Dear IEA Member,

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year from the IEA. We hope you are having a successful and fun 2018-2019 show season and are looking forward to seeing many of you during post-season competition.

This newsletter is chock-full of information and important dates for upcoming IEA Events. We also encourage you to follow us on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the most up-to-date announcements, photos, contests, and more.

During this holiday season, we reflect back on 2018 with pride at the thousands of accomplishments of our riders, our teams, our members and supporters. Thank you for making IEA an important part of your life. We appreciate every one of you.

Happy Holidays!
Riders Can STILL Join the IEA!
Did you know that it is not too late to join a team for the 2018-2019 Season? While many members have been showing since the season started in September, there are still a number of shows available for riders wishing to join a team. But you need to hurry!

Coaches - have a rider on the fence about participating in the IEA? They can still join your team and earn points for this season.

Adult and Junior Contributing Members - now is a great time to show your support by becoming a member or participating in the IEA Horsemanship Program.
Need promotional brochures to help solicit new team members? CLICK HERE.
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 Signage for Non-IEA Horse Shows
#IEABannerContest
Second Nature Farm Team shows off their IEA pride in their new IEA hats.
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 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, beginning in November, we will select a photo to win a prize for your entire team!
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.
Spread the Joy of Equestrian Sport this Holiday Season by Donating to the IEA Benevolent Fund
IEA Riders, Coaches and Parents Now Receive a FREE US Equestrian Fan Membership!
IEA Members and Parents can sign up for a US Equestrian Fan Membership by going to: https://members.usef.org/join-renew/fan-application  and use promo code  IEA2018

IEA is pleased to continue our partnership with US Equestrian and grateful for their support.

Visit: www.usef.org
Lucky C Stables to Receive Honor at
US Equestrian National Conference
LUCKY C STABLES (Zone 2) will be honored at the Pegasus Awards Ceremony at the 2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting on January 9th - 12th in West Palm Beach, FL. Lucky C Stables was the 2018 IEA National Upper School Champion Team and is coached by Jessica Anselmo and Susan Clark.

Horsemanship Program Makes an Excellent Holiday Stocking Stuffer
Looking for a holiday stocking stuffer for your favorite or team? Consider giving the IEA Horsemanship Program as a gift.
(Only $15 for Rider Members and $35 for Jr. Contributing Members.)

Jr Contributing Members in Grades 4 – 12 and Rider Members are eligible to participate in the IEA's program that emphasizes horsemanship skills and knowledge.

Members who participate in the program will complete nine quizzes on a variety of topics. Each quiz will be available the first of each month, October through May. When a participant signs up through the IEA Horsemanship Page they will receive an email with all quizzes for months that they may have missed.
On June 1st each participant will receive a Final Quiz. Participants who complete all nine quizzes and receive 75% or better on the Final Quiz will receive commemorative shirt, as well as a certificate of completion. For more information, please contact Jennifer Eaton .
Zone Scholarships Available for Riders
Did you know that in addition to National Finals Scholarships for Top Riders and the National Sportsmanship Scholarship Award, that the IEA also offers Zone Scholarships in many of our Zones? Deadlines vary by Zone, but are typically in February or March.

Visit your Zone webpage or contact your Zone Administrator for more details on applying.
IEA Supports SafeSport Efforts
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) holds the well-being of our young riders in the highest esteem. Accordingly, the IEA has been working closely with the American Horse Council (AHC) and US Equestrian to further the mission of SafeSport within equestrian sport. This is a collective effort involving education, reporting and prevention of abuse. Please read the recent email sent to IEA members about the IEA’s SafeSport efforts and to learn about available resources on this topic.
IEA Welcomes New Part-Time Staff Members
Montana McKnight
The IEA is pleased to announce the addition of two new part-time staff members.

Montana McKnight - Montana grew up in Managua, Nicaragua where she had the opportunity to ride Dressage and Jumpers. During the summers of her high school years, she attended Culver Summer School and Camps where she rode on the mounted drill team and Girl's Troop. Montana is currently a Junior Marketing and Psychology double major at Otterbein University in Westerville, OH. Last year she had the amazing experience of being a team rider for Otterbein's 2018 Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Team when they took Reserve National Champions. Montana looks forward to interning in the IEA Marketing & Communications Office in Westerville, OH and can't wait to meet some of you at IEA Dressage Finale.

Jamie Kray - Jamie is serving as our new Business Administrator in the IEA National Office in Chagrin Falls, OH. She is a long-time "IEA Mom" with two daughters riding for Double Deuce Farm in Concord, OH. Jamie will assist our Executive Director with bookkeeping and administrative duties.

Welcome Montana and Jamie!
Calling All 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 recieve a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a complementary 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
The following are paid advertisements from our 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