July 2022 Issue

Page 12 July 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Real Estate The Interscholastic Eques- trian Association (IEA) held its 20th annual national finals April 28 – May 1 at the Pennsylva- nia Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, PA. Over 750 of the nation’s leading middle school and high school equestrian athletes (in grades 4-12) representing 242 different teams from across the United States gathered to compete as individuals and teams for top honors in Hunt Seat, Western and Dressage classes, championship titles and collegiate scholarships. IEA had a total of 1,458 teams this season with 84 teams quali- fying for the National Finals team competitions. This was the largest National Finals event IEA has produced in its 20-year history. Similar to the collegiate riding format, IEA uses a unique draw-based competition for- mat whereby riders compete on unfamiliar horses in the following classes: Hunt Seat Equitation over fences and on the flat, Western Horsemanship, Reining, and Ranch Riding, Dressage Test and Dressage Seat Equitation. IEA riders must develop their catch-riding skills as very little to no warm-up practice is allowed before each class. All tack and horses for National Finals were Largest Ever IEA Finals Held In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania provided by IEA member teams and outside horse providers, allowing for a more level playing field of competition. Thursday’s competition be- gan with Hunt Seat Upper School team competition in the expan- sive and historic New Holland Arena. Eighteen Hunt Seat high school teams were represented with top honors going to Sharkey Farms (Zone 9 – Snoqualmie, WA) coached by Kate Sharkey and Tiffany Woods. Reserve Up- per School Champion Team went to Empire State Equestrian Team (Zone 2 – Lagrangeville, NY) coached by Clare Knapp. About 50 yards away from the New Holland Arena, IEA Dressage and Western middle school teams were equally competitive in the Equine Arena as 12 teams from each discipline vied for cham- pionship titles. Each morning competition began with Dressage followed by Western classes in the afternoon. Top Dressage Middle School Team honors went to Laurel Manor Equestrian (Re- gion 7 – Centerton, AR) coached by Laura McKenzie Duncan. Reserve Middle School Cham- pion Team went to RCR Farms (Region 8 – Gilbert, AZ) coached by Renae Coates and Jennifer Brinkman-Ayers. Top Western middle school team honors went to Grier School (Region W11 – Birmingham, PA) coached by Chris McElyea. Reserve Middle School Cham- pion Team went to Western NY Equestrian (Region 2 – Gowanda, NY) coached by Heather Payne. Friday’s competition kicked- off the United States Hunter Jumper Association- sponsored in- dividual classes for Upper School Hunt Seat riders as well as Middle School Dressage and Western Riders. Individual class winners are some of the most coveted titles as these classes represent the top riders in the nation who have bested their fellow competitors through regular season, regional and zone competitions to qualify for National Finals. In addition to beautiful ribbons, awards, prizes and gift certificates, multiple cash scholar- ships from IEAwere awarded to the highest placing and second highest placing seniors in each individual class throughout the weekend. More than $25,000 in IEAFound- ers Senior Scholarships were distributed. Additional scholarships from the University of Findlay, St. Andrews University, and Long Is- land University were also awarded. Saturday’s competition fea- tured USHJA sponsored individ- ual classes for Hunt Seat middle school, Dressage and NRHA and NSBA sponsored classes for West- ern upper school including IEA’s marquee Hunt Seat class – the Var- sity Open Championship (VOC). The Varsity Open Champi- onship class is made up of the top Upper School riders from each of the 11 Zones. In addition, the winner of the Varsity Open Equitation Individual over fences and the Varsity Open Equitation on the flat Individual classes are included as wild card slots. Win- ning this prestigious class was sophomore Alina Sweeney from Patuxent Run Stables (Zone 3 – Prince Frederick, MD) coached by Savannah English. Reserve VOC honors went to senior Ken- nedy Dewan from Foxtail Farm (Zone 3 – Virginia Beach, VA) coached by Dana Kiser and Sugi Dewan. In the Dressage/Western arena, individual Upper School Leading Rider titles went to junior Sammy Jetton from RCR Farms (Region 8 – Gilbert, AZ) who was crowned Dres- sage Leading Rider. Sammy is coached by Renae Coates and Jennifer Brinkman-Ayers. Junior Payton Porterfield from Aspire Equestrian Team (Region 8 – Franktown, CO) was awarded the Myron Leff Western Leading Rider Award. Payton is coached by Bridget Rohde. Closing Day of National Finals saw the remaining team competitions – Hunt Seat Middle School, Dressage Upper School and Western Middle School. Top Hunt Seat Middle School Team honors went to Sporthorse Intl (Zone 4 – Boyton Beach, FL) coached by Kristin Schuttemeyer. Reserve Middle School Champion Team went to Cranberry Acres (Zone 1 – Marshfield, MA) coached by Kate Paul. Top Dressage Upper School Team honors went to Grier School (Region D11W – Bir- mingham, PA) coached by Chrys- tal Wood, Frannie King, Chris McElyea and Kristen Gretok. Reserve Upper School Champion Team went to RGB (Region D2 - New Berlin, NY) coached by Ronald Bartholomew and Alissa Donnell. Top Western Upper School Team honors went to Flamekissed Equestrian Team (Region W4) coached by Amanda Pope and Ruth Sorrel. Reserve Upper School Champion Team went to KM Equestrian Purple (Region W5N) coached by Katie Morehead, Cindy Morehead and Leah Ely.