Dear IEA Member,

This past month, IEA has released a lot of BIG NEWS. We appreciate the excitement and the questions we've received. Be sure to read through this e-newsletter to find information on the addition of 4th & 5th grade riders beginning in 2019-20, Dressage, Hunt Seat National Finals, Western Semi-Finals, National Finals Cover Contest, Horsemanship Program, and more.
Important Upcoming Dates and Locations
  • Hunt Seat Zone 1 Finals - March 30-31, 2019 in West Springfield, MA
  • Hunt Seat Zone 2 Finals - March 16-17, 2019 in North Salem, NY
  • Hunt Seat Zone 3 Finals - March 29-31, 2019 in Lynchburg, VA
  • Hunt Seat Zone 4 Finals - March 23-24, 2019 in Pensacola, FL
  • Hunt Seat Zone 5 Finals - March 23-24, 2019 in Findlay, OH
  • Hunt Seat Zone 7 Finals - March 16-17, 2019 in Magnolia, TX
  • Hunt Seat Zone 8 Finals - March 2-3, 2019 in Queen Creek, AZ
  • Hunt Seat Zone 9 Finals - March 9-10, 2019 in Elma, WA
  • Hunt Seat Zone 10 Finals - March 23-24, 2019 in Rancho Murieta, CA
  • Hunt Seat Zone 11 Finals - March 30-31, 2019 in Littlestown, PA
  • Western Semi Finals Tennessee - April 6-7, 2019 in Mufreesboro, TN (Regions 4, 5S, 7, 8)
  • Western Semi Finals Ohio - April 13-14, 2019 in Columbus, OH (Regions 1, 2, 5N, 11)
  • Dressage Finale - April 13-14 in Westerville, OH
  • Hunt Seat National Finals - April 26-28, 2019 in Harrisburg, PA
  • Western National Finals - June 15-16, 2019 in Oklahoma City, OK

Check the online show calendar for your Zone Regional Finals.
IEA Expands Membership to Include
4th & 5th Grade Riders
The IEA Board of Directors recently voted to expand membership to include 4 th and 5 th grade riders in the middle-school division of Hunt Seat, Western and Dressage. For the past 17 seasons, IEA has been offered only to riders in grades 6 –12.  

The recently adopted rule change which will take effect beginning with the 2019-2020 Season reads as follows: Any full-time student enrolled in grades four (4) through twelve (12) during the application year is eligible to be a rider member provided they are less than twenty (20) years of age on September 1st.
 
With the addition of younger aged riders, the Board of Directors is also considering some changes to class offerings, but those are not yet finalized and will be released at a later date. READ MORE
Calling IEA Artists To Design National Finals Covers
Sharpen your pencils and put on your creative hats. The 2019 National Finals Program Art Contest is gearing up soon and looking for submissions for both the Hunt Seat and Western National Finals Program Covers.

Winners will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a complimentary copy of the show program and recognition in social media and other print materials.

Download the flyer for more details.

DEADLINE for Hunt Seat - March 8, 2019
DEADLINE for Western - May 10, 2019
IEA Dressage Program to Officially Join Hunt Seat and Western Disciplines
The IEA Board of Directors recently voted to officially adopt the Dressage discipline into their program beginning in the 2019-2020 season. For the past three years, Dressage has been offered as a Pilot Program – allowing riders to participate in a limited number of scrimmages across the nation. The first two years of the Pilot Program allowed riders and teams to “test the waters” by holding Dressage shows in the IEA draw-based format and at a reduced membership cost. The program has been an overwhelming success and, in fact, participants tripled over the three years.
 
During the 2017-2018 Season, IEA hosted a Dressage Finale at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio – a culminating event that was open to both IEA and non IEA Dressage riders, regardless of points or past participation in the scrimmage horse shows. Nearly 70 riders from 10 states participated in that inaugural event. READ MORE
2019 Dressage Finale Prize List and Team Point Standings Now Available
The 2019 Dressage National Finale prize list is now available!

You can download it here .

In addition, the IEA website now gives you the ability to see points for dressage teams and riders by region!

You can view them here .
CHA Chief Executive Joins IEA Board of Directors
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) is pleased to announce the addition of Christy Landwehr , Chief Executive Officer of the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) to the IEA Board of Directors. 

