Unity Stables IEA

If you are reading this post and you’ve never ridden a horse or you’ve ridden a horse one or two times a long time ago, let me tell you it isn’t easy. This team of young horsewomen ride horses they’ve never ridden before under the pressure of competition. At Zone 2 Region 3 Finals this past Saturday they literally picked a horse at random out of my hand and competed on that horse.

Now let’s make sure you understand, horses have their own personalities, their own ways of going and in all my years, I’ve never met two horses that are the same. Throughout the show season our Team riders work on riding different horses within our barn to learn different “tools” as I like to call them to use at IEA Shows when they draw a horse at random and show on that horse. This is a skill itself. It’s nerve-wracking and a true test of a rider’s abilities to not only ride, but to ride well and figure a new horse out and to look good doing it.

I’m not sure I can express in words how much work and how much talent goes into the successes of our IEA Team’s riders. Thirteen out of a total of eighteen riders on our Unity Stables IEA Team qualified individually for Region Finals, and the five remaining were EXTREMELY close. These riders show all season to accumulate eighteen points (or more) to qualify to ride at Region Finals. BOTH our Middle School and High School Teams qualified with more than twenty points for the season.

This past Saturday our riders had some of their best rides ever. Some of them had moments they will remember for their entire lives, like losing a tooth on course, and others learned invaluable lessons that they will take to the next show and grow on. These riders even got to see the “testing” I keep rambling about year after year. As their coach, for me that is what this “game” is about, creating riders who want to learn more, who want to ride the best they absolutely can.

Our middle school team had the ultimate tie breaker. They tied for first place to move onto Zones. According to the rulebook ties are broken based off the most first place finishes, then if there’s still a tie, the most second place finishes, and so on to sixth place. We were STILL tied with another team after reviewing the ribbons. The rulebook then states that the tie is broken with the most combined points in over fences classes… Guess what, still a tie. So, our middle school team was challenged against the other team with questions from the Judge for each level rider to break the tie. Our Middle School Team finished the day as Reserve Champions in the “ultimate tie breaker” I’ve never seen before (and hope doesn’t happen again anytime soon). Ask them about the questions they were asked, I know they learned new things!

We have three individual riders heading to compete at Zone Finals, Ama, Leann and Ilani. These riders finished FIRST in their individual classes. Please join me in wishing these riders luck at Zone Finals and luck with all the crazy things I dream up to prep for this next step.

I could go on and on, I really could, but what I really want to say, what I want these riders to know, is that I am SO proud to be their coach. I am SO proud to stand ringside and watch them figure out new horses, take on their nerves and ultimately grow as young horse people. I am extremely thankful for these riders who make up our Unity Stables IEA Team and our Unity Stables family. It is an honor and a privilege for me to be a part of these young riders riding “careers” and their lives.

Now onto Zones!

Heading into post season... What are your favorite things (or dream things) to win as a first place prize?

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After 3 great weekends of showing, we have many riders and both our Upper and Futures teams qualified for regionals! Thank you to Galemont, Hillcrest, and Bylund Hill for running smooth and efficient shows, and to all the horses for being wonderful!

The following riders are qualified thus far:
Cassidy, Olivia H, Colleen, Kaden, Kaitlyn H, and Ama

We hosted a great show with 6 teams and fierce competition! Congratulations goes to our Upper School team winning champion, Cassidy winning leading open rider, Sonia winning Futures Reserve Champion, and Kaitlyn on Upper School Champion 🏆 Madison received the Sportsmanship Award and Doolin and Liam were named Flat and Jumping horse of the day, respectively! 🦄🥇

2025 IEA Banquet 🌹🌹

*Colleen Beatty - Reserve High School High Point Rider
*Ama Reuter - Champion Middle School High Point Rider

High School Team: 4th
*Cassidy Eckhardt
- 5th in Open Flat
- 3rd in Open Fences

Jillian Hitchcock
- 2nd in Intermediate Flat
- 8th in Intermediate Fences

Olivia Hegedus
- 3rd in Intermediate Fences

*Colleen Beatty
- 2nd in Novice Flat
- 1st in Novice Fences

Madison Rieber
- 8th in Novice Fences

Kaitlyn Ho**er
- 2nd Beginner Flat

Middle School Team: 4th
*Ama Reuter
- 1st in Intermediate Fences
- 1st in Intermediate Flat

Abigail Shelp
- 4th in Intermediate Fences
- 2nd in Intermediate Flat

*Olivia Rogers
- 2nd in Beginner Flat

LeAnn Dunham
- 5th in Beginner Flat

Madelyn Dufresne
- 7th in Beginner Flat

(*attended banquet)