IEA February 2024 Newsletter

Friday, February 16, 2024

Dear IEA Members and Friends:

We are officially in the thick of IEA post-season REGIONAL and ZONE Finals for Hunt Seat and Dressage with various Finals happening every weekend from now until April. If you've been following us on social media, you know that we've been cranking out a lot of information this past month as we draw nearer to our first two of three NATIONAL FINALS in just 70 days!

This e-newsletter is a recap of many of the recent posts, stories, press releases, and important information pertaining to National Finals. If you have not already visited the 2024 IEA Nationals Webpage, we encourage you to bookmark that page as it is frequently being updated. Here you will find all the information you need if you are qualified for Finals including prize lists, class schedules, hotel information, special events, good luck ads and more.

If your 2023-2024 IEA season has come to a close and you are done showing - there is still a ton of things you can participate in, including various Regional, Zone, and National Finals Horsemanship Tests, the National Hippology Academy online quiz series, Collegiate Webinar Series videos, SCAD National Finals Cover Art Contests, Senior Scholarship Applications, National Sportsmanship Award Applications, AQHyA Scholarships for all disciplines, National Youth Board Applications, and more. This is a great time to support your teammates that may be moving on to post-season competitions, posting your IEA season highlights on your social media, making friendship bracelets to share for The Eras Tour theme day at National Finals, and thinking about fun ways to promote your IEA team for next season.

As always, we so appreciate all our members, especially our VERY HARD WORKING Coaches and Regional Presidents, who tirelessly host horse shows and take care of our beloved IEA horses and ponies. You are the Rock Stars of the IEA!

Good Luck to everyone showing this month - may you get great draws, have smooth rides, make fantastic memories, and have loads of fun. We are rooting for you!

IEA Staff & Board of Directors

Did you miss last week's COLLEGIATE RIDING: Q&A WEBINAR?

No worries. It is now online to view at your convenience on the IEA website under the LIBRARY tab: https://www.rideiea.org/rules/educational-guides/

This is a 2-part webinar - so if you missed the first one back in September - it is also available for viewing/reviewing at this link.

A BIG THANK YOU to our 2nd excellent panel of collegiate riding professionals. This webinar featured a distinguished panel of five college coaches and an experienced admissions professional.

Our panelists discussed recruiting, scholarships, standing out to coaches and the differences between IHSA, NCEA and IDA. These webinars are perfect for high school riders wanting to continue their IEA draw-based riding experience in college.

Many thanks to the IEA Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force and IEA Education Committee for helping plan these two collegiate webinars.

IEA RIDERS INTERESTED IN RIDING IN COLLEGE - COME TO THE IEA NATIONAL FINALS COLLEGE FAIR!

The IEA College Fair is a FREE unique opportunity to explore and discover the various academic and athletic options available for equestrian students. You will meet and chat with representatives from top colleges and universities that have renowned equine programs. To date, we have 17 colleges registered to attend!

ALL IEA RIDERS AT IEA NATIONAL FINALS 2024....JOIN US FOR IEA PROM!

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 - 6:30 - 9:30PM

RIDGE ROOM - TRYON INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER

Pull out those prom/homecoming/fun dresses, coats & ties and come dance the night away with your teammates and new friends. All age IEA riders welcome.

Thank you to GRIER SCHOOL for sponsoring this event.

WOWZA! So many IEA RIDERS are indeed WRITERS!

We had nearly 300 submissions for the IEA DEAR MARGUERITE NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST presented by Lettie Teague and supported by Trafalgar Square Craft Books!

The contest officially closed on FEBRUARY 2nd and now Lettie and her team will be sitting down and reading through all the submissions. Whew!

IEA will announce the WINNERS in LATE MARCH on social media and on our website so watch for the announcement in about a month or so. (It takes alot of time to read though each submission carefully and choose the top winners.)

THANK YOU to all the IEA riders who participated. In addition to cash prizes, the winning essays will appear in the 2024 IEA Hunt Seat & Dressage National Finals program book. Stay tuned!

HEY IEA SENIORS.....Here's another great reason to practice hard for post-season.

Did you know that for the past 18 years, IEA has awarded CASH awards to the TOP PLACING SENIOR RIDER and the 2nd HIGHEST PLACING SENIOR RIDER in each class at each National Finals?

We are grateful for those individuals who support these FOUNDERS AWARDS and the numerous other REGION/ZONE Scholarship & Academic Awards.

To learn how you can support scholarships and other IEA initiatives,

visit: https://www.rideiea.org/donate/

AQHA-IEA APPLICATiON - LEARN MORE >>

IEA is now accepting RIDER APPLICATIONS for the 2024 AQHA-IEA OUTSTANDING LEADER SCHOLARSHIP!

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION (including all additional documents) is MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024 by 11:59pm PST.

