March 8, 2022
So many great things happening again this month. Zone Finals and Regional Finals are happening every weekend. Hundreds of riders and teams will qualify this month. We are so very grateful for everyone who has played an important part of our 20th Anniversary season - your membership helped break records and we hope you have had (and continue to have) a terrific experience this season.
Membership for the 2022-2023 season will open again in late May, so be on the lookout for early-bird discount opportunities.
This email is primarily full of information pertaining to National Finals. Most information can be found on the 2022 National Finals webpage. Please bookmark that page and refer to it often for the most updated news and deadlines.
We invite and highly encourage any IEA teams not showing at National Finals to plan to attend as spectators and take part in the activities, shopping, and watching the nation's best IEA riders and teams compete. It promises to be a great 20th Anniversary event. The PA Expo Center has plenty of parking and is entirely enclosed and under one roof - so weather is not a factor.
Good Luck Everyone!
THEY’RE HERE!
The IEA 20th Anniversary National Finals PRIZE LISTS are NOW AVAILABLE!
Entries open MARCH 7th and each Zone/Region has specific deadline dates.National Finals PRIZE LISTS
CALLING ALL EQUINE RELATED SPONSORS AND VENDORS...
IEA cordially invites you to attend our largest IEA National Finals EVER in celebration of our 20th Anniversary Season!
More than 750 youth riders along with their parents, coaches, family and teammates from around the US will gather at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, PA on April 28-May 1, 2022 for a 4-day/2 arena/3 discipline extravaganza.
This is an event you don't want to miss!
Vendor areas are filling up quickly. A wide variety of Sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $150.
We would love for YOU to join our list of generous sponsors and vendors and be recognized for supporting youth equestrian sports.
Contact IEA Sales & Sponsorship Manager MEGAN TAYLOR by MARCH 18th at MEGAN@RIDEIEA.ORG for details.
DID YOU KNOW?
There will be lots of things to do at National Finals BESIDES showing. Of course, for those of you who will qualify - showing is a super important part of the event, but look at all the other things you can do if/when you are NOT showing...
PARADE of TEAMS (Create a theme for your team costumes)
ONLINE HORSEMANSHIP TEST (Open to ALL IEA riders in the nation) - Sponsored by United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC)
VENDOR AREA - Shop till you drop in the vendor area with over 40 of your favorite IEA businesses and Collegiate programs.
MEMBER APPRECIATION & VENDOR EVENT - Sponsored by United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) - Friday evening immediately following the Parade of Teams with hors d'oeuvres, live music, vendor specials and give-aways.
YOUTH BOARD GAME NIGHT & ICE CREAM SOCIAL - Sponsored by Grier School - Enjoy a variety of non-mounted arena games and ice-cream on Saturday evening immediately following the last class in either Ring #1 or Ring #2. Open to ALL IEA riders in attendance.
SELFIE STATIONS & PHOTO BACKDROPS - Sponsored by Hollins University - Take your best National Finals selfies with your teammates in one of 4 unique areas around the venue.
SENIOR CORNER - A special area especially for all Senior riders. Show off your favorite IEA photo memory and decorate a unique graduation cap.
ACTIVITY STATIONS - Test your Horsemanship Skills with hands on quick activities, leave an inspirational message on the #WhyIRideIEA banner, place a star on the US map, get your National Finals passport stamped at various locations, show off your line-dancing skills and more.
HORSE PROVIDER TACK STALL DOOR DECORATING CONTEST - Bringing horses to Harrisburg? Put your creative crafting skills to work and decorate a unique Tack Stall door with your team.
Come and show. Come and support your teammates. Come and watch classes not in your discipline. Come and have a GREAT TIME!
Sterling Essentials is a proud IEA National Finals Sponsor.
NOW AVAILABLE!
Funded by a Generous Donation from
The Muzzy Family and MZ Farms
The purpose of the Muzzy Family/MZ Farms IEA Nationals Travel Grant is to assist qualified riders who demonstrate financial need with up to $2000 in grant money to assist them in attending IEA National Finals.
The grant will provide funding to support expenses related to one (1) rider plus a guardian and a coach to travel to IEA National Finals, in addition to related entry fees for any individual and team (if applicable) classes.
