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Green Is the New Blue Expands Partnership with IEA and Launches Green Leaders Program
Friday, September 27, 2024 (Columbus, Ohio) – The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (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.
The GNB Green Leaders Program invites juniors and adults to incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday lives, both at the barn and beyond. By taking the Green Leaders pledge, participants will inspire others in their communities and lead the way toward a greener future and be champions for a sustainable sport.
As Green Leaders, Juniors, Parents and Coaches are encouraged to participate with efforts ranging from the #BringYourOwn water bottle initiative, to pledging to serve plastic-free horse show lunches, to supporting the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle efforts of young riders by implementing sustainability practices back at their own barns. Every effort is important at all levels and GNB and IEA want to recognize those efforts.
Over the past two years, GNB and IEA have worked together to promote initiatives such as the #BringYourOwn campaign which promotes the use of reusable water containers at horse shows instead of single-use plastic bottles. Additionally, GNB and IEA have partnered on incorporating green messaging by encouraging the use of “Living Jumps” for show arenas. The purpose of the Living Jump is to promote biodiversity and support species that enhance ecosystem resilience. Living Jumps are sourced native plants from local nurseries that include species that support pollinators and other insects, such as spiders to control fly populations. Living Jumps can be replanted for use the following years.
“We are excited to help launch this new Green Leaders Program with our friends at GNB," says IEA Executive Director, Roxane Durant. “Over the past decade, IEA has expanded our own leadership programs with the development of our IEA National Youth Board and most recently the Team Captains Campaign. We feel it is important to support riders not only in the development of their horsemanship skills, but also in their leadership skills as well. Giving all our riders, parents and coaches the opportunity to become Green Leaders and be recognized for their efforts, is a win-win for everyone and our planet.”
“We are thrilled to be launching the Green Leaders Program with IEA," said R. Scot Evans, Creative Director of GNB. “GNB has a strong working relationship with the organization and many of these fantastic kids already, and we’re excited to provide this leadership opportunity that will carry our mission of sustainability within the equestrian world into the future.”
To learn more and get started on becoming a Green Is the New Blue Green Leader, click on one of the links below:
Juniors: https://www.jotform.com/build/242547588357067
Parents: https://www.jotform.com/build/242548710827158
Coaches: https://form.jotform.com/242554863204153
Stay tuned to IEA social media @rideiea and @green_is_the_new_blue for upcoming Green initiatives.
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