Cleveland Heights, Ohio – April 12, 2013 – More than 350 of the nation’s leading middle school and high school equestrians will converge on The Coliseum at New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21 to compete for top honors in Hunt Seat Classes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Finals (IEA). The student-riders will travel from across the United States to participate in the completion. Dover Saddlery and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) co-sponsor the championship event.
The competitors represent 184 teams from eight zones throughout the United States that competed in numerous shows during the 2012-2013 school year. The teams and individuals that accumulated the highest number of points within each zone qualified for the IEA National Finals from a total membership of more than 8,000 riders.
Riders will compete in Hunt Seat Equitation classes, over fences and on the flat, throughout the weekend. The format requires that riders compete in unfamiliar tack on unfamiliar mounts; therefore, they draw their horses the day of competition and enter the arena after a brief, if any, warm-up.
Schedule:
- Friday – 6-7:30 AM – Schooling of horses; 7:30 AM Varsity Open Draw and Course Walk; 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (approximate) Competition
- Saturday – 6:30-8 AM – Schooling of horses; 8 AM Varsity Open Draw and Course Walk; 9 AM – 2 PM (approximate) Competition; 2 PM Varsity Open Championship Class followed by Award of IEA Leading Hunt Seat Rider; 3 PM Parade of Teams (All IEA teams, coaches and riders scheduled to appear in arena); 3:20 PM Presentation of National Sportsmanship Award (Student-rider) and the IEA Lifetime Achievement Award (Adult); 4 PM – 6 PM (approximate) Competition
- Sunday – 6:30-8 AM – Schooling of horses; 7:30 AM Holy Innocents Horsemanship Finals; 8 AM Open and Intermediate Draw; 9 AM – 12 PM (approximate) Hunt Seat Team Semi-Finals; 12 PM – 3 PM (approximate) Hunt Seat Team Finals Competition; 3:00 PM Awards Ceremony
In addition to the IEA competition, informational sessions and demonstrations will be offered throughout the weekend from several IEA sponsors including: AQHyA (American Quarter Horse Youth Association), NRHA (National Reining Horse Association), USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) and USPC (United States Pony Club). Several colleges that specialize in equine studies will be in attendance, as well.
The entire event will be streamed live by EPCO Productions through the IEA website www.rideiea.org or directly through the link: http://www.livesportsvideo.com/golive/goliveevents.asp?q=TheEPCoGroup&name=guestfree.
Founded in 2002, The IEA was organized to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and secondary school students. Its purpose is to set minimum standards for competition, provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated equestrian sport programs, and to generally promote the common interests of safe riding instruction and competition and education on matters related to equestrian competition at the middle and secondary school levels.
The IEA is a non-profit organization founded by:
Roxane Lawrence – Willoughby, Ohio
Wayne Ackerer – Delaware, Ohio
Myron Leff – Columbus, Ohio
Timothy Boone, Esq. – Columbus, Ohio
Ollie Griffith – Plain City, Ohio
Current IEA president is: Emily Zientek – Tyrone, Pennsylvania
Website is: www.rideiea.org.
Media Contact: Roxane Lawrence, IEA 440-463-4452/Roxane@rideiea.org or
Myron Leff, IEA, 614-460-3532/Myron@rideiea.org