February 23, 2023

Dear IEA Members, Parents, Sponsors and Friends:

We are quickly approaching the last quarter of the 2022-2023 IEA season and we are most definitely in the thick of post-season competition. Dozens of Region Finals have already happened or are happening over the next several weeks - with the majority of Zone Finals happening in March. Excitement is in the air as the flurry of preparations for our first of two National Finals is a mere TWO MONTHS AWAY!

This e-newsletter is FULL of important information for National Finals as well as some exciting new partnerships that will benefit our student riders. There is also a SLEW OF IMPORTANT DEADLINES looming for entries, advertisements, scholarship applications, art contests and more. You can find the most updated NATIONAL FINALS INFORMATION on the 2023 National Finals webpage.

With so many events going on and countless bits of information swirling, the IEA Membership Office would like to remind our members of the appropriate channels of communication for asking questions. As you can imagine with nearly 15,000 members and multiple shows happening every weekend across the nation, the office staff is fielding a lot of data, email and phone calls every day. By following these guidelines, we can hopefully cut down on any back-log of questions. Thank you for helping us be as stream-lined as we can be to serve you better.

For those members who are done showing this season, we invite you to continue your IEA experience by participating in the online IEA NATIONAL HIPPOLOGY ACADEMY, design the cover art for Nationals, post your season re-cap on social media, make plans to visit Tryon, NC as a spectator, or organize a Nationals Viewing Party to watch the live stream. We also always need volunteers before, during and after National Finals. If you are interested in volunteering - contact Volunteer Coordinator Macayla Loescher for details.

Even though it is not even March yet, it is not too early to be thinking about your team plans for next season. Membership will officially open in June 2023 with shows starting August 1st. We encourage teams to (ideally) sign up between June and August so that you are ready to hit the ground running when shows open. We are already seeing announcements for summer barn open houses, team planning meetings, try-outs and recruitment events which is awesome.

We can't say it enough. We are so appreciative of each and every one of our members - our coaches, riders, parents, adult contributing members, show officials, horses, horse providers and sponsors. We are constantly in awe of the thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that is poured into 800+ IEA horse shows each season. Thank you and BEST OF LUCK to everyone competing over the next month. See you soon!

IEA Staff and Board of Directors

ATTENTION VENDORS, SPONSORS & PARENTS

VENDORS & SPONSORS: IEA is contracting now for Vendor Space at BOTH National Finals venues. Interested in securing a booth space, providing prizes or placing an Advertisement in the National Finals program?



Contact Megan Taylor at megan@rideiea.org

PARENTS, COACHES & RIDERS: Qualifying for National Finals is a HUGE deal! Why not congratulate your favorite rider or team's success by placing a GOOD LUCK AD or SHOUT OUT in the National Finals program? Click on the green button above for details on pricing.

FINAL AD DEADLINE is APRIL 3. The sooner you submit, the better your ad placement will be. Please submit accurate/correct size ads. Ads that need design help will not be accepted after March 31st. (Last season we had 170 Ads to arrange!)

Submit Good Luck Ads (or questions) to info@rideiea.org.

IEA CHOSEN TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF THE JUNIOR ESSEX TROOP'S MISSION

Photo: JET team at the 1959 Junior Olympics at the Thomas School on Long Island:

Ronnie Scornavacca, Pat Devlin, Pete Andre, Denis Glaccum.

“It’s an honor to be chosen to carry on their legacy,”

says IEA Co-Founder and Executive Director, Roxane Durant.

Article first published by Nancy Jaffer | February 7, 2023

READ ARTICLE >>>

How far back do you go?

Remember when the Junior Essex Troop was a military-style equestrian organization that competed in the Junior Olympics and had the country’s biggest show for junior riders only?

That show, which became an open competition in 1971, was a highlight of the spring in the New York metro area.

Troop members, now in their 60s and 70s, are dissolving their organization, donating JET’s funds to four worthy entities. Find out which ones and read the rest of the story at www.nancyjaffer.com.

Troop alumni salute as their show ended its run at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. (Photo © 2018 by Nancy Jaffer)

AQHA and IEA PARTNER TO PROVIDE

NEW YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS

READ PRESS RELEASE: https://www.rideiea.org/news/

INTRODUCING THE AQHA-IEA OUTSTANDING LEADER SCHOLARSHIP sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Youth Association.

Open to IEA Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Riders who are also AQHYA Members and have been IEA members for at least 2 years. SIX scholarships will be awarded each year (2 per discipline).

APPLICATION DEADLINE is SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023.

Details can be found on this IEA webpage:

https://www.rideiea.org/aqha-iea-outstanding-leader-scholarship

Not an AQHYA member yet? Get a 20% discount on a 12-month membership using the promo code: IEA.

THANK YOU to AQHA and AQHYA for this renewed partnership with IEA. We look forward to expanding opportunities for all of our youth riders!

IEA is proud to have outstanding Collegiate Partners who provide scholarship dollars to our national finals riders. 

