From left to right are Hannah Willeke, Mackenzie Stevens, Olivia Sears, Coach Katie Morehead, Jason Schmiedebusch, Lindsey Arns, Taylor Overmeir and Alexis Osting of the IEA's KM Equestrian team. KM is the new upper school IEA Western National Champion Team, finishing ahead of Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian team by a 28-25 margin. The KM middle school team was third behind Dare Equestrian Team (the new champion) and the Hammond School. Over three days of showing at IEA finals in Oklahoma City both Overmier and Schmiedebusch won team classes while Stevens was an individual blue ribbon winner (photo courtesy Katie Morehead).

KM EQUESTRIAN, DARE ARE 2012 IEA NATIONAL CHAMPS

Oklahoma City, OK - Thanks to their ability to not only score but to place in the top three over the first five team classes KM Equestrian won the IEA Nationals upper school team competition over the final three days of June in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Taylor Overmier won team varsity open western horsemanship while Jason Schmiedebusch won junior varsity beginner western to lead the way for KM. It was the first National Championship for the program, which had full upper school and middle school teams at IEA Nationals for the first time. The team is named for Katie Morehead, a 2011 University of Findlay graduate who is also the coach.

"KM is considered a second year team because I have a few riders that rode for Hancock Horseman last year," said Morehead. "However, this is my first year coaching therefore KM equestrians first year (in the IEA)."

Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team, which had a run of upper school national titles prior to finishing second to the Grier School last season, was again the reserve champion. Taylor Day (in varsity intermediate reining) and Rachel Ninke (in varsity intermediate horsemanship) won blue ribbons for Autumn Rose, which went into the final class mathematically alive but needing a second to tie KM. Though KM did not score in the team open reining class (which was the only team class held the morning of Saturday, June 30th, after the other five classes had been held on the 29th) neither Autumn Rose nor Dare Equestrian could catch up to them. Dare finished with 24 points. Eddie Clark faired best for Dare (named for their trainer, Linda Dare), with firsts in both team and individual junior varsity novice horsemanship on consecutive days.

The Dare Middle School Team managed to capture their first National Championship since winning titles in 2007 and 2008. Dare accomplished this without a blue ribbon in the middle school team competition. Two Dare riders (Mary Kramer in future beginner horsemanship and Sean Sullivan in both future intermediate divisions) accounted for three red, second place ribbons as Dare won a close 19-18 contest over the Hammond School. Hammond has the distinction of earning the past two reserve championships for the middle school, as Autumn Rose was just ahead of Hammond last season. KM was third with 14 points.

Aside from the ribbons in the ten individual classes on June 28th the IEA gave out several individual awards. Carly Bedinghaus of Dare Equestrian was the 'Champion Western Rider.' Bedinghaus placed inside the top six in each of her four rides including a first in individual varsity open horsemanship. Haley Ruffner of the Alfred University Interscholastic Team was the high point cross over rider. Ruffner placed fourth in junior varsity beginner on the flat at hunt seat Nationals in Syracuse, New York on April 22nd and third in individual junior varsity beginner western horsemanship on June 28th to have the best 'combined' English and Western ribbons at the two National shows. Holly Phillips of Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team received the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Sportsmanship Award while the entire Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team received the 'Team Spirit Award.' Finally, the NRHA Outstanding Western Horse as voted by those in attendance went to "Tuff To Hang With," who was provided by 'With Lipps Horse Training' and Jeremy Lipps.

--Steve Maxwell

(Addendum: On June 30th Sarah Shaffer of Ohio State University defeated Austin Jewell of Brookwood Equestrian Team in a ride-off to win the second annual Interscholastic Derby class. This division places the top four IEA individual reiners against four riders selected by the NRHYA. Though Shaffer was an NRHYA selection she was in fact previously an IEA rider. Kasey Bolin of Dare Equestrian Team was third, Holly Phillips of Autumn Rose Farm was seventh and Travis Harvey of the Alfred University IEA team was eighth. Raquel Roberts (fourth) and Casey Hicks (sixth) were pure NRHYA selections while Kaci O'Rourke was fifth as an NRHYA selection but also is a current IEA rider.)

The Class-by-Class Results from 2012 IEA Nationals, held in the Adequan Championship Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, listed in the order in which they were held. The judges for all classes were Pete McAlister and Carla Wennberg.

Thursday, June 28, 2012:

National Reining Horse Association Individual Varsity Open Reining: 1. Austin Jewell, Brookwood Equestrian Team. 2. Kacey Bolin, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Holly Phillips, Autumn Rose Equestrian Team. 4. Travis Harvey, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 5. Ryan May, Ocoee Equestrian Team. 6. Carly Bedinghaus, Dare Equestrian Team. 7. Dakota Roy, Butler - CTS. 8. Shannon Halnon, Pond Hill Equestrian Team.

