Courtesy IEA (Fountain Valley School of Pueblo, CO, won the hunt seat upper school national championship.)
Fountain Valley School of Colorado Springs, CO, won the hunt seat upper school national championship at the eighth annual Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals, sponsored by Dover Saddlery and Smith Brothers, held April 22-25, 2010 at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, GA. Sylvan Equestrian Team of Centerburg, OH, earned the middle school championship title. The Andrews Osborne Community Team of Willoughby, OH, became the reserve champion team in the hunt seat upper school competition. August Farm Equestrian Team of Holliston, MA, finished as the reserve champion in the hunt seat middle school competition.
In the Western competition, Autumn Rose Equestrian Team of Plain City, OH, took both the titles of upper school champion and middle school champion for the second year in a row. The Dare Equestrian Team of Hilliard, OH, earned the reserve western champion for the upper school. The Forsyth Central High School team of Cumming, GA, finished as the reserve Western champion for the middle school competition.
The Timothy J. Boone Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Susan Wentzel from McLean, VA. She is currently the National Steward of the association, as well as the head coach for the Meadowbrook Stables team. This is the third year in which this award has been given.
Elizabeth Kenney from the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA, was named the IEA Leading Rider of the Year after winning the Varsity Open Championship class. Austin Griffith, from the Autumn Rose Equestrian Team of Plain City, OH, became the Champion Western Rider. Alexis Fredie of the Grier School in Tyrone, PA, received the Victor Hugo-Vidal Sportsmanship Award.
Purpose of the IEA
The IEA was formed and organized to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and secondary school students. Its purpose is to set minimum standards for competition, provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated equestrian sport programs, and 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.
Mission
The mission of IEA is to introduce students in private and public middle and secondary schools (primarily ages 11 through 19) to equestrian sports, to provide information concerning the creation and development of school-associated equestrian programs, to develop understanding and appreciation of equestrian sports through organized student competitions, to provide students with organized competitive events and to provide additional equine educational opportunities. Also, currently, there are few opportunities for these students to earn scholarship money. Through the IEA, students may have the opportunity to earn scholarships towards their college education.
Objectives
The following are the objectives of IEA:
- To promote the equestrian as an athlete
- To provide students with organized competitive opportunities
- To introduce new riders to equine sports.
- To promote the IEA among middle and secondary schools
- To provide students with opportunities for further education in equine sports and other equine-related matters
- To encourage liaison with the United States Equestrian Federation, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and other interested bodies
- To encourage a higher standard of coaching and instruction
- To provide information concerning the creation and development of school-associated mounted and non-mounted equestrian programs
- To establish and enforce IEA rules, standards and policies
- To evolve with the continuing progress of equestrian sports
- To generally promote the common interests of safe riding instruction and competition and education on matters related to the horse industry and all segments thereof
Program
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association, Inc., will promote membership in the organization through individual, school, coach, contributing and alumni memberships.
IEA sanctions local competitions that are hosted by various member schools and independent teams throughout the United States. Based upon points earned at the local shows, the top-ranked riders and school will then compete in a National Competition to be hosted by IEA.
The unique aspect of these competitions, both at the local and national level, is that none of the riders will supply their own horses or tack. Instead, the horses, saddle and other tack are all provided to the students at the show. The host school arranges for the horse and equipment. Some of the equipment will be borrowed from various training barns and facilities. Though the rider and horse will have a short opportunity at orientation, essentially, the horses will be new to the rider, and the scores will be based upon horsemanship, not the horse. The hunt seat competitions will involve jumping over fences no greater that 2’6” and a flat equitation class. The Western competition includes reining and horsemanship.