March 29, 2023

Dear IEA Members, Parents, Sponsors and Friends:

We are in full-throttle ahead mode as we count down the final few weeks until our first two of THREE National Finals events! The IEA 2023 Hunt Seat & Dressage Combined National Finals will take place on April 27-30 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC. Our Western National Finals will be held on June 23-25 at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum Complex in Fort Worth, TX during the APHA World Championship Show. We are extremely excited to be hosting these three wonderful events for our qualified riders.

This e-newsletter is again FULL of important information for National Finals including QUICKLY APPROACHING IMPORTANT DEADLINES looming for entries, advertisements, scholarship applications and more. You can find the most updated NATIONAL FINALS INFORMATION including hotels and special activities on the National Finals webpage.

Be sure to tune into the LIVE STREAM of Hunt Seat & Dressage National Finals provided by Showgrounds Live.

The Hunt Seat National Finals live stream is sponsored by Sweet Briar College.

The live stream will be FREE during the Finals but will require a subscription after the event - so mark your calendars to watch it live! The link(s) will be on the IEA National Finals webpage.

We had a great time and talked to hundreds of equine enthusiasts at the Horse World Expo last month in Harrisburg, PA! Be sure to stop by our booth and clinic at Equine Affaire on April 13-16 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH.

If you are interested in volunteering with IEA during Equine Affaire, please contact IEA Director of Marketing, Kimber Whanger at kimber@rideiea.org.

IEA Youth Board Representative, Ruby Stegman (Z9) came up with a great idea for riders to personally thank their horses (draws) and horse providers with personal notes. This practice has been replicated across the Zones and have been well received by the horse providers during post-season. Thank you! We LOVE our IEA HORSES!

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!

The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) IEA National Finals Horsemanship Written Test was created to promote good horsemanship among IEA members. The test supports the IEA’s mission to educate youth members in all areas of equestrian studies and focuses on the belief

that good horsemanship should always come first.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• The USPC IEA National Finals Horsemanship Virtual Written Test will be available to ALL CURRENT IEA RIDER MEMBERS.
• There is no fee to participate.
• Participants can access the test on the IEA 2023 National Finals web page.
• The test will open for HUNT SEAT AND DRESSAGE RIDER MEMBERS at 8:00am on THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2023 and closes at 11:59pm EST on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

RIBBONS AND AWARDS

• First through eighth place ribbons will be awarded for the top eight finishers in Middle School and the top eight finishers in High School in each division.
• First place in both Middle and Upper School will receive a trophy in addition to their ribbon.
• Awards will be announced Sunday, April 30, 2023 during the horse show. Participants do not need to be present for the announcement. Ribbons and trophies will be mailed to winners. In the event that participants are present on Sunday, April 30, 2023, they can pick up their ribbons and trophies at the Awards Room.
• Winners will be posted online.

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.

WESTERN NATIONAL FINALS INFO

OFFICIAL HELMET OF THE IEA

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER OF THE

2023 IEA NATIONAL FINALS

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