FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026

Three disciplines. One community. Countless memories and friendships.

Make YOUR IEA story come to life. IEA is where the FUTURE of equestrian sport begins.

Featuring hand-drawn/hand-crafted 2-D animation by TayloredAnimation.com

Absolutely zero artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the making of this IEA video. Just talent, know-how, and authentic art. ©2026 Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA)

Dear IEA Members and Friends:

It is spooky how fast this season is flying by!

We are already nearly half-way through the "regular" show season and plans are underway for Regionals, Zones, and National Finals for our 25th Anniversary season. So many fun things in the works.

As you will see in this e-newsletter, there are tons of things happening - including deadlines for the Art & Literary contest (TODAY!), IEA Spooktacular, and #Horsetober.

Please read and share this information with your teams and friends - not everyone has opted in to receive our newsletters and IEA communications. We don't want anyone to miss out.

As we head into the holiday season, we are most thankful for all of you - your time, energy, enthusiasm, work, sportsmanship, volunteerism, and financial support - a cornucopia of things to be grateful for, for sure.

Happy Reading!

IEA Staff

info@rideiea.org

1-877-RIDE-IEA

UPCOMING DETAILS AT A GLANCE

HAPPENING NOW

• Hippology Academy Quizzes
• Art & Literary Contest
• EQUUS Foundation #HorseProtectors Team Program Registration

OCTOBER 30

• Art & Literary Contest Submissions Due

OCTOBER 31

• Horsetober Celebration Ends
• Spooktacular Ends

NOVEMBER

• No Stirrup November Begins

DECEMBER 1

• Coach Referral Program Closes
• Giving Tuesday

JANUARY 15

• #HORSEPROTECTORS Team Challenge Registration Closes

SHOW US YOUR CREATIVE SIDE! ENTRIES DUE BY OCTOBER 30.

SADDLE UP FOR THE 2026 IEA SPOOKTACULAR!

Spooky season is here, and we’re ready to see how creative our IEA community can get with our 6th annual Spooktacular!

It’s time to dress to impress… or scare! From wicked witches and ghostly riders to enchanted horses and downright terrifying barn creatures, we want to see your most creative, clever, and spooky costumes.



2026 Spooktacular Classes (awarded individually for each discipline):

• Youth Rider Costume Photo or Video
• Adult Rider Costume Photo or Video
• Coach Costume Photo or Video
• Team Photo or Video

Win bragging rights and some Halloween fun with gift cards to some of your favorite haunts!

How to participate:

• Post your photo on Instagram and tag @RideIEA and use #IEASpooktacular26

or

• Post your photo on the Official IEA page on TurnoutHQ and use #IEASpooktacular26.

However you submit, make sure you include your name, IEA team name and your Spooktacular class name. Now go grab your costume, gather your barn crew, and show us what you’ve got!

TurnoutHQ is a Sponsor of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement.

The National Hippology Academy Quiz Series has begin, and runs through April 30, 2027. Each quiz is released on a schedule, and will then be available throughout the remainder of the season. Questions? Contact Jennifer Eaton at jenn@rideiea.org

 LEARN MORE & JOIN TODAY >>

What if your IEA team could help horses, strengthen your community, and compete for up to $2,000? Would you be “IN”?

EQUUS Foundation is a Sponsor of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement.

Have YOU won an IEA Sportsmanship Award this season?

Did you know you can see a LIST of Sportsmanship Award Winners online on the IEA Website?

Did you know you can APPLY NOW online for the 2026-2027 MZ Farms IEA National Sportsmanship Award? (You don't have to wait until the May 14, 2027 deadline. Get it done now while you have the time.)

The MZ Farms IEA National Sportsmanship Recognition and Award Program will recognize 17 youth members and distribute nearly $2,500 in cash scholarships this season.

MZ Farms LLC is owned and operated by Steve and Cathy Muzzy who have been ardent supporters of equestrian development programs for youth and young adult riders.

We are thrilled to have these outstanding, highly-experienced judges for our celebratory IEA season.

Make plans now to come to Tryon International on April 29 - May 2, 2027 to spectate and celebrate!

NSBA is a Member Partner of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement.

Calling all Adult Amateur Riders.....

• Are you ready to get back in the saddle?
• Did you know IEA has an ADULT RIDER DIVISION?
• Did you know that IEA Adult Riders will qualify for IEA National Finals in each of our 3 disciplines for 2026-2027?

Whether your dream of reliving your glory days of riding in college, are just starting out as a beginner, or maybe hoping to share the IEA experience with your son or daughter....IEA now has a spot for you!

Open to adult amateur riders over the age of 21 - the IEA Adult Division offers the same draw-based (catch-ride) experience as we have offered for our youth riders for 25 years.

IEA Adult Rider Division Contact

Emily David at emily@rideiea.org.

