Qualifications for National Finals

2008-2009

• IEA membership and competition is divided into zones. Refer to USAEq article 917 for a zone map. The breakdown is as follows:
  
  Zone 1: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island
  Zone 2: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
  Zone 3: Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina
  Zone 4: Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
  Zone 5: Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
  Zone 6: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska
  Zone 7: Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana
  Zone 8: Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico
  Zone 9: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon
  Zone 10: California, Nevada
  Zone 11: Hawaii
  Zone 12: Alaska
• Some zones may be further broken down into regions - contact your zone chair for more information.
• Points may be accumulated anywhere in the nation and still count toward national qualification.

Hunt Seat Division:

• There will be a maximum of 24 riders in all classes at Nationals. Each of the 12 zones will be guaranteed one upper school team, one middle school team, and one rider per class at Nationals. The remaining 12 spots per class will be determined and assigned by the proportional size of each zone as of December 31st, 2008. Once the number of qualified riders exceeds the number of allowed spots at Nationals for a zone, a zone finals will be held to determine which riders and teams advance.
• Qualifications for finals are at a minimum 15 points for individual riders, and 12 points for teams. Riders may show in a maximum of 5 shows each season. Riders will qualify separately for flat and fences classes. A rider will point out of that class after accumulating 20 points total in the competition year.
• The top twelve (12) qualified riders in each class, and not more than 12 riders, and the top twelve teams, and not more than 12 teams, will be invited to zone finals. In the event there are more than 12 qualified riders or teams, Zones utilizing regional splits will use a Regional Finals to determine which riders and teams will advance to Zone Finals. In Zones without regional splits the tie rule in Rule 5(M)(3) will be used to determine which riders and teams will advance.
• Zone Finals must be held at least 3 weeks before National Finals, and the last regular point show in each zone must be held at least 2 weeks before zone finals. The zone chairman for each zone is responsible for organizing zone finals. The date for Nationals will be April 30-May 3, 2009; the competition will be held at Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH.

Western Division:

• There will be a maximum of 12 riders in all classes at Nationals. Each active IEA Zone may send one Rider per class, as listed in Rule 3(E) and (F), to National Finals. The remaining rider positions for Nationals will be proportionately divided among the Zones based upon the number of members in each Zone as determined by IEA membership on December 31st, 2008. Once the number of qualified riders exceeds the number of allowed spots at Nationals for a zone, a zone finals will be held to determine which riders and teams advance.
• Qualifications for finals are at a minimum 10 points for individual riders, and 10 points for teams. Riders may show in a maximum of 8 shows each season. Riders will qualify separately for flat and fences classes. A rider will point out of that class after accumulating 20 points total in the competition year.
• The top twelve (12) qualified riders in each class, and not more than 12 riders, and the top twelve teams, and not more than 12 teams, will be invited to zone finals. In the event there are more than 12 qualified riders or teams, Zones utilizing regional splits will use a Regional Finals to determine which riders and teams will advance to Zone Finals. In Zones without regional splits the tie rule in Rule 5(M)(3) will be used to determine which riders and teams will advance.
• Zone Finals must be held at least 3 weeks before National Finals, and the last regular point show in each zone must be held at least 2 weeks before zone finals. The zone chairman for each zone is responsible for organizing zone finals. The date for Nationals will be April 30-May 3, 2009; the competition will be held at Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH.

Questions? Contact , or call 877-RIDE-IEA.