A guest blog post from Katie Shoultz

You touch the future when you embrace the youth. In keeping with this spirit, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) has a sharp focus on the future with their efforts to engage younger generations in equestrian sports. The IEA was established to promote horsemanship skills in the middle and secondary education level. The 2011-2012 competition year marks the Association’s 10th Anniversary with their yearly National Finals set to take place this spring and summer.

Currently, the IEA offers hunt seat, western, and saddle seat. The hunt seat championships will occur April 20-22 in Syracuse, NY with the western championships occurring June 28-30 in Oklahoma City, OK. As the saddle seat membership continues to grow, a finals event will be implemented. As it stands now, their year-end awards are based on cumulative points.

The IEA is structured similarly to IHSA with the teams traveling to other team facilities in their surrounding area to compete. The hosting team/barn provides the horses with the horse and riders being paired up via a drawing lot. In an effort to promote reasonable equality, personal tack is not permitted. Points are tracked and amassed on an individual and team basis with the common goal of qualifying for Nationals. Riders may participate in a maximum of 5 shows per regular competition year although larger teams may attend more than 5 shows to afford all riders an opportunity to ride and earn points. Middle school students compete only against other middle school students with the identical format being adhered to on the high school level as well.

The success of the program is evident in the numbers with the IEA experiencing steady growth since its inception. According to Roxane Lawrence, Executive Director of the IEA, the Association has nearly 6,500 members this year – a 30% growth from last year. The current focus of the IEA is further expansion in the middle and western states with a goal of having teams in every state. Dressage is being considered as a future offering as well.

A proper foundation for youth ensures the development of  well-rounded individuals who can showcase their skills in a competitive venue and ultimately become competent equestrians that perpetuate the sport for future generations. Scholarship opportunities for college education as well as sportsmanship awards are available – providing a support structure that emphasizes the importance of education and good character.

Shari Murray, resident of Florence, Kentucky, is the parent of Ashley Murray, a rider on the Zone 5 Select Equestrian team. Murray appreciates the Association’s goals and mission. “It allows riders to be competitive without the expense of owning a horse and it gives kids a taste of what it might be like riding on a college team.” Indeed, the IEA promotes the classic horsemanship principles of sportsmanship, hard work, team effort, and solid riding skills to riders as they encounter a variety of horses and face all the challenges of the sport.

For more information visit the IEA’s website at www.rideiea.org.

Katie Shoultz is manager of Isidore Farm, LLC and a freelance writer residing in Lexington, KY.