National Reining Horse Association Individual Varsity Intermediate Reining: 1. Aurie Schmieding, Pinewood Prep School. 2. Delaney Rostad, Last Lap Ranch. 3. Haleigh Hurd, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 4. Ashley Reichert, Dare Equestrian Team. 5. Sarah Stovar, Butler - CTS. 6. Corinne Bregman, Central Carolina Equestrian NC. 7. Amanda Hurd, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 8. Tara Roeder, Hancock Horseman.

National Reining Horse Association Individual Future Intermediate Reining: 1. Carolina Gute, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 2. Sydney Hoffa, Equine Differences. 3. Seth Watkins, Hammond School. 4. Anna Meriwether, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 5. Kalee Lohr, Hancock Equestrian. 6. Sarah Strain, Caustelot Farms. 7. MacKenzie Stevens, KM Equestrian. 8. Lexy Brooks, Pond Hill Equestrian Team.

Individual Varsity Open Horsemanship: 1. Carly Bedinghaus, Dare Equestrian. 2. Taylor Overmier, KM Equestrian. 3. Kara Guertin, Pinewood Prep School. 4. Jessica Ferris, Crimson Acres IEA Team. 5. Ryan May, Ocoee Equestrian Team. 6. Dakota Roy, Butler - CTS. 7. Travis Harvey, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 8. Brandy Smith, Hancock Horseman.

Individual Future Intermediate Horsemanship: 1. Olivia Maxey, Bay Hill Farm Equestrian Team. 2. Sean Sullivan, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Kalee Lohr, Hancock Horseman. 4. MacKenzie Stevens, KM Equestrian. 5. Elena Hurd, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 6. Patricia Wingate, Team Need A Hand. 7. Seth Watkins, Hammond School. 8. Lexy Brooks, Pond Hill Equestrian Team.

Individual Varsity Intermediate Horsemanship: 1. Ashley Reichert, Dare Equestrian Team. 2. Jeff Gantt, Last Lap Ranch. 3. Alexis Osting, KM Equestrian. 4. Gabrielle Covert, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 5. Valerie McNeal, Dare Equestrian Team. 6. Corinne Bregman, Central Carolina Equestrian NC. 7. Sophia Hendrix, Freedom Riders. 8. Jenna Gabreski, Freedom Riders.

Individual Junior Varsity Novice Horsemanship: 1. Eddie Clark, Dare Equestrian Team. 2. Aurora Pim, Sid Griffith Equestrian Club. 3. Courtney Barnett, Central Carolina Equestrian NC. 4. Ali Schmieding, Pinewood Prep School. 5. Audrey DiMatteo, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 6. Erica Franz, Hancock Horseman. 7. Brittany Jenkins, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 8. Sara Stuart, Hammond School.

Individual Future Beginner Horsemanship: 1. Sabrina Buck, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 2. Audrey Ann Atkinson, Wilson Hall Equestrian. 3. Morgan Knerr, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 4. Lydia Roberts, Brookwood Equestrian Team. 5. Caylen Bedow, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 6. Allie Rhoads, Caustelot Farms. 7. Nicole Jablon, Heritage Farm MA. 8. Carlie Raucher, Heritage Farm MA.

Individual Junior Varsity Beginner Horsemanship: 1. Rachel von Hagn, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 2. Morgan Ocock, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Haley Ruffner, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 4. Rachel Blackburn, Mountain Dell Equestrian Team. 5. Madison Lowman, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 6. Karah Ann Laughlin, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 7. Gabrielle Copelin, Trademark Equestrian Team. 8. MaKayla Ferguson - Reid, Pond Hill Equestrian Team.

Individual Future Novice Horsemanship: 1. Elliot Kissam, Wilson Hall Equestrian Team. 2. Hannah Grace Willeke, KM Equestrian. 3. Claire Darnall, Hammond School. 4. Austin Rehm, Dare Equestrian Team. 5. Emma Ferguson, Last Lap Ranch. 6. Piper Manley, Hancock Horseman. 7. Megan Burian, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 8. Kerry Cahill, Pond Hill Equestrian Team.

Friday, June 29, 2012:

National Reining Horse Association Team Varsity Intermediate Reining: 1. Taylor Day, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 2. Alexis Osting, KM Equestrian. 3. Delaney Rosted, Last Lap Ranch. 4. Corinne Bregman, Central Carolina Equestrian NC. 5. Amanda Hurd, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 6. Hannah Wulkan, Crