Lexington, Ky . - The 2016 Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky April 20-24, the week preceding Rolex Three-Day Event. This year's National Finals will unite the IEA Hunt Seat and Western disciplines for the first time in four years, with more than 600 youth equestrians expected to qualify.

Young riders qualifying for the event will have won in their respective IEA regions and zones across the United States after competing against more than 12,500 other riders. At the National Finals, riders will have the opportunity to vie for both individual national championship titles and the national team championship title, awarded on the final day of competition.

In addition to five days of horse showing held in the Kentucky Horse Park's Alltech Arena, exhibitors, spectators, family, friends and vendors are also invited to hear from knowledgeable industry professionals in an educational speaker symposium to be held Thursday through Sunday.

"It is important for our members to join together for a combined Hunt Seat and Western IEA National Finals event every few years so that everyone gets the opportunity to learn new skills, techniques, and appreciation for other disciplines," said IEA Executive Director, Roxane Lawrence.  "A good horseman will put every possible tool in his or her 'back-pocket' of knowledge because there is always more to learn!  The opportunity to bring both disciplines together in the heart of horse country − Lexington, Kentucky − is the perfect setting for us to provide exciting educational opportunities through our partners and sponsors."

The 2016 IEA National Finals present the ideal time to plan an extended visit to Lexington's horse country to enjoy both the Finals and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, to be held just a few days later; April 28 to May 1. For those headed to Rolex, plan to visit a few days early for the opportunity to watch the up and coming young stars of the sport and to learn from the best at the IEA speaker symposium.

To learn more about the 2016 IEA National Finals click here.

About the IEA

Founded in 2002, the IEA has more than 12,500 middle and high school student-riders across the United States.  The IEA was organized to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and secondary school students and is open to public and private schools and barn teams. Its purpose is to set minimum standards for competition, provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated equestrian sport programs, to generally promote the common interests of safe riding instruction and competition and education on matters related to equestrian competition at the middle and secondary school levels. For more information, please view the IEA website at www.rideiea.org.