Columbus, OH – The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) will again partner with The Ohio Quarter Horse Association (OQHA) to host its second IEA Western Horse Show during the 2022 All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, OH on Thursday, October 6, 2022. The All American Quarter Horse Congress is an unmatched destination for equestrians from across the globe. OQHA has created a legacy by maintaining the largest single-breed horse show in the world and IEA is pleased to again offer the opportunity to IEA Western youth riders to compete at this world-class show.
The IEA@Congress show on October 6th is for IEA Western rider members in grades 4-12 (ages 9-19) and will feature classes in Western Horsemanship, Reining and Ranch Riding divisions in the Taft Coliseum. These 162 youth riders will represent 15 teams from 8 different states. For many of these riders, this will be their first time attending the Congress.
New this year for IEA, OQHA has also invited IEA riders to participate as an exhibition team in the largest national youth team tournament competition in the world. The National Youth Activity Team Tournament (NYATT) will be held Sunday, October 16, 2022 and brings together many youth from state and regional Quarter Horse associations across the United States and Canada. Teams participate in the following seven classes: Barrel Racing, Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, Reining, Showmanship and Western Pleasure. As part of a pilot program for OQHA, IEA riders will compete in a Division III category against other NYATT teams as part of a potential expansion in future years to the NYATT program for outside organizations. Unlike traditional IEA shows, IEA NYATT riders will participate on their own Quarter Horses.
“Following the success of last year’s IEA@Congress show, we are beyond thrilled for the opportunity to return again this year and expand the opportunities for our riders to participate in this iconic experience,” says IEA Western Zone Administrator, Tammy Braham. “The addition of the NYATT experience will be icing on the cake and we are grateful for our partnership with OQHA.”
“The Quarter Horse Congress is pleased to have IEA return for the 2nd time after last year’s successful show. We are always happy to explore new ways to enable youth riders to compete at the Congress, as these exhibitors are the future of the industry and we look to provide opportunities for growth for these young riders,” says Dr. Scott Myers, CEO of Ohio Quarter Horse Association and the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
IEA utilizes a unique draw-based (catch-ride) competition format, whereby riders are randomly matched with unfamiliar horses they compete on without any warm-up or practice time. Riders are judged on their horsemanship and equitation skills and how they handle the mount they are given. Similar to the collegiate riding programs, IEA offers multiple levels of classes from beginning walk-jog to Varsity Open as well as multiple scholarship opportunities at the regional, zone and national level.
Over the past 20 years, IEA has launched thousands of riders into collegiate programs and equestrian occupations. Over $115,000 in scholarships were awarded last season alone to senior IEA riders. IEA also had a record breaking membership year in 2021-2022 with more than 14,200 members nationwide competing in Western, Hunt Seat and Dressage competitions. Membership is still open for the 2022-2023 season and representatives will be available in the Taft Coliseum on October 6 during the IEA@Congress show and October 16 during the NYATT competition to answer any IEA related questions.
The IEA@Congress Western Show is open to the public and will run from approximately 8am until 4pm in the Taft Coliseum. Spectators are welcome and the show will also be live-streamed via National Sports Broadcasting.
Link to the LiveStream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDPUe0WfMaQ
IEA@Congress Class Schedule: https://www.rideiea.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Congress-Class-Schedule-2022_09-21-22.pdf
For more information on IEA and how to join/start a team or become a sponsor, visit www.rideiea.org.
