IEA

Western competitions for grades 4–12 & Adults

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NEW! 2025-2026 WESTERN PATTERN ADDENDUM
OLD 2023-2024 WESTERN PATTERN ADDENDUM

You may use patterns from either addendum.

Western Zone Guidelines
Western Team Region Assignments

Western Membership Office Staff Liaison

Katelyn Blackwell

1-877-RIDE-IEA ext. 105

[email protected]

Western Zone Administrator

Tammy Braham – (724) 967-5501
14900 Painesville-Warren Road
Thompson, OH 44086

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About the IEA Western Program:

  • Open to riders in grades 4-12.
  • Horse and tack assembled for all competitions by Host Team(s).
  • 3 Western Classes Offered – Horsemanship, Reining and Ranch Riding
  • 4 Ability Levels for Horsemanship in Middle and Upper School: Beginner, Novice, Intermediate and Open.
  • Horsemanship classes are primarily rail classes with possible patterns for upper levels.
  • 2 Ability Levels for Reining: Intermediate and Open.
  • Reining classes use standard NRHA or modified reining patterns for lower levels.
  • RANCH RIDING classes have been added for the JV Novice and Future Novice levels.
  • 4th or 5th grade riders can now be POINT RIDERS on middle school (Futures) teams and compete in any eligible division level.
  • ASTM/SEI helmets are mandatory for all 4th and 5th grade riders as well as any rider competing in a beginner division.
  • Zone and National Scholarship Awards available.
  • Western competition season 2026-2027:  August 1 – Late June 2027.
  • The 2027 IEA Western National Finals will be held in late June (Dates TBD), 2027 at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, TX in conjunction with the APHA World Show.

Region 1

Suzanne Ferris
(978) 835-0465
153 Hollis Street
Pepperell, MA 01463

Region 5

Katie Morehead
(419) 306-8797
1700 Cherry Lane
Findlay, OH 45840

Region 8

Ariel Hug
(570) 665-1301
1470 Larimer Ridge Parkway
Timnath, CO 80547

Region 12

Betsie Moore
(740) 974-0759
7765 W Marlin Rd
Covington, OH 45318

Region 2

Amanda Vance
(518) 441-5959
438 Clark Road
Gansevoort, NY 12831

Region 6

Janelle Shaefer
(515) 306-0287
7580 G76 Highway
New Virginia, IA 50210

Region 9/10

Ashley Griffith
(614) 579-8969
1260 Minnesota St, Unit 2
San Francisco, CA 94017

Region 4

TBD

 

 

Region 7

Miranda Ballentine Jaggars
(724)472-7101
152 Country Rd
Whitney, TX 76692

Region 11

Alida Burkholder
(717) 587-7421
345 Speedwell Forge Rd
Lititz, PA 17543

Region 1

Region 2

Region 3

Region 4

Region 5

Region 6

Region 7

Region 8

Region 9

Region 10

Region 11

Region 12

The above Zoom webinar was produced by IEA on October 19, 2020 and features Western Judges STEPHANIE LYNN, CARLA WENNBERG, and TAMMY BRAHAM. 

This webinar may be viewed by the public but may not be reproduced or shared outside of the IEA without prior written consent.  All photos, videos, and content are the property of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). Copyright 2020. 

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