IEA March Newsletter

Dear IEA Member,

What an exciting time of year this is! Many of you are deep in the process of post-season Regional and Zone Finals and some of you still have a regular season show or two to finish. Whether your IEA season is officially over or you are still competing - there is lots of news to share with you and ways you can stay active with IEA until the 2020-2021 season begins again.

The first of our three NATIONAL FINALS is just about a month away and we are looking forward to seeing many of you in California. Be sure and check out our NEW WEBSITE for all the information you will need for upcoming events.

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 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.

STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS

The leadership and Board of Directors of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) wishes to inform our members that we are aware of and closely monitoring the growing concern over the COVID-19 outbreak, commonly referred to as the Coronavirus Disease.

At this time, the IEA does not have any plans to postpone, cancel, or otherwise alter any scheduled IEA events and/or horse shows including the 2020 Hunt Seat National Finals in Burbank, CA on April 17-19, 2020.

As recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), any domestic or international travel should be done with consideration to proximity of affected countries. Purchasing travel insurance is a wise choice should you decide to change your plans.

For more information, including a global map of affected areas, visit www.cdc.gov

WEAVER LEATHER is the OFFICIAL TACK & EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER of the IEA.

HUNT SEAT NATIONAL FINALS INFO

HUNT SEAT NF PRIZE LIST

HUNT SEAT NF HOTELS

HUNT SEAT NF PROGRAM ADS

TONYA JOHNSTON CLINIC

HUNT SEAT NF BOX SEATS

There will be an EXHIBITORS PARTY at Hunt Seat National Finals.

More information to follow very soon.

DRESSAGE NATIONAL FINALS INFO

DRESSAGE NF PRIZE LIST

DRESSAGE NF VIP SEATING

DRESSAGE NF PROGRAM ADS

DRESSAGE NF HOTELS

WESTERN NATIONAL FINALS INFO

WESTERN NF ALLOTMENTS

WESTERN ADDENDUM & PATTERNS

The Western National Finals

PRIZE LIST will be released soon.

There will be PATTERNS at WESTERN NATIONAL FINALS in the following HORSEMANSHIP INDIVIDUAL

and TEAM CLASSES:

Varsity Open
Varsity Intermediate
JV Novice
Future Intermediate
Future Novice
No patterns in JV or Future Beginner W/J/L or W/J classes.

Celebrating its 18th season, the IEA has again set a record for membership. This season (2019-2020), membership numbers topped out at 14,444. While the highest concentration of members is East of the Mississippi; the Western states are experiencing a greater percentage of growth – especially in Zone 10 in California where IEA will hold the 2020 Hunt Seat National Finals in Burbank, California this April. The recent addition of the 4th and 5th grade Intro Rider Program as well as the explosion of interest in the new Dressage program has attracted many new IEA participants.

IEA TO HOST JUDGES CLINIC AT EQUINE AFFAIRE

MORE ABOUT EQUINE AFFAIRE

IEA is proud to announce that we are partnering with Equine Affaire on

Sunday, April 5, 2020 to host an Interscholastic Equestrian Association Judges Clinic. The educational clinic offers a unique opportunity to see inside the mind of an IEA judge and will feature a judge’s perspective and offer tips for competing at IEA (draw-based competition) shows in Hunt Seat, Western, and Dressage. Clinic time will be from 12:00pm to 4:00pm in Cooper Arena at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH.

Equine Affaire is one of North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gatherings and any day you attend is filled with lots of learning, eating, and great shopping. IEA will also have an information booth (#101) in the Bricker Building.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Eaton.

Troxel is the OFFICIAL HELMET of the IEA.

NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

APPLICATION DEADLINE MAY 1, 2020

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association awards a student-rider the National Sportsmanship Award each year.

The national award winner will be selected from the group of riders who earned a Sportsmanship Award at a local, regional or zone IEA show during the school year. These Sportsmanship Award winners will receive an IEA Sportsmanship patch (pictured), and will be invited to submit an application for the National Sportsmanship Award.

APPLICATION DUE MAY 1, 2020.

LEARN MORE

TEAM BAHAMAS SHOWS OFF GREAT TALENT

AT ZONE 4/REGION 1 FINALS

(L-R) -Back row: Nicholas Astwood, Erika Adderley (National Coach), Elle O'Brien.

Front Row: Kimberly Johnson (national coach); Maya Tilberg, Mila Sands, Peyton Wong, Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre (President, Equestrian Bahamas and Team Chef d'Equipe)

TEAM BAHAMAS , the first official international IEA Team traveled to Conyers, Georgia on February 15th to participate in the first ever IEA International Invitational in conjunction with the IEA Hunt Seat Zone 4/Region 1 Regional Finals at the Georgia International Horse Park. Five riders were selected to represent Team Bahamas ( a division of Equestrian Bahamas and the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League ) based on the results of Selection Trials back in December in Nassau attended by IEA Executive Director, Roxane Durant and IEA Zone Captain, Simon Towns.

