IEA Announces New Horsemanship Program for 4th and 5th Grade Students
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) announced today a new Horsemanship Program that will be available to youth in grades 4-12, as an addition to the organization’s already successful hunt seat and western team competitions.
As an educational offering program with grade-appropriate information and tests, the IEA Horsemanship Program is designed to provide an introduction to the basics of horses, equine care and safety focusing on the components of the horse “experience” that occurs outside of the competition ring. For 2016-2017, the Horsemanship Program will be available to youth in grades 4-12 who do not otherwise participate as a rider in the IEA mounted team program. This is a great opportunity for a young person to become a member of the IEA and benefit from being part of the organization. Participants in this program do not need to be members of a team or have the skills and resources necessary to compete in mounted equestrian competitions.
The Horsemanship Program has three main components: online quizzes, a horsemanship journal and a final horsemanship test. Informational videos and online resources will also be added throughout the season to augment the educational resources available to participants. Members who meet the minimum requirements of the program will receive recognition and awards from the IEA to celebrate completion of the 2016-2017 Horsemanship Program.
“This new Horsemanship Program provides a way to respond to youngsters who want to be part of the IEA and either do not ride competitively, do not have access to a team or are too young for our mounted offerings. They have an interest in horses, and they want a way to be involved with our organization. The Program is an additional offering that relates to the IEA mission of providing education regarding equestrian sport,” said Roxane (Lawrence) Durant, IEA co-founder and executive director.
For complete details about the IEA Horsemanship Program, visit the website: www.rideiea.org.
About the IEA:
Celebrating its 15th Anniversary, the IEA has more than 12,500 middle and high school student-riders across the United States. As a non-profit (501.c.3), the IEA was organized to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and secondary school students and is open to public and private schools and barn teams. No rider needs to own a horse to compete in the IEA. Its purpose is to set minimum standards for competition, provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated equestrian sports programs, 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. For more information, please view the IEA website at www.rideiea.org.