THANK YOU to ST. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY

LAKE ERIE COLLEGE - NEW

and DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY - NEW

Last season, St. Andrews & Findlay alone provided over $60,000 in scholarship awards to Juniors and Seniors at National Finals! Wow!

Click on their logos to learn more about their equestrian programs.

IT IS

ZONE SCHOLARSHIP

TIME FOR SENIORS!

DEADLINES ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING.

Seniors - check your IEA Zone Pages or Rider Opportunities for Zone Scholarship information.

JOIN US FOR AN IEA DRESSAGE & HUNT SEAT CLINIC at EQUINE AFFAIRE

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cooper Arena

Columbus, OH, Ohio Expo Center

NATIONAL FINALS SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

IEA National Finals Sponsors play a very important role in the success of our organization. We appreciate their financial support, in-kind donations, and advertising partnerships. This month we proudly recognize the following IEA Sponsors:

GET READY FOR THEME DAYS AT NATIONAL FINALS

Your theme days at the 2023 IEA Dressage & Hunt Seat Combined National Finals are:

Day 1 - THURSDAY, APRIL 27 - NEON

Day 2 - FRIDAY, APRIL 28 - DRESS AS YOUR STATE

Day 3 - SATURDAY, APRIL 29 - WILD WILD WEST

Day 4 - SUNDAY, APRIL 30 - HOLIDAY OF YOUR CHOICE

We can't wait to see you at Tryon!

In 2021, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) thought it fitting to honor long-time IEA coach Roger Elder by renaming the IEA Coach Sportsmanship Award at Western National Finals to become a new perpetual trophy titled The Roger Elder Memorial Coach Sportsmanship Award. This award not only recognizes good sportsmanship at National Finals, but throughout the entire season. The IEA Western Committee has developed criteria and nomination process detailed below. This award in Roger’s name was graciously donated by members of the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association as well as friends and fans of Roger from IEA and the Western community.

The IEA Western Committee will choose a recipient based on nominations for the 2023 Roger Elder Memorial Coach Sportsmanship Award. (Current Western Committee members are ineligible.)

Nominations are due by 11:59pm EST on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Questions? Contact IEA Director of Marketing, Kimber Whanger at kimber@rideiea.org or IEA Western Zone Administrator, Tammy Braham at tammy.braham@rideiea.org.

Looking to expand your knowledge of Horsemanship? Prepping for the National Finals Online Horsemanship Test (Sponsored by United States Pony Clubs, Inc.) or just looking for something interesting to do?

SIGN UP to participate in the IEA NATIONAL HIPPOLOGY ACADEMY (formally known as the Horsemanship Program).

Monthly online quizzes. $25 for Rider Members. FREE for Jr. Contributing Members. Join anytime during the IEA season from August to May.

Thank you to everyone who included adult riders on their teams and offered classes at your IEA shows.

The Adult Pilot Program has been a great

success because of you!

This is a reminder that the Adult Program continues through June 30, 2023.

Adult classes can still be offered at regular season shows as well as postseason shows. While adults do not have a postseason qualifier competition, offering adult classes at your postseason show is a nice way to offer more competition opportunities, plus it's an additional income stream for those competitions that have space available.

Don't forget that hosting an adult-only competition is also an option through the end of June!

Stay tuned for more information about the program as we move toward next season!

IEA Releases New Brand Manual and Style Guide

The new IEA Brand Manual and Style Guide will answer the most common questions concerning the use of IEA identity. While we believe these guidelines will cover the majority of applications, certain issues or special applications may arise that may not be covered in this manual. Should this occur, please contact:

Kimber Whanger

Director of Marketing & Communications

kimber@rideiea.org

The information contained in this document is intended for internal organizational use only as it pertains to staff, board of directors, vendors, sponsors and IEA members who are authorized or have purchased the rights to use the IEA logo(s). This information is not to be used with others unless special authorization is granted.

Interscholastic Equestrian Association

Membership Office

607 North Avenue

Door 18,2nd Floor

Wakefield, MA 01880



Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm EST

Phone: 877-RIDE-IEA | 877-743-3432

Fax: 508-597-7373

www.rideiea.org | info@rideiea.org

Marketing & Communications Office

509 S. Otterbein Avenue, Suite 9

Westerville, OH 43081

IEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers:

• President: Amanda Garner
• President Elect: Katie Schaaf
• Secretary: Samantha Fleming
• Treasurer: Christy Landwehr

Founding Board Members & Designees:

• Myron Leff (Founding Member)
• Designee for Roxane Durant (Founding Member): Hannah Bentz 
• Designee for Wayne Ackerer (Founding Member): Nancy Arledge

Members At Large:

• Dustin Boehmer
• Leah Fiorentino
• Katie Morehead-Oman
• Cathy Muzzy 

Non-Voting Members:

• Roxane Durant
• Susan Wentzel
• Kathryn Quinlan
• Simon Towns

Follow us at @rideiea and #rideIEA