John Deere & Equine Discounts are Sponsors of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement.

LOOKING FOR TEAM WEAR, IEA AWARDS, NATIONAL FINALS JACKETS, TEAM SHOPS OR COACH/RIDER GIFTS WITH 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

BESCO AWARDS

Embroidered Apparel & Awards

HODGES BADGE COMPANY

Ribbons & Awards

STINEMAN RIBBON COMPANY

Ribbons & Awards

APHA is a Member Partner of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement.

Youth Board members are asking IEA's Board President, Dustin Boehmer their most pressing questions. Click below to hear his answer.

IEA HOLDS WESTERN SHOW DURING

THE ALL AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE CONGRESS

Ohio (Governor) First Lady, Fran DeWine and grandson Parker, stopped by the IEA Western show on Monday for a photo op during the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

They were joined by Ohio Quarter Horse Association CEO, Justin Billings and IEA Horse Provider, Mikal Porter of Double M Horsemanship, LLC who provided Shamrock for the show. Shamrock ended up being named IEA Horse of the Show and Parker got a taste of the horse show life at the Congress.

Thank you, Mikal & OQHA for supporting IEA.

Photos by Lauren Lane

A HUGE THANK YOU to NRHA PRO and IEA Alumni, BEN BECKETT of Beckett Performance Horses for stepping in at the 11th hour to lead a very informative NRHA Pro Reining Clinic during the IEA Western show at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

It was previously announced that Shawn and Sam Flarida were to lead the clinic, but some last-minute changes in the other show arena had them tied up with clients showing. Not only did Ben lead a terrific clinic, but he brought a very unique perspective to our audience as he talked about his IEA experiences and answered questions about preparing horses and riders for IEA competitions.

NRHA Pro, Casey Hinton introduced Ben and kicked off the clinic to an attentive audience of IEA families and Congress attendees in the beautiful new CINCH arena.

Fresh off his top 4 placing at the 2026 Run for A Million in Las Vegas, Beckett has quickly made a name for himself in the professional reining world with multiple Congress and NRHA titles. To put things into perspective, Ben’s last IEA show season on the Dare Equestrian Team (Hilliard, OH) was in 2015!

Beckett was joined by Albion College and University of Findlay riders and horses along with his wife, Ariana on one of their 2-year old reiners. The 90-minute clinic consisted of teaching moments, demos, Q&A, and critiques. This NRHA Pro Clinic is one of a dozen similar clinics held this year as part of a partnership between NRHA - National Reining Horse Association and the NRHA Professionals Committee and IEA. We are so grateful for their support and the opportunities given to our western members.

Shout out also to KeyBank for their financial support of the IEA Western Show and to Schneider Saddlery for providing IEA embroidered prizes. It was a great event and we were very happy to be back at the Congress!

Left: Ben instructs one of the demo riders.

Right: IEA Western Zone Adminisrator, Tammy Braham, helps take questions from the audience for Ben.

Junior Education Membership (JEM) is open to individuals at least 9 years of age, and less than 21 years of age at the time of registration, who are not participating in competitions as riders, but who desire to be members of IEA.

JEMs ARE eligible for the following IEA benefits as part of their $35 membership fee.

• Automatic enrollment in the National Hippology Academy;
• Eligible for participation in IEA non-riding Scholarship and Sportsmanship award programs, contests, and social media give-aways;
• National Finals Horsemanship Tests & Prizes;
• Annual Membership Patch;
• IEA E-Newsletters & other member info;
• JEMs do not need to join an IEA team, but if they do, they appear on the team roster.

(Junior Education Members do not have voting privileges, they do not have the right to hold office, and are not eligible to compete at IEA recognized mounted activities, shows or events.)

CHA is a Member Partner of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement.

Interscholastic Equestrian Association

Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm EST

Phone: 877-RIDE-IEA | 877-743-3432

Fax: 508-597-7373

www.rideiea.org | info@rideiea.org

Marketing & Communications Office

509 S. Otterbein Avenue, Suite 9

Westerville, OH 43081

National Office (Mail Donations Here)

P.O. Box 809

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

IEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers:

• President: Dustin Boehmer
• President Elect: Rose Muenzenmay
• Secretary: Samantha Fleming
• Treasurer: Hannah Bentz

Founding Board Members & Designees:

• Designee for Roxane Durant (Founding Member): Amanda Garner
• Designee for Wayne Ackerer (Founding Member): Nancy Arledge

Members At Large:

• Kari Briggs
• Ken Ford *
• Katie Morehead-Oman
• Cathy Muzzy 
• Katie Schaaf

Director Emeritus:

• Timothy J Boone
• Myron Leff

* Honorary Board Member

IEA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and your

contribution is tax-deductible.

Thank you for your support.

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