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Dear IEA Members, Parents & Friends:
The 2025-2026 IEA Season is officially underway this month with shows happening across most zones!
REMINDER:
Application fees for the 2025-2026 season will go up after October 1st for Youth Riders & Teams. (See chart below.) Be sure to get your applications in soon, if you haven't already.
About 80% of our teams have already completed their applications. There is still plenty of time to join a team, start a team, or renew your team - but don't wait too long - the fun is already happening! Your IEA coach can walk you through the process if you are new to their team.
APPLICATIONS can be found at:
https://accessiea.innate.ly/account/login
This past month has been busy as usual. IEA completed a successful Founders Day Give Fundraiser, elected a new slate of Youth Board representatives, welcomed over 50 new IEA teams, created an AccessIEA How-To Guide for show hosts, attended multiple equine events promoting IEA, hired a new Business Administrator, held countless planning meetings and was featured in an NRHA podcast. Whew, and the season has just started!
We LOVE seeing the photos and video clips that are starting to come in on social media of the new season. We love to share those when we can, so be sure to tag us @rideiea for a chance to be featured on our stories.
We are so excited you are joining us for our 24th season. Happy reading!
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Attention IEA Coaches & Adult Members....
The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE will be held at WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY in Fulton, Missouri on October 9 - 11, 2025.
LEARN MORE >>
The CHA International Conference is three days of mounted presentations, classroom learning and a whole lot of networking with other coaches, instructors, and horse trainers! IEA is a long-time supporter of this conference and CHA is a Member Partner of the IEA.
Presenters from around the country and Canada attend to speak on a myriad of topics, and there is an opportunity to ride!!
IEA members will use priority code "IEA" to receive special CHA member pricing for the event.
CHA certifies equine professionals, accredits equine facilities and provides resources to programs and equine professionals. The mission statement for CHA is to promote excellence in horsemanship safety and education for the entire horse industry.
To register for the conference, hotel information, speaker biography's and more, visit the CHA website at https://cha.horse/international-conference/
Questions about the conference?
Contact Jennifer Eaton at jenn@rideiea.org or call 1-877-RIDE-IEA ext. 203.
| | Metropolitan Equestrian is a partner of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement. | | |
Did you know that IEA offers a NON-RIDING Youth Membership?
- Do you live in a remote area far from an IEA team?
- Maybe you aren't quite ready to compete yet, but want to be part of your local team.
- Or you are looking to enhance your horse knowledge and get an inside look at what IEA is all about.
JOIN the IEA as a JUNIOR EDUCATION MEMBER (JEM)
https://accessiea.innate.ly/account/login
WHAT IS A JEM MEMBERSHIP?
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 the IEA.
JEMs are eligible for the following IEA benefits as part of their $35 annual membership fee:
- Automatic enrollment in the National Hippology Academy;
- Eligible for participation in IEA non-riding Scholarship and Sportsmanship award programs, contests, seminars and social media give-aways;
- National Finals Horsemanship Tests & Prizes;
- Annual Membership Patch;
- IEA E-Newsletters & other member information;
- JEMs do not need to join an IEA team, but if they do, they appear on the team roster;
JEM Membership is also a great addition to any 4H Horse Club, equine organization, or school program you might already be involved in.
Questions about JEM?
Contact Jennifer Eaton at jenn@rideiea.org or by calling 1-877-RIDE-IEA ext. 203
(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.)
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IEA Founders Day GIVE campaign successfully raised a total of $22,473.75 to support our mission of providing access and opportunity in equestrian athletics for youth in grades 4-12.
Funds raised will enable the IEA to continue its work in:
- Supporting youth development and leadership
- Offering scholarships to deserving riders
- Providing horsemanship education and training
- Offering financial assistance programs to ensure equitable access
READ FULL PRESS RELEASE >>
“We were thrilled to hold our second IEA Founders Day GIVE event and bring our community together to celebrate and support the next generation of equestrian athletes,” said Roxane Durant, IEA Co-Founder and Executive Director. “This annual giving campaign is a wonderful opportunity for everyone who loves equestrian sports to make a significant difference in the lives of our young riders.”
| | INTRODUCING YOUR 2025-2026 IEA YOUTH BOARD | | |
We are excited to announce the official results for the 2025-26 Youth Board!
