHA members and staff," stated IEA Co-founder/Executive Director Roxane Durant. "The facilities and opportunities given to our riders were outstanding and we have received dozens of great comments from our members. We look forward to continuing our partnership with APHA in a variety of ways in the coming years."
Rounding out day one of individual competition saw two Grier School riders take top honors with Claire Andrews taking home The Myron Leff Leading Western Rider Award & Perpetual Trophy. Andrews, a rising senior from Bellefonte, PA had the highest combined score between the Varsity Open Horsemanship and Varsity Open Reining Individual classes. Andrew's teammate, Anleigh Ahlert, was awarded the IEA High Point Crossover Rider Award, qualifying for three IEA National Finals in Hunt Seat, Dressage and Western and earning the highest combined points of all three events - a great accomplishment for this middle school rider and rising freshman. Both Andrews and Ahlert are coached by Chris McElyea of Grier School (Region 11).
There was not a dry eye in the house when IEA made a special presentation to honor the late Roger Elder with the new Roger Elder Memorial Coach Sportsmanship Award and Perpetual Trophy. Roger's wife, Sandra and daughter Sarah were present to accept the award on his behalf. The award was graciously donated by friends and members of the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association.
Two lucky winners of a Bob's Custom Saddle certificate were awarded by random draw from all the class winners on Individual competition day. Earning those coveted saddles were Tianna Cooper of KM Equestrian Team (Region 5-1) coached by Katie Morehead and Mallory Kirby of Dare Equestrian Team (Region 5-2) coached by Linda Dare.
The United States Pony Club (USPC) again sponsored the IEA National Finals Horsemanship Knowledge Test which was open to all Western rider members. Lydia Visser of North Country Horses (Region 2) and Grace Spooner of Team Need-A-Hand (Region 4) took top placings in the Upper and Middle School respectively.
Day two of competition saw 25 middle and high school teams battle it out for every point for the chance at National titles. In the end, it was King Show Horses of Snellville, GA (Region 4) to take home the Upper School Champion Team trophy (coached by Jennifer King) with Autumn Rose Farm of Powell, OH (coached by Debbie Griffith) taking home the reserve honors for Upper School.
Middle School Champion Team was awarded to Grier School of Birmingham, PA (Region 4) (coached by Chris McElyea) with reserve awards going to Flamekissed Equestrian (Region 4) coached by Amanda Pope.
Lucky saddle certificate winner number three of a Bob's Custom Saddle went to Marci Leath of Central Carolina Equestrian (Region 4) coached by Kate Mcalinn, Joy Garvin and Tania Morton.
Day two ended with a team parade and multiple awards presented including the NRHA Sportsmanship Award which was presented to McKenzie Templin of Lone Star Equestrian (Region 7) coached by Kelly Haydon and Russell Haydon. The Team Spirit Award was a hard fought battle of costumes, props, sportsmanship, volunteering and social media posting with the award going to Arizona Reining Equestrian Team (coached by Jessica Bein). Grier School won the Scavenger Hunt. Volunteers of the Show went to Olivia Badgley and Aubree Whanger, both of Dare Equestrian Team.
IEA would not exist without the help of our equine partners and horse providers. The Top Horsemanship Horse (Juice) and the Top Reining Horse (Zippy) both hailed from IEA team, E-Power, of Gunther, TX with the APHA Most Valuable Paint (MVP) Award being presented to Gunnador from Team Need-A-Hand in Mufreesboro, TN.
IEA Western National Finals was expertly live streamed by Equine Promotions and US Equestrian. Photography was provided by Larry Williams Photography.
A complete listing of results can be found at:
###