The five upper school riders showed off their impressive skills to the following results:

Class 1i: Varsity Open Equitation O/F 2'6" - Elle O'Brien - 6th place

Class 4i: Varsity Intermediate Equitation on the flat - Peyton Wong - 1st place

Class 2i: Varsity Open Equitation on the flat - Elle O'Brien - DNP

Class 3i: Varsity Intermediate Equitation O/F 2' - Peyton Wong - 3rd place

Class 5i: Individual JV Novice Equitation O/F - Mila Sands - 1st place

Class 6i: Individual JV Novice Equitation Flat - Mila Sands - 2nd place

Class 7i: Individual JV Beginner Equitation WTC - Maya Tilberg - 1st place

Class 8i: Individual JV Beginner Equitation Flat W/T - Nicholas Astwood - 1st place

" The experience at Conyers was truly wonderful ," said Equestrian Bahamas President Catherine Ramsingh-Pierre. " On behalf of Equestrian Bahamas I would like to thank the Zone 4 Administrator, Simon Towns; Region 1 Co-Presidents Allison Gresham and Leslie Williams, and all the teams, riders and coaches who made us feel so very welcome. The entire experience was one of learning and team-building and exemplified the underlying ethos of horsemanship, sportsmanship, and the joy of riding! We hope that Equestrian Bahamas and the IEA can continue to engage in a way that will encourage the young riders of both organizations to broaden their equestrian horizons! "

IEA is grateful for our new partnership with Equestrian Bahamas and looks forward to opening up more opportunties for international teams to participate in the future.

ABOUT EQUESTRIAN BAHAMAS

and BAHAMAS INTERSCHOOL EQUESTRIAN LEAGUE (BIEL)

The development of BIEL by Equestrian Bahamas was officially launched in 2016 and is intended to diversify the athletic opportunities available in Bahamian schools; to act as a springboard to increase national interest in equestrian sport; and to encourage inclusive participation from young athletes in all schools, both public and private. The program is open to riders 18 years and under and is intended to introduce and expose riders to a college competition format and opportunities for college scholarships. For more information, please visit www.EquestrianBahamas.org

ATTENTION HUNT SEAT RIDERS AND COACHES

IEA ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH EQUITANA USA

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) is pleased to announce its partnership with EQUITANA USA . This union supports IEA’s mission of providing educational opportunities for riders in grades 4-12 and EQUITANA USA’s dedication to working with associations that make positive impacts across all levels, ages, breeds, and disciplines of the horse industry. The alliance will come to life at EQUITANA USA – a three-day celebration of the horse featuring a trade fair, education, and evening performances – September 25-27, 2020 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky . READ MORE

IEA COACH MARK GUYNN NAMED

2019 NRHA YOUTH COACH OF THE YEAR

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) strives to recognize excellence amongst its members. The NRHA Professionals of the Year awards are just one avenue for showcasing the accomplishments of reining trainers in the industry.

“ The Professionals of the Year awards are very important because we have a lot of people in our industry from around the world who deserve to be honored on a national level and recognized by their peers,” said Patrick Flaherty, NRHA Professionals Committee chairman. “ These awards aren’t just given to anyone; these recipients have worked hard their entire careers, and it’s evident to their clients and their peers that they’re more than deserving of this recognition.”

Of all his accomplishments, Mark Guynn is most proud of his youth and non pro clients, many of whom have qualified for elite competition themselves. He’s coached several AQHYA Honor Roll Champions in both reining and ranch riding, as well as AHQYA World and Reserve World Champions. Perhaps one of Guynn’s biggest contributions to the sport of reining lies in his commitment to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association and the development of two successful teams in Colorado, beginning in 2012 with six riders. Guynn currently coaches two teams with a total of 30 riders, alongside professional horse trainers Jimmy Daurio, Nancy Nemmers, and Caylee Parrish. READ FULL ARTICLE

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 four 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 .

IEA ATTENDS APHA CONVENTION AND GRAND OPENING OF NEW APHA HEADQUARTERS

Durant even found a little time to go bull-riding during the APHA Convention and Grand Opening.

IEA Executive Director, Roxane Durant recently attended the 2020 American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Convention and grand opening of their new international headquarters in Fort Worth, TX. As part of the festivities held on February 28-March 1, Durant met with APHA leadership to discuss new and ongoing collaborative programming between APHA and IEA and to participate in the American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA) panel discussion. IEA also sponsored a coffee-break session during the convention for APHA attendees.

APHA, the 2nd largest breed association in the nation, officially opened its new office on February 28th in Mule Alley, part of Texas' historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price rode into Mule Alley aboard Doctor Frost, a palomino tobiano Paint stallion owned by Lazy Susan Ranch of Flint, TX. She was joined by Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller, and APHA member and multiple world champion, and together they welcomed APHA friends, supporters, community leaders and other visitors as they celebrated their new headquarters.

APHA is a MEMBER PARTNER of IEA. For more information, visit www.apha.com .

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.

LET US ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS

The IEA is currently accepting financial and in-kind sponsorships for National Finals and General Support. Whether your budget is $150 or $15,000, IEA has opportunities for your business to get in front of over 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.