Many spectators had the ability to tune in and watch the show on the live feed provided by EQSports.net. The first day of the Hunt Seat Competition was a big hit as the viewing numbers were up from last year. Over 8,800 viewers from across the world watched the competition.
Riders, age 11-19, competed individually in Hunt Seat on the Flat, Western Reining and Western Horsemanship classes. IEA's format requires each rider to draw a horse on the day of the competition and, with no opportunity to familiarize himself or herself with the horse, step into the show ring.
"It was another spectacular day in the Alltech Arena. The nerves and the sense of excitement filled the grounds. Competitors held hands, gave hugs and congratulated each other as their names were called - an overwhelming sense of good sportsmanship," states Roxane Lawrence, IEA Co-Founder and Executive Director when asked about today's competition.
Friday's competition will include Hunt Seat Over Fences Team classes and the Varsity Open Championship Class. This class, which is comprised of the top riders from the Varsity Open Flat and Fences classes, determines our 2016 Hunt Seat Leading Rider. The Holy Innocents' Horsemanship Knowledge Test and Horseman's Knowledge Test will be held in the afternoon. Competition then continues with the Western Individual Reining and Horsemanship classes. Similar to the Leading Hunt Seat Rider, the Champion Western Rider will be determined after the Varsity Open Reining and the Varsity Open Horsemanship classes. The compiled points from these classes establish our Western Leading Rider.
Thursday's Hunt Seat and Western Individual Winners:
Future Beginner on the Flat Individual
Olivia Batten from Stonehouse Stables in Zone 3 (McKenzie Yates for IEA)
Junior Varsity Beginner on the Flat Individual
Jillian Alejo from Concord Equestrian Team in Zone 1
(McKenzie Yates for IEA)
Future Novice on the Flat Individual
Isabella Garbiel-Achorn from Muddy Brook Farm in Zone 1 (McKenzie Yates for IEA)
Junior Varsity Novice on the Flat Individual
Lilian Schaffer from Front Range Equestrian Team in Zone 8
(McKenzie Yates for IEA)
Varsity Intermediate on the Flat Individual
Elizabeth Trexler from Chatham Hall in Zone 3 (McKenzie Yates for IEA)
Varsity Open on the Flat Individual
Tomiko McGovern from Lucky C Stables in Zone 2 (McKenzie Yates for IEA)
AQHA Future Beginner Horsemanship Individual
Erin Murray from Autumn Rose Equestrians in Zone 5 (McKenzie Yates for IEA)
AQHA Varsity Intermediate Horsemanship Individual
Breighanna Urdahl from Sassy Senoritas in Zone 7
(McKenzie Yates for IEA)
AQHA Junior Varsity Novice Horsemanship Individual
Nigel Lancaster from Autumn Rose Equestrian in Zone 5
(McKenzie Yates for IEA)
NRHA Varsity Open Reining Individual
Olivia Maxey from Bayhill Farm in Zone 5
(McKenzie Yates for IEA)