Looking forward to an amazing season! Congratulations to the following youth representatives:
YB EXEC BOARD
HUNT SEAT REPS
DRESSAGE REPS
WESTERN REPS
Applications for the 2026-2027 25th Anniversary Season will open in Spring 2026. If you have any questions about the Youth Board or the application process, please feel free to contact the Youth Board Advisor Montana McKnight.
| | National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) is a Member Partner of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement. | | |
IEA proudly announced the Top Five Winners of the 2025 YETI Green Leaders Scholarship presented by Green Is The New Blue.
Environmental non-profit, Green Is the New Blue (GNB) partnered with YETI, a global distributor of outdoor products designed to provide a healthy, thriving, and inclusive wild for generations to come. With combined missions to promote sustainability and encourage responsible stewardship of our planet, YETI, GNB and IEA launched this scholarship program to encourage IEA members of all ages to make incremental and sustainable changes to their own barns and horse shows. GNB is the Official Partner of Environmental and Sustainability Impact of the IEA.
Applicants for these scholarships had to be active members in the 2024-2025 IEA competition season, registered participants in the GNB Green Leaders Program, and submit an application and 90-second video explaining their green efforts and activities this season.
A total of $5,000 in scholarships (five $1,000 individual cash scholarships) has been awarded to the following IEA rider members:
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NATHANIEL BIERY – A senior Hunt Seat rider from Renton, WA who rides on the Sharkey Farms Team coached by Kate Sharkey.
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ELIZABETH ELLER-MARTIN – A junior Hunt Seat and Dressage rider from Apison, TN who rides on the Euchee Meadows Equestrian Team coached by Denise Talley.
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ABBY LANGFORD – A 7th grade Hunt Seat rider from Tampa, FL who rides on the Madison Stables Team coached by Danielle Johnson.
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WALKER LEFKOWITZ – An 8th grade Dressage rider from Las Vegas, NV who rides on the Las Vegas Blue Ribbon Dressage Team coached by Catherine Prato, Annette Spinetti, Dinnia DiGennaro, Missy Corbin and Sariana Lee.
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CATHERINE WALZ – A sophomore Hunt Seat rider from Carmel, IN who rides on the Zionsville Equestrian Team coached by Emily Ahlfeld, Amy Ochoa and Erica Zirkelbach.
All participants who applied for the scholarship also received an exclusive YETI Green Is the New Blue water bottle for participating courtesy of GNB.
“YETI’s partnership with Green Is the New Blue allows us to deepen our roots in the equestrian community while highlighting the importance of sustainability through the YETI Green Leaders Scholarship Program,” said Joe Koehly, Senior Director of Community Marketing at YETI. “We’re excited to help support an initiative that allows individuals to make a difference in their community by reinforcing sustainability practices that create a greener future for the sport.”
“The YETI Green Leaders Scholarship celebrates young equestrians who are proving that environmental responsibility and excellence in sport go hand in hand,” said R. Scot Evans, Creative Director of Green Is The New Blue. “This year’s recipients embody the future we envision—one where riders lead by example, protect the places we love, and inspire our community for a more sustainable sport and a greener tomorrow. We’re deeply grateful to YETI and IEA for making this vision possible.”
| | Mozy is a sponsor of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement. | | WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE AN IEA NATIONAL CROSSOVER RIDER? | | |
What does it mean to be an IEA National Crossover Rider?
Well, the list is very short.
Only ONE TOP rider each season is eligible for this very prestigious award. This recognition goes to an IEA rider who has qualified for at least 2 or 3 IEA National Finals in the same season and is based on an accumulation of points and placings across all three disciplines. It is presented each year at IEA Western National Finals.