The AQHA-IEA Outstanding Leader Scholarship is sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Youth Association and recognizes IEA /AQHYA members who have shown outstanding leadership qualities and a commitment to participation in one or both organizations.

Get a DISCOUNT on your AQHYA membership at the link above.

A HUGE THANK YOU to AQHA/AQHYA for your continued support of IEA Western, Hunt Seat and Dressage riders.

Hardwork Will Get You Far

by Jay Moore

#MyIEA is a new series that highlights IEA member stories from across the nation on how IEA has impacted their lives.

"Hi! My name is Jay Moore (native of Montgomery, AL) and I’m owner and trainer of The Authentic LLC and coach of The Authentic IEA Team.

I have been riding off and on since the age of 5 yrs old. I started formal riding lessons in middle school and the rest is history. I come from a non-riding family. So hard work and a make-it-happen attitude were always the answer.

I have learned student mentality and communication are valuable assets in the horse world. I have had the privilege of working under the tutelage of some great horsemen and horsewomen. Their lessons in and out of the ring have all molded me into the professional I am today.

I strive hard to instill great values and skill sets in any rider that is in my program. Sportsmanship and horsemanship are the two biggest ones for me.

I love IEA for the simple fact it gives riders without the means to regular horse shows an opportunity to get in the show ring. Alongside those riders who are trying hard to align the different showing aspects.

I am grateful to have created a barn and team environment where everyone is welcome. We strive to always clap or say good ride to fellow riders/competitors. Always tend to horse and their needs before yourself. As my team marches through our 4th season, these are the ways I would like for them to leave a mark.

IEA has impacted me personally and as a professional in a lot of areas. From the show management sides of things to tapping into a new level of sportsmanship. The interactions of being a now veteran team and assisting the newer teams has been rewarding.

The IEA program is about people building people up. It's the only way the organization will grow and thrive. We learn so much from each other. We can not forget the IEA horses. They truly deserve a lot of the praise and credit. I feel like each horse gives us a mini-bio about themselves based on the trip they provide for their said draw riders. I strive for my team to understand the importance of horsemanship and think about how their interactions with the horse in a 5 min time frame plays a role in the horse's mindset.

I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have found in the industry and I am proud of all of my riders who have learned the value of hard work, a can-do-attitude, and relationship building. I love being able to make a difference in so many youths’ lives and hope to continue to do so in IEA and in my everyday life."

Want to submit a story for #MyIEA or learn more? Email montana@rideiea.org.

Did you win an IEA SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD this show season?

You MAY QUALIFY to apply for the IEA NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD, proudly sponsored by EQUUS Foundation.

LEARN MORE: https://www.rideiea.org/opportunities/sportsmanship-award/

The national award winner will be selected from the group of riders who earned a Sportsmanship Award at a local, regional or zone IEA show during the school year. These Sportsmanship Award winners will receive an IEA Sportsmanship patch (pictured), and will be invited to submit an application for the National Sportsmanship Award.

Look for your letter and patch in the mail soon.

DEADLINE to APPLY for the NATIONAL AWARD is MAY 6, 2024.

IEA SPORTSMANSHIP STATEMENT:

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.

Congratulations to ALL SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS....there is still plenty of opportunity to show great examples of sportsmanship during these final few months of regular and post-season showing. You make us so proud.

Did you know that IEA has a NATIONAL HIPPOLOGY ACADEMY QUIZ SERIES?

LEARN MORE: https://www.rideiea.org/opportu.../nationalhippologyacademy/

Formerly known as the Online Horsemanship Quizzes, the National Hippology Academy (NHA) Quiz Series is now divided into different age-based difficulty levels and features 12 different equine-related quizzes. At the end of the season on May 1, 2024, a Final Quiz will be posted. Participants who score 75% or higher on the Final Quiz receive a free t-shirt. The top scoring participant in each category will win a prize.

NHA is available for both IEA Rider Members and non-rider members from 4th grade to adults. Registration fees are $25 for IEA Rider Members. It is FREE for Junior Contributing Members.

JOIN HERE: https://data.rideiea.org/horsemanship/form

The National Hippology Academy is a GREAT way to brush up on your Horsemanship Knowledge ahead of post-season regional, zone, and national horsemanship tests in your Zones. Check it out today and see Jennifer Eaton (jenn@rideiea.org) with any questions.

Your theme days at the 2024 IEA Dressage & Hunt Seat and IDA Combined National Finals are:

Day 1 Thursday - THE ERAS TOUR (IEA's Version)

Day 2 Friday - HOMETOWN OR COLLEGE REP

Day 3 Saturday - BARBIE MOVIE

Day 4 Sunday - JERSEY DAY

The following Dressage Seat Equitation rail tests MAY be asked by a judge/show host at ANY post-season (Regional, Zone, National) competition. You can download them HERE >>.