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Interscholastic Riding
Evermore Farm is proud to be home to the only Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team in South-East Georgia. The Evermore Farm team competes in both the Future (middle school students) and Varsity (high school students) divisions in IEA Huntseat Region 4, Zone 4.
The IEA is a national equestrian organization whose mission is to introduce students enrolled in both public and private school to equestrian sports. Students who are 11 through 19 years of age are eligible to ride and show horses at both the local and national level.
From left to right 2008-2009 varsity team members Sarah Brown, Lauren Thompson, Kaitlin Smith, Kaylee Sheppard and Sarah Merritt
The Evermore Farm IEA team, which was founded in 2007, has meet with early success. In both its inaugural and subsequent seasons the team has sent riders to the National IEA Championships.
In its inaugural season the Future team was the Region 4, Zone 4 2007-2008 Grand Champion and secured a place to compete at the National Finals held in West Springfield, MA. Team member Olivia Rigdon went on to win 1st place in Future Novice On the Flat Individual and 3rd in Future Novice on the Flat Over Fences at the national championship.
In its second year the team again had an impressive 2008-2009 season. The Varsity team was the Region 4, Zone 4 Champion and secured an opportunity to compete at the National IEA Championship held in Painesville, OH. The Future team also performed impressively and won the Region 4, Zone 4 Reserve Championship.
At the 2008-2009 IEA National Championship the Evermore Farm Team placed 6th overall. Individual riders Kaylee Sheppard placed fifth in Varsity Immediate Individual Over Fences and Lauren Thompson placed first in Future Novice Team on the Flat.
The IEA was created to improve the quality of equestrian competition and training offered to middle and high school students. The unique feature of the IEA competitions is that none of the riders will supply their own horses or tack. Instead, the horses, saddle and other tack are all provided to the students at the show. The IEA also prides itself on introducing students to the equestrian industry and therefore provides levels of competition for the novice to the advanced rider. Through the IEA, students can also have the opportunity to earn scholarships towards their college education.
Another goal of the IEA competitions is to prepare middle and high school students for an opportunity to show at the collegiate level in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) sponsored competitions. The IEA show concept was drawn from the hugely successful IHSA model. Evermore Farm is home to the Georgia Southern University IHSA equestrian team. The team has had many successes with university riders qualifying for regional and national finals.
For more information on the IEA please visit: www.rideiea.com.