“ I am excited to be on the IEA Board of Directors ,” says Landwehr. “ What a great association to grow our equine industry and get middle school and high school youth excited about horses and showing, without having to own their own horse when first starting off. IEA also believes in multi-breed and multi-discipline, as does the Certified Horsemanship Association, and they are truly an entry level place for those to join our industry and start their horse journey. ” READ MORE
Reserve Your Hunt Seat National Finals
Good Luck Ads and Box Seats
Beginning in March with Zone Finals, many teams and individual riders will qualify for National Finals. This is a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Be sure to wish your favorite rider/team Good Luck by placing a full or half-page ad in the National Finals Program. This spiral bound "magazine" is nearly 80 pages and makes a fantastic keepsake.

Box Seats are also available for teams at Hunt Seat National Finals.
Book Your Hotel Now for
Hunt Seat National Finals
IEA has negotiated special rates at several hotels in Harrisburg, PA for the 2019 Hunt Seat National Finals (April 26 - 28, 2019). Now is a good time to start thinking about reservations before they fill up.

We look forward to seeing you in April!




IEA Signage for Non-IEA Horse Shows
#IEABannerContest
Attention IEA Coaches:
Are you or any of your riders attending shows outside of the IEA?

We want to make sure you have a member banner to hang in your stall, seating, or https://em-ui.constantcontact.com/em-ui/em/page/em-ui/email# vendor area to show your IEA pride! Use it as a conversation starter to talk about your team and recruit new members.

Once you have an IEA banner, be sure to take a photo of your team with your banner hanging up during your horse show and post it to #IEABannerContest. Each month we will select a photo to win a prize for your entire team! Contact kimber@rideiea.org .
One (1) 20" x 36" vinyl grommet banner will be provided to each current IEA Team.
Additional banners or IEA signage may be purchased at cost.
Need promotional brochures to help solicit new team members? CLICK HERE.
Looking For A Way To Expand Your Equine Business? Become an IEA Sponsor.
The IEA is currently accepting financial and in-kind sponsorships for National Finals, Semi-Finals and General Support. Whether your budget is $150 or $15,000, IEA has opportunities for your business to get in front of nearly 14,000 equestrian members and more than 30,000 Social Media followers. From email blasts, to social media posts, to program ads, ringside signage, or donated prizes, we can help promote your business while you support our organization.

To discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities, contact IEA Sales Manager Megan Taylor at megan@rideiea.org or by calling 931-224-5707.
IEA Holds Western
Semi-Finals at Ohio Equine Affaire
IEA will host one of two Western Semi-Finals competitions during the 2019 Equine Affaire in Columbus, OH on April 13-14.

This Semi-Finals will include IEA riders from Western Region 1, Region 2, Region 5-1, and Region 11.

Whoa! We Have Some GREAT PRIZES!
Have You and Your Teammates Signed Up for the Horsemanship Program Yet?
Did you know that the Horsemanship Test being offered during post-season competitions this year will be based on the quizzes offered through the IEA online Horsemanship Program ?

Each Hunt Seat Zone Finals, Western Semi-Finals and the Dressage Finale will be giving members the chance to show their smarts to win great prizes. Join the Horsemanship Program now and get a “leg up” on the competition!

The Horsemanship Program consists of 13 online quizzes of various topics and one final quiz. Each participant will receive a unique user name and password to access the quizzes, which can be taken more than once. 

A schedule of quizzes and study resources can be found here .  

Each participant that completes all 13 quizzes, and receives a 75% or better on the final quiz, will receive a certificate of completion as well as a commemorative t-shirt.

Eligibility
The program is open to any IEA Rider Member (grades 6-12) or Junior Contributing Member (grades 4-12).  

Junior Contributing Members are automatically enrolled in the program. Not a member yet?  Enroll here.

A Rider Member may enroll by visiting the Horsemanship Page on the IEA website and go to the "Sign Up Now" button. Enrollment for Rider Members is $15.


For more information, please contact  Jennifer Eaton , Membership Marketing Coordinator.
The IEA Horsemanship Program is proudly sponsored by the following:
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The following are paid advertisements from IEA Sponsors.
Interscholastic Equestrian Association
Membership Office
467 Main Street
Melrose, MA 02167

Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm (Eastern)
Phone: 877-RIDE-IEA | 877-743-3432
Fax: 508-597-7373
IEA Staff
Roxane Durant - Co-Founder and Executive Director
Myron Leff - Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Jennifer Eaton - Membership Marketing Coordinator
Kathryn Quinlan - Membership Office Manager
Shara Prieskorn - Membership Office Coordinator & Youth Board Advisor
Kimber Whanger - Communications Coordinator
Simon Towns - Zone Captain
Bernie Villeneuve - National Finals Coordinator
Megan Taylor - Sales Representative
Sue Wentzel - National Steward