IEA March 2021 Newsletter

Dear IEA Members and Friends,

Can you believe it? Our first of THREE National Finals is only 6 WEEKS AWAY!

This is one of our busiest and most fun times of the season where everything seems to be happening at once. Regular season shows are still going on - Regional and Zone Finals are taking place every weekend - and preparations for National Finals are in full motion from now until the end of June.

Now is also the time we are prepping for membership season to open, creating plans and events for our 20th Anniversary season, printing and shipping thousands of products, prizes, signs, promo items, programs and other materials, discussing rule changes, new offerings and opportunities for our members and most importantly - celebrating the success of our teams, riders, and coaches during this remarkable season.

If you are already done competing for the 2020-2021 season, we congratulate and thank you for joining us this year. You had a lot of new things thrown at you and you did it! We look forward to having you return with us for our 20th Anniversary season in 2021-2022. We encourage you to stay connected by watching the live stream at National Finals, participating in any of the ongoing online written horsemanship tests that will be available, submitting artwork for the Dressage or Western Cover Art Contests, volunteering at your Regional or Zone Finals, following us on social media, and gathering new and returning teammates together for next year.

If you are qualified for post-season or already headed to Zone or National Finals - we congratulate you and are rooting for your success. We continue to witness extraordinary talent and perseverance from our coaches, riders, Zone Administrators, Regional Presidents, staff, volunteers and horse providers and you should be proud. While this season has certainly had its challenges, it will undoubtedly be remembered as one where EVERYONE went the extra mile.

HUNT SEAT NATIONAL FINALS INFORMATION

The Hunt Seat National Finals webpage has the most current information including:

PRIZE LIST
HOTEL INFORMATION
ALLOTMENTS
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
FACILITY INFORMATION
PROGRAM AD FORMS

If you will be attending National Finals as a coach, exhibitor, or spectator - please read through the PRIZE LIST carefully for all the details. We look forward to seeing you there!

DID YOUR RIDER OR TEAM QUALIFY FOR HUNT SEAT NATIONAL FINALS?

Celebrate their success with a Congratulatory/Good Luck ad in the 2021 Hunt Seat National Finals Program.

DEADLINE - APRIL 1, 2021

The Hunt Seat National Finals program is a beautiful 100+ page, spiral bound, professionally printed commemorative keepsake.

TAKE THE WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP TEST

DEADLINE: MARCH 15

Test your HORSEMANSHIP knowledge by taking WESTERN Regional online Horsemanship Quiz.

Open to ALL WESTERN RIDER MEMBERS, this Regional online quiz is replacing the Horsemanship Written tests often given live at your Regional Finals.

You DO NOT have to be qualified for Regionals to participate and there is no fee.

This is a timed test that you can only complete one time. Placings will be announced once the tests close and scores are calculated.

It's that time of the year again...get out your ART SUPPLIES!

This year we are proud to introduce our NEW TITLE SPONSOR for the

IEA NATIONAL FINALS COVER ART CONTESTS:

DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSION - (Read rules below).

DRESSAGE PROGRAM COVER - APRIL 1st
WESTERN COVER - MAY 1st

Questions? Contact Montana McKnight at Montana@rideiea.org.

We can’t wait to see the submissions for all three National Finals Cover Art Contests!

FROM THE IEA COVID-TASK FORCE

Over the past year, the IEA COVID Task Force has met regularly (sometimes weekly) to consistently monitor the COVID-19 situation, to discuss with our partner organizations their procedures and safety measures, and to adapt accordingly while keeping the safety of our members and spectators as our primary goal. We are very proud of all the efforts this season by our members, parents and show officials to follow the safety guidelines and mandates we initiated.

We understand it is not a perfect system and we know everyone is tired of the pandemic. As more vaccines are distributed, more and more states are opening up and dropping regulations like mask wearing. We are watching closely and discussing these changes regularly as an organization. One recent change is defining a fever or “too-high temperature” as 100.4 degrees (rather than the previously stated 99.5 degrees) according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and US Equestrian (USEF). National/State/Local Government and/or Health Department rules may differ from these IEA Guidelines/Rules. In ALL cases, the more restrictive regulations, recommendations, guidelines and requirements will prevail. Please review appropriate information before holding/attending an IEA Event.

While it is our hope that as a nation we will be “getting back to normal” soon, IEA is still following the practices of mask wearing, social distancing, not gathering in large groups, and showing outside whenever possible at our regular season and post-season shows. With nearly 900 shows so far this season, we have been blessed with relatively few issues of COVID cases or cancellations and we definitely want to keep striving for that direction by continuing to be vigilant about safety at all our events. We do anticipate (and sincerely hope) that these restrictions will not be necessary for the 2021-2022 season. Thank you.

IEA Membership charms as well as Regional Qualifier Charms, and Zone Qualifier Charms will be distributed starting in MARCH to your coaches at either ZONE FINALS (Hunt Seat), REGIONAL FINALS (Western & Dressage) or by mail (if your event has already passed).

We've experienced delays in manufacturing and are still waiting on the Regional/Zone charms to arrive. But don't worry - we will get them to you soon to add to your collection!

All rider members in grades 4-12 will receive a white ribbon Membership Charm for the 2020-2021 season. Those qualifying for Regional and or Zone finals will also receive additional qualifier charms.

National Qualifier charms will be distributed at National Finals.

Questions? Contact Kimber Whanger, Marketing Office at kimber@rideiea.org.

IEA NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

IEA 2020 COVID-Grads and 2021 High School Seniors... Have you committed to your DREAM SCHOOL yet?

If you have, we want to celebrate with you!

Not only will you be featured by IEA on our social media, but you will also be featured on our brand new #IEAFutureCollegiate Wall at each National Finals.

IEA is proud of your hard-work both in the barn and in the classroom. Tag us and #IEAFutureCollegiate in your college commitment announcement or post your favorite IEA photo, captioning where you are committed, hashtagging #IEAFutureCollegiate & tagging @rideiea!

Also be sure to let us know if you are planning on riding with any of our Member Partners in college @rideihsa @teamdressage_ida @_ncea !

Don't want to post about your accomplishment quite yet?

You can also email your information, favorite IEA photo, and school commitment to Montana@rideiea.org.

Do you have ribbons hiding in the back of your closet or in dusty boxes that will never see the light of day again? DONATE THEM TODAY!

IEA Youth Board members are now collecting horse show ribbons of any placing, any condition, any show, any age! We welcome ANY and ALL horse show ribbons!

Ribbons collected will be featured in art exhibits and projects at the 20th Anniversary IEA National Finals next year!