Taking home this top honor for the 2024-2025 IEA season is Grier School JV Novice rider, NINA RHOADES.
Clearly, any rider in the running for crossover award has to put in the hard work to be versatile and accomplished in multiple seats against hundreds of other competitors in their divisions.
Congratulations, Nina! That's a lot of hardware!
| | Equine Discounts and John Deere are sponsors of the IEA and this is a paid/trade advertisement. | | |
The Membership office staff has been diligently working on creating an easy-to-read HOW-TO GUIDE for coaches, parents, and show hosts, on everything from how to sign up your team to how to input results after your horse show and submit your paperwork.
These AccessIEA tutorials are in a Google document that gets updated frequently. They can be found in the IEA Show Host Hub as well as on their own tutorial web page.
We anticipate adding new topics to this live document as questions arise from our membership. Check back frequently in this growing library of helpful tips.
Still have a question?
The membership office staff is ready to help! E-mail info@rideiea.org or call 1-877-RIDE-IEA (877.743.3432)
A huge thank you to Jennifer Eaton for her hours of compiling this helpful document.
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ENROLLMENT GUIDES
for each membership type:
(Adult Contributing Member / Adult Rider / Show Official)
MEMBERSHIP
ATTENDING A COMPETITION
HOSTING A COMPETITION
MISCELLANEOUS
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An all-expenses trip of a lifetime – and IEA-AQHYA members are invited to apply!
Go behind the scenes, meet industry pros, and compete for $10,000+ in awards.
AQHA Youth Racing Experience
October 16-19, 2025
The Downs Racetrack & Casino | Albuquerque, New Mexico
Apply by September 1
aqha.com/youthracing
| | Shop at STATE LINE TACK for your horse and rider supplies using CODE: PAPFHA30 at checkout or click on the image above and 7% of SALES goes to support the IEA. | | | |
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 - Here are the steps to follow in AccessIEA >>
The program is set to kick off in September 1, but enrollment is open through April 1, 2026. Information on how to access online quizzes and activities will be sent out to all participants following registration.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Eaton at jenn@rideiea.org or by calling 1-877-RIDE-IEA ext. 203
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Follow IEA National Hippology Academy on Instagram @nhabyiea
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LOOKING FOR TEAM WEAR, IEA AWARDS, NATIONAL FINALS JACKETS, TEAM SHOPS OR COACH/RIDER GIFTS WITH IEA LOGOS?
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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.
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MEQUESTRIAN SOLUTIONS
Embroidered Apparel, Barn Supplies & Awards
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BESCO AWARDS
Embroidered Apparel & Awards
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HODGES BADGE COMPANY
Ribbons & Awards
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STINEMAN RIBBON COMPANY
Ribbons & Awards
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Interscholastic Equestrian Association
Membership Office
4 Railroad Avenue - Suite 305
Wakefield, MA 01880
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
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IEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers:
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President: Katie Schaaf
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President Elect: Dustin Boehmer
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Secretary: Samantha Fleming
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Treasurer: Hannah Bentz
Founding Board Members & Designees:
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Designee for Roxane Durant (Founding Member): Amanda Garner
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Designee for Wayne Ackerer (Founding Member): Nancy Arledge
Members At Large:
- Kari Briggs *
- Katie Morehead-Oman
- Rose Muenzenmay *
- Cathy Muzzy
Non-Voting Members:
- Roxane Durant
- Susan Wentzel
- Kathryn Quinlan
- Simon Towns
Director Emeritus:
- Timothy J. Boone
- Myron Leff
* indicates new Board Member
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IEA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and your
contribution is tax-deductible.
Thank you for your support.
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Follow us @rideiea and tag us at #rideiea | |
The IEA was established to provide competitive and educational opportunities through equestrian athletics. Good Horsemanship and honorable participation are priorities at every event. It is the responsibility of all attendees to foster a spirit of belongingness, an atmosphere of community enjoyment, and a mutual respect for all participants and their equine partners. | | | | |
