Wednesday, April 29 2015 / Published in General

Young Riders Top Performances Mark IEA National Equestrian Competition

Front Range Equestrian Team – Parker, Colorado, IEA 2015 Upper School Championship team left to right: Shaun Clark (coach), Jordan Eckstadt, Kylie Blair, Molly Hoskins, Lilian Schaefer, Caroline Molther, Allison Zimmerman and Tracye Ferguson (coach).
(Photo courtesy of IEA)

West Palm Beach, Florida — April 29, 2015 — 396 of the nation’s leading middle school and high school equestrians competed at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals. The finalists represented 1,220 teams and nearly 11,500 student-riders from eight zones throughout the United States. Individuals and teams participated in multiple competitions during the 2014–2015 regular season shows, regional and zone finals to qualify for the IEA National Finals competition.

Riders competed in Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences classes and Equitation on the Flat classes throughout the weekend. The IEA 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.

Liftoff Equestrian Team – Versailles, Kentucky, IEA 2015 Middle School Championship team left to right: Isabela de Sousa, Diana Conlon (coach), Genevieve Heyn.
(Photo courtesy of IEA)

In the individual competition Ransome Rombauer, 16, who rides for the Sonoma Academy, Penngrove, California, was named the 2015 IEA Leading Hunt Seat Rider, winning the Varsity Open Championship class.

The Champion of the upper school team competition was the Front Range Equestrian Team from Parker, Colorado. Chatham Hall school from Chatham, Virginia, was Reserve Champion. In the middle school competition, Liftoff Equestrian Team from Versailles, Kentucky, received the Championship title. Boulder Brook Equestrian from Scarsdale, New York, finished as the Reserve Champion.

Ransome Rombauer – Sonoma Academy, Penngrove, California, 2015 IEA Leading Rider. (Photo courtesy of IEA)

The IEA holds the trait of good sportsmanship among rider and coach members to the highest regard. Kate Coffey of the North Gate Equestrian Team from Sudbury, Massachusetts, was awarded the Victor Hugo-Vidal Perpetual Trophy for displaying exceptional sportsmanship during the 2015 Hunt Seat National Finals. The Team Spirit Award was presented to the Summer Hills Farm, Flower Mound, Texas.

The Timothy J. Boone Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jennifer Eaton, Groveland, Massachusetts, for her long-time contribution to the IEA. Known for her contribution to the growth of the membership office and her dedication to the betterment of the association, Jennifer has helped the IEA quadruple it’s membership. This is the eighth year in which this award has been presented.

Summer Hill Farms Equestrian Team – Flower Mound, Texas, 2015 Team Spirit Award left to right: back row: Myron Leff (IEA founder), Madison Butz, Avery Dukes, Sydney Boren, Alexis Smith, Amy Greene (coach), Melissa Foster, Susan Frey, Christine Johnson, Olivia Donnarumma, Roxane Lawrence (IEA founder). Front row: Taylor Chahal, Reagan Havron, Alex Arthur, Lauren Lacy, Avery Ackalbein. (Photo courtesy of IEA)

The IEA is committed to wellness of the horses in all competitions. To recognize the quality of the horses donated for the three-day event, “Seacrest” (owned by the Seacrest Stables from Winter Garden, Florida) was named Outstanding IEA Hunt Seat Horse.

The IEA Western National Finals, sponsored by the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHYA), will be held during the NRHA Derby Days June 25–27 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Kate Coffey – North Gate Equestrian Team – Sudbury, Massachusetts, Victor Hugo-Vidal Perpetual Trophy for National Finals Sportsmanship left to right: Myron Leff (IEA founder), Kate Coffey. (Photo courtesy of IEA)

Seacrest from Seacrest Stable – Winter Garden, Florida, 2015 IEA Outstanding Horse left to right: Myron Leff (IEA founder), Seacrest, Kate Coffey, Roxane Lawrence (IEA founder). (Photo courtesy of IEA)

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. Unique to the IEA, there is no need to own a horse. Mounts and tack are supplied to each rider at every IEA event. The IEA currently has over 11,000 participants, ages 11–19, across the United States. For additional information, please visit the IEA website: www.rideiea.org.