Navigating through the different collegiate equestrian opportunities can be as difficult as narrowing the choices of which college to attend. By choosing to compete in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), riders give themselves an added advantage in collegiate equestrian competition. Whether a rider has competed in one, three or seven IEA seasons, he or she has experienced competing in a draw-based format. IEA riders know what it feels like to introduce themselves to a horse they have only seen from a distance moments before the riders are invited to mount up for their class, cheering on teammates and how to balance competing with a busy school schedule. For IEA riders who may not compete for a college team, their leadership, problem solving skills and being a member of a team will pave the way to great experiences in the college classroom and beyond.
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA), National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) are member partners of the IEA. Through this inaugural collegiate e-newsletter, the IEA hopes to help connect our riders, parents and coaches with our collegiate riding association partners who continue to provide the IEA and its members with great support. We also wish to thank the riders, schools, and coaches who contributed content for this publication. Happy reading!