Awards will be available for all THREE IEA Nationals events as follows:
Six (6) for Hunt Seat Nationals
Two (2) for Dressage Nationals
Two (2) for Western Nationals
Application Process:
1. Must be an INDIVIDUAL qualifier for IEA National Finals
2. Submit general application information
3. Demonstrate Financial Need as verified by a submitted 2020 or 2021 parent/guardian tax return
4. Coach Letter of Recommendation detailing suitability of rider for the grant and any related situational information that would assist in judging the application
Deadline to apply: Hunt Seat, Western and Dressage:
Received by Tuesday, April 6, 2022
Note: 2021-2022 Financial Aid Recipients ARE eligible to apply.
Questions: travelgrant@rideiea.orgMUZZY FAMILY/MZ FARMS TRAVEL GRANT ApplicationNational Finals Program Ads & Sponsorship Info
Time to place your GOOD LUCK ADS for your favorite riders and teams. IEA is also looking for help with CLASS & HORSE SPONSORSHIPS – what a great way to support the largest IEA National Finals ever!
This year, IEA will be producing a commemorative 200+ page full-color glossy magazine style keepsake program. If you have ever thought of advertising your equine business, barn, or team – this is the season!
DEADLINE FOR ALL ADS IS APRIL 4, 2022
However, the sooner you get your ad in, the better your placement will be. We have a VERY TIGHT turn around to produce a program of this magnitude with several Zone/Regional Finals happening on April 2nd and 3rd. If you know you would like to place an ad for your rider (or business), please do not wait until the last minute. All payments and copy ready ads must be received in full by April 4th. Late submissions will not be accepted.
NEW THIS SEASON – We have multiple size ads including shout-outs at all price points. Please follow the instructions carefully on the ad and sponsorship forms to ensure your ad gets included. You can now also pay for ads/sponsorships by credit card (as well as checks). Payment link is on National Finals page.
General questions? Contact info@rideiea.org.
Questions about sponsorships and vendor areas?
Contact Megan Taylor at megan@rideiea.org.
Questions about help with Ad design?
Contact Kimber Whanger at kimber@rideiea.org.
In 2021, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) thought it fitting to honor long-time IEA coach Roger Elder by introducing a new IEA Coach Sportsmanship Award at Western National Finals to become a new perpetual trophy titled The Roger Elder Memorial Coach Sportsmanship Award. This new 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.
The IEA Western Committee will choose a recipient based on nominations for the2022 Roger Elder Memorial Coach Sportsmanship Award. (Current Western Committee members are ineligible.) Nominations are due by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
For nomination details and criteria, click on the orange button below.NOMINATE A WESTERN COACH - (Google Form)
Note: IEA will also award the traditional National Finals Coach Sportsmanship Award to one Hunt Seat, one Western and one Dressage coach who shows outstanding sportsmanship during National Finals.
Deadline to reserve space is APRIL 8, 2022 (or until filled).RESERVED SEATING - HUNT SEAT (Ring #1)RESERVED SEATING - DRESSAGE & WESTERN (Ring #2)
Interested in VOLUNTEERING at National Finals?
Contact IEA National Finals Volunteer Coordinator,
Samantha Fleming at volunteer@rideiea.org
Got any great photographs from IEA Finals or other IEA events that are 10 years old or older?
Perhaps a team championship trophy from 2004?
Have anything that has the original IEA logo on it (just the hunt seat horse and words)?
Maybe a Zone T-shirt from the first 5 years of IEA?
Old IEA brochures or signs?
Maybe a buckle you won the first year of the IEA Western program?
Maybe you still have your vintage riding coat or back numbers?
We have tons of old IEA ribbons already - but we are looking for other historical items, stories, photographs and memorabilia also. We are assembling a 20 year historical display for National Finals and we need YOUR help gathering items that would be interesting to feature. You can send/bring them to IEA Finals. We promise to take great care of them. Please do not send anything of high value. Good photographs of Trophies/Awards are also welcome. Contact Kimber Whanger at kimber@rideiea.org to discuss your item(s). Photographs should be clearly labeled with your name, email, and phone and the date/location/event of the photograph. They can be directly emailed to Kimber. Bringing horses to National Finals? Show your team/barn spirit by participating in the TACK STALL Door Decorating Contest. Open to any Horse Provider or IEA Team who brings horses, the contest will be judged on Friday, April 29th with the winner announced during the Parade of Teams. Stalls pictured above are approximately the type of stalls at Harrisburg. Put on your thinking caps and get creative! The theme of this contest is "Celebrating 20 years of IEA" but you can also create your own theme. Decorations will only be judged on the stall door and/or stall front of each horse provider's TACK STALL. While you may wish to decorate other stalls, only the Tack Stall decorations will be considered when judging. Decorations should not be accessible by any horses stalled on either side of the Tack Stall. Please do not use paint, permanent tape, staples, nails, glue, velcro or other items that may damage the stall fronts. Stall curtains may be used and fixed with zip ties, string or other non-damaging materials. No need to register. Just bring your decorations to National Finals and compete your tack stall no later than NOON on Friday, April 29th. Good Luck! Contest Questions? Contact Kimber Whanger at kimber@rideiea.org. Interested in Providing Horses? Contact Simon Towns at simon@rideiea.org. IEA Seniors!! Have you made a college commitment? If so, we want to know! For the second year in a row, IEA is going to have a "Senior Corner" at IEA National Finals in order to highlight the amazing achievements of our riders as they take their next step out of high school. Email montana@rideiea.org with your college or post-high school plans, and be sure to include your favorite IEA photo and if you're going to ride with one of our fantastic collegiate Member Partners! Photo courtesy of @JessicaDaniels ORDER A LUCKY PONY PAL Tag your Lucky Pony Pal photos so we can see them #iealuckyponyproject Show us your LUCKY PONY PALS! Did you receive a Good Luck Pony Pal for post season? We want to see you and your new friend in fun photos! Snap a shot of your stuffed friend at the barn, on your horse, at an IEA show, with friends or around the house. IEA Lucky Pals will be available from now through IEA National Finals and will be shipped directly to the buyer with a tag to include a personal message. You can even include the option to add your rider's name! (This option is only available for PRE-ORDERS purchased online.) A limited amount of Lucky Pals will be available at National Finals, so order yours today for a great 20th Anniversary season memento for your rider. Proceeds benefit IEA programs. BOB'S CUSTOM SADDLES IS THE OFFICIAL WESTERN SADDLE OF THE IEA. #RIDEIEAINABOBS Recently in The Plaid Horse Magazine.... IEA Board President, Katie Schaaf talks about her experience growing up in the equine industry and how life decisions led her to law school, schooling horses and the IEA. Thank you to our partners at The Plaid Horse for your continued support of IEA and our members. READ ARTICLE EQUINE AFFAIRE IS BACK! Join us in Columbus, OH for EQUINE AFFAIRE on April 7-10. IEA will have an informational booth in the vendor hall and an IEA Judges Clinic on Sunday, April 10th. Lots of shopping, food, educational clinics, and horsey fun for all ages! VISIT WEBSITE >> Interscholastic Equestrian Association Membership Office 607 North Avenue, Door 18,2nd Floor Wakefield, MA 01880 Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm (Eastern) Phone: 877-RIDE-IEA | 877-743-3432 Fax: 508-597-7373 www.rideiea.org | info@rideiea.org CONTACT US
IEA MEMBER PARTNERS National Reining Horse Association Intercollegiate Horse Show Association United States Hunter Jumper Association National Collegiate Equestrian Association US Equestrian Certified Horsemanship Association United States Pony Clubs Intercollegiate Dressage Association National Snaffle Bit Association United States Dressage Federation Western Dressage Association of America American National Riding Commission IEA OFFICIAL SPONSORS Official Western Saddle of the IEA Official Show Clothing of the IEA Official Helmet of the IEA Official Tack and Equipment Supplier of the IEA Follow us at #rideIEA The IEA was established to provide competitive and educational opportunities through equestrian athletics. Good Horsemanship and honorable participation are priorities at every event. It is the responsibility of all attendees to foster a spirit of belongingness, an atmosphere of community enjoyment, and a mutual respect for all participants and their equine partners.
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