Cleveland Heights, Ohio-The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) announced today the board approved extending the membership deadline for those who wish to compete in the Saddle Seat discipline to May 1, 2013. IEA Co-founder and Executive Director, Roxane Lawrence, stated, "With IEA interest growing in the Saddle Seat community, the board thought it best to extend the deadline for students in grade six-twelve to May to allow additional time for teams to form and competitions to be held before the school year ends."

Any Saddle Seat middle or high school student-rider, parent or coach with interest in starting or joining a Saddle Seat team should contact the IEA membership office. The phone number is: 877-RIDEIEA (877-743-3432)/Email:  info@rideiea.org. The IEA website is: www.rideiea.org.

The most important item for prospective new members to know is there is no need to own your own horse. All IEA events hold draws for mounts in Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat and Western competitions.

The IEA was founded in 2002 and has over 8,000 student equestrians registered for the 2012-2013 competition season. The IEA was organized to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and secondary school students.  Its purpose is to set minimum standards for competition, provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated equestrian sport programs, to generally promote the common interests of safe riding instruction and competition and education on matters related to equestrian competition at the middle and secondary school levels. For more information, please view the IEA website at www.rideiea.org. Follow the IEA on Facebook (IEA-Interscholastic Equestrian Association),Twitter (@rideiea), YouTube (rideiea), and Tumblr (rideiea). Photo courtesy of IEA