IEA November 2024 Newsletter

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Dear IEA Members & Friends:

We've been busy, busy bees this Spring, Summer and Fall with a myriad of activities, events, horse shows and of course - developing and launching a built-from-scratch, entirely new, sophisticated show management system (which is no small task for sure - whew!).

We acknowledge that it has been a bit of a bumpy road at times as we are working with brand-new technology and we appreciate everyone's efforts to "think outside the box" this year, make adjustments as needed, and press on with the show season as new things are constantly being tested and added. The good news is, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the development process and many NEW things are being launched starting this week that we are excited to share.

Show hosts...you have likely already been working closely with staff members of the Membership Office to conduct the hundreds of shows that have already happened. For those show hosts with upcoming shows starting in mid-December - you will now begin using AccessIEA^TM for show calendars, prize lists, show entries, payments, show programs, and results instead of the paper versions we've been using thus far.

We are excited to finally be able to show you much of what the development team has been working on and testing for months. To help with this "training" of new procedures - we will be releasing a series of short videos. Some will be geared for coaches. Some for show hosts. And some for parents. These videos are being housed on the IEA website HERE.

AccessIEA Video Tutorials >

The first three videos have been uploaded and more will be coming very soon - including how to view results. Please make some time to view them - they are about 5-9 minutes each and walk you step-by-step through how you enter and pay for shows as a coach and as a parent.

We are SO APPRECIATIVE of all the work that has been done by our members, our staff, our show hosts, and the development team at Innate.ly. There is more to be done as we all move through the learning process and we hope once our members begin fully utilizing the AccessIEA^TM capabilities, it will streamline so many aspects of our horse shows.

In addition to the AccessIEA^TM video tutorials, there is a lot of other information and reminders in this newsletter. It has been so fun sifting through all the tagged #rideiea photos on social media of your horse shows, team practices, and team events. Please continue to share them with us - we LOVE OUR IEA COMMUNITY. THANK YOU!

Visit the NHA Webpage >

Test Your Horse Knowledge with the IEA National Hippology Academy

The National Hippology Academy (NHA) is available for both IEA Rider Members and non-rider members from 4th grade to adults. We have activities for all knowledge levels!

IEA youth and adult rider members will have the option to enroll when they register to join a team. The fee to join is $25. The program is FREE for Junior Education Members (JEM).

If you are an IEA Member that has already joined as a rider or Adult Contributing Member and now want to add on the Hippology program - reach out to JENNIFER EATON at jenn@rideiea.org or call 1-877-RIDE-IEA ext. 203 to be emailed a link to pay and participate.

The 2024-2025 Hippology program started in October but enrollment is open through April 30, 2025. Information on how to access online quizzes and activities will be sent out to all participants following registration.

ENROLL NOW >>

Follow IEA National Hippology Academy on Instagram @nhabyiea

COACHES...DO YOU HAVE A TEAM CAPTAIN OR A RIDER THAT IS LOOKING FOR MORE RESPONSIBILITY? CHECK OUT THE IEA TEAM CAPTAINS CAMPAIGN.

LEARN MORE >>

The Team Captains Campaign (TCC) aims to create more leadership opportunities for riders at the local level and provide coaches with a rider who is in-the-know about all things IEA.

The TCC will work with the local Youth Board members to implement campaigns and discuss future ideas. The overall goal of the TCC is to create a bridge between IEA Youth Board members and their entire Zone/Region to host fun activities and learn about ways to improve the IEA experience for our riders.

Questions about TTC? Contact Montana McKnight.

IEA Youth Board Annual Holiday Fundraiser

All Proceeds Benefit the IEA Benevolent

Fund

ORDER HERE >>

Join the IEA Youth Board in lighting up the holiday season with love, hope, and the magic of horses! Proceeds from this sale go to IEA Benevolent Fund which provides financial aid to riders with limited means so they may participate in IEA lessons and horse shows.

October 14th through November 27th or Until Sold Out!

$25.00 Per Ornament or Collectors Mug

Products will be available to ship from October 14th - November 27th.
Limited Supply - So Don't Wait to Place Your Holiday Orders!

We are RIDERS HELPING RIDERS. Thank you for your support.

The best memories are with grandma…..and horses!

Lauren Miller and her grandmother, Kim Rust, are both members of the GreenBridge Farm IEA Team (Dressage Zone 4 - Indiana - Coached by Abby Shidler Dickey).

Lauren is part of the Middle School Team and Kim is part of the Adult Team!

Now in it's 3rd Year as a Pilot Program, Adult IEA is seeing more and more mother/daughter, father/daughter, and now grandmother/granddaughter combinations across the disciplines.

Amateur Adults 21+ are joining IEA Teams in their areas who are looking for adult riders. Learn more about this growing Adult IEA program HERE.

Looking for Team Wear, IEA Awards, National Finals Jackets, or Coach/Rider Gifts with the IEA Logos?

IEA has contracted several IEA National Logo License Vendors for Apparel and Awards. These companies can print and/or embroider the IEA logo onto any of their products. Please support them with your business.

MEQUESTRIAN SOLUTIONS

Embroidered Apparel, Barn Supplies & Awards

HODGES BADGE COMPANY

Ribbons & Awards

BESCO AWARDS

Embroidered Apparel & Awards

STINEMAN RIBBON COMPANY

Ribbons & Awards

IEA members who have general concerns, compliments or suggestions for the IEA should first present the matter to their coach to advance to the membership office or present the matter directly to the membership office if it relates to the coach member. The membership office will forward the matter to the appropriate individuals/channels.

Exceptions to the rules or rule violations must be presented as petitions or protests per Rule G9400. Only coach members may file formal petitions, protests, or appeals on behalf of their teams or individual riders. Region presidents, zone administrators, and show officials may file formal petitions, or appeals relating to show or rule violations.

Any matter that concerns horse/rider safety or coach/rider ethics at a competition must be presented immediately to the show steward, whose determination and decision will be final during the show.

Know before you show. All IEA rule books can be found HERE.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHTS

Green Is The New Blue and IEA Expand Partnership and Introduce New Green Leaders Program

(September 27, 2024) - IEA recently expanded their multi-year formal partnership with environmental non-profit, Green Is the New Blue (GNB) in naming them as the Official Partner of Environmental and Sustainability Impact of IEA. GNB strives to reduce the environmental impacts of equine-related events and activities by educating the equine industry about best practices for sustainability and ecological safety and provide the tools to make these changes easy and straight-forward to implement.

Beginning with the 2024-2025 season, GNB is combining efforts with IEA to launch a new Green Leaders initiative with IEA as their inaugural organizational partner in the effort.

EXCLUSIVE IEA MEMBER DISCOUNT from R.J. Classics for Current IEA Members

Current IEA Members can receive a 10% discount on R.J. Classics Hunt Seat and Dressage show and practice apparel by registering HERE.

Look your best this season - especially as we head into post-season shows. R.J. Classics is the Official Riding Apparel of the IEA.

IEA Presents the 2024-2025 National Youth Board

The following 24 IEA Riders have been selected by their peers to represent the IEA on the National Youth Board for the 2024-2025 Season. READ MORE >>

Youth Board Members servce from August to July in various IEA activities and initiatives and play an important role at each IEA National Finals.

AQHA-IEA Outstanding Leader Scholarship Winners Announced

(July 31, 2024) - IEA is proud to announce the winners of the 2nd Annual AQHA-IEA Outstanding Leader Scholarship Awards which recognizes IEA and AQHYA members who have shown outstanding leadership qualities and a committment to participation in one or both organizations.

Funded through an on-going partnership with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA), the AQHA-IEA Outstanding Leader Scholarships highlight the similar missions of promoting lifelong involvement in equestrian activities with a strong desire to develop youth involvement and their leadership skills. Through organized competitions, educational programs and leadership opportunities, IEA is focused not only on introducing young athletes to equestrian sports, but also to inspire and facilitate adults to continue their journey in equestrian athletics for a lifetime.

Emma Bayer Named 2024 IEA National Sportsmanship Award Winner

(July 30, 2024) -IEA annually awards a student rider the National Sportsmanship Award. Proudly sponsored by EQUUS Foundation, this year's award is presented to Emma Elizabeth Bayer, a Senior from Powder Springs, Georgia who rides on the Big Leaps Equestrian Team.

The national award winner is selected from a group of riders who earned a Sportsmanship Award at a local, regional or zone IEA show during the 2023-2024 season. These winners were then invited to submit an application for the National Sportsmanship Award. As part of the application process, student riders submitted a photo, resume, school transcripts, composed a 250-word essay explaining how horses and/or equestrian competition have influenced his/her life and letters of recommendation. A panel of judges evaluated each application and determined the results based on a scoring rubric.