About Us

About Us

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association

Interscholastic Equestrian Association, Inc. ("IEA") was formally established in the spring of 2002. It held its first annual national championship event the following year at The Andrews School in Willoughby, Ohio. Since its inception IEA has grown both geometrically and geographically each year. At the end of the 2004-05 scholastic year with only a Hunt Seat riding division there were 617 rider members, 64 coaches, and 43 team members located in 12 states. The Western riding division was added in 2005. By the end of the 2007-2008 membership year IEA had over 1600 members and more than 200 teams from across the country. Over 300 of those members competed in the 2008 National Finals at which more than $125,000 of scholarship money was granted to IEA riders.

The current directors of IEA are Roxane Rheinheimer, Wayne Ackerer, Richard "Ollie" Griffith, Myron Leff, Timothy J. Boone, Sue Wentzel, Kathryn Quinlan, Emily Zientek, Jennifer Mitchell-Wuornos, MaryBeth Cornelius, Gwen Arrigon, Laurie Grayson, and Elizabeth Mahoney. Sue Wentzel is the National Steward.

The principal office of IEA is P. O. Box 354, Willoughby, Ohio 44096-0354. IEA's telephone is 877-RIDE-IEA.

IEA was formed and 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 mission of IEA is to introduce students in private and public middle and secondary schools (primarily ages 11 through 19) to equestrian sports, to provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated equestrian programs, to develop understanding and appreciation of equestrian sports through organized student competitions, to provide students with organized competitive events and to provide additional equine educational opportunities. Also, currently, there are few opportunities for these students to earn scholarship money. Through the IEA, students may have the opportunity to earn scholarships towards their college education.

The objectives of IEA are:

• To promote the equestrian as an athlete
• To provide students with organized competitive opportunities.
• To introduce new riders to equine sports.
• To promote the IEA among middle, and secondary schools.
• To provide students with opportunities for further education equine sports and other equine-related matters.
• To encourage liaison with USA Equestrian, Inc, IHSA and other interested bodies
• To provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated mounted and non-mounted equestrian programs.
• To establish and enforce IEA rules, standards and policies
• To evolve with the continuing progress of equestrian sports.
• To generally promote the common interests of safe riding instruction and competition and education on matters related to the horse industry and all segments thereof.

The unique aspect of these competitions, both at the local and national level, is that none of the riders will supply their own horses or tack. Instead, the horses, saddle and other tack are all provided to the students at the show. The host team arranges for the horses and equipment. Some of the equipment may be borrowed from various training barns and facilities. Though the rider and horse have a short opportunity at orientation in the over fences classes, essentially, the horses is new to the rider, and the scores are based upon horsemanship, not the horse. The competitions involve six classes jumping over fences no greater than three feet and numerous flat equitation classes.

The IEA is an affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Hunter Jumper Association, and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

The IEA is an affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, and the USHJA.