IEA Founders College Scholarship Awards

Scholarship Sponsored by Interscholastic Equestrian Association

Overview

The IEA awards college scholarships each year at the National Finals to top-placing Seniors in individual classes. In 2027 the program will distribute a total of $25,050 across multiple classes and disciplines. Scholarships are awarded to the highest-placing and second-highest-placing Senior riders in designated individual classes at Nationals. The awards recognize competitive achievement and support riders pursuing higher education.

Description: Annual scholarships presented at the IEA National Finals to top Senior competitors in individual classes.

Eligibility: Highest-placing and second-highest-placing Senior riders in specified individual classes at the National Finals.

Award Value: Total distributed amount is $25,050 in 2027, allocated across listed classes and disciplines.

• Program targets Senior competitors at IEA National Finals.
• Funds are distributed to first- and second-place Senior finishers by class.
• Amounts vary by class and by competition level.

IEA Founders Awards College Scholarship — 2027

This award series distributes scholarship funds to top Senior finishers across multiple disciplines at the National Finals. Each discipline contains specified classes and defined award amounts for first and second Senior placings. The scholarship structure ensures consistent recognition across Dressage, Western, and Hunt Seat categories. Detailed class-level amounts are provided in the discipline sections below.

Description: Named Founders Awards providing targeted college scholarships to Senior riders who place first or second in individual classes at Nationals.

Eligibility: Open only to Seniors who place first or second in the designated individual classes at the National Finals.

Award Value: Individual class awards range from $250 to $1,100 for second- and first-place Senior finishers, respectively; total equals $25,050 in 2027.

• Scholarships are class-specific and limited to Senior riders.
• A single total is divided among many class awards.
• Complete class award breakdowns are listed by discipline below.

Dressage

The Dressage scholarship awards are allocated across Open, Intermediate, Novice, and Beginner tests and DSE classes. First- and second-place Senior riders in each listed Dressage class receive the specified scholarship amounts. Open-level classes carry the highest awards, with progressively smaller amounts at Intermediate, Novice, and Beginner levels. The list below shows each class and its first-/second-place award amounts.

Description: Scholarships for Senior placings in Dressage tests and DSE classes at Nationals.

Eligibility: Senior riders who place first or second in the designated Dressage classes at the National Finals.

Award Value: Awards per class range from $250 (second place, Beginner levels) to $1,000 (first place, Open levels).

• Open Test: $1,000 / $500
• Open DSE: $1,000 / $500
• Intermediate Test: $600 / $300
• Intermediate DSE: $600 / $300
• Novice Test: $500 / $250
• Novice DSE: $500 / $250
• Beginner DSE WTC: $500 / $250
• Beginner DSE WT: $500 / $250

• Open classes receive the largest scholarships.
• Intermediate and Novice levels receive mid-range awards.
• Beginner-level DSE classes have equal first- and second-place distributions as shown.

Western

Western scholarships cover Open, Intermediate, Novice, and Beginner horsemanship, reining, and ranch riding classes. Each listed class awards scholarships to the first- and second-placing Seniors according to the amounts shown. Open Horsemanship and Open Reining carry top awards, with lower amounts at Intermediate, Novice, and Beginner levels. The class-level breakdown below specifies each award pair.

Description: Scholarship awards for Senior placings in Western discipline classes at Nationals.

Eligibility: Senior riders who place first or second in the designated Western classes at the National Finals.

Award Value: Awards per class range from $250 to $1,000 depending on class level and division.

• Open Horsemanship: $1,000 / $500
• Open Reining: $1,000 / $500
• Intermediate Horsemanship: $600 / $300
• Intermediate Reining: $600 / $300
• Novice Horsemanship: $500 / $250
• Novice Ranch Riding: $500 / $250
• Beginner Horsemanship WJL: $500 / $250
• Beginner Horsemanship WJ: $500 / $250

• Open Western classes carry the highest class awards.
• Award tiers decrease by competitive level from Intermediate to Beginner.
• Both Reining and Horsemanship are represented across levels.

Hunt Seat

Hunt Seat scholarships include awards for Varsity Open Championship, Open Flat and Fences, and scaled awards for Intermediate, Novice, and Beginner levels. The Varsity Open Championship has its own higher award value relative to other classes. First- and second-place Senior riders in each listed Hunt Seat class receive the corresponding scholarship amounts below. This section lists each class and the first-/second-place awards.

Description: Scholarships for Senior placings in Hunt Seat classes at the National Finals.

Eligibility: Senior riders who finish first or second in the specified Hunt Seat classes at Nationals.

Award Value: Class awards range from $250 (second-place Beginner levels) up to $1,100 (first-place Varsity Open Championship).

• Varsity Open Championship: $1,100 / $550
• Open Flat: $1,000 / $500
• Open Fences: $1,000 / $500
• Intermediate Flat: $600 / $300
• Intermediate Fences: $600 / $300
• Novice Flat: $500 / $250
• Novice Fences: $500 / $250
• Beginner Flat WTC: $500 / $250
• Beginner Flat WT: $500 / $250

• Varsity Open is the single highest-value Hunt Seat award.
• Open Flat and Fences match Open-level Western and Dressage top awards.
• Lower levels maintain consistent first/second award ratios across disciplines.