More than 350 of the nation's leading middle school and high school equestrians will converge on the Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18 to compete for top honors in Hunt Seat Classes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals. The student-riders, in grades 6-12, will travel from across the United States to participate in the completion.
Equestrian scholar competition
More than 350 of the nation's leading middle school and high school equestrians will converge on the Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18 to compete for top honors in Hunt Seat Classes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals.
The competitors represent 209 teams from eight zones throughout the United States that competed in numerous shows during the 2013-2014 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 participants of more than 10,000 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.
Equestrian competition 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 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
This high-level scholastic competition and supporting events are sponsored by: American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA), Besco Awards, Dover Saddlery, Hodges Badge, Randolph College, ReVitaVet Systems, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), St. Andrews University, Smith Brothers, Sweet Briar College, and the United States Pony Club (USPC).
About The Interscholastic Equestrian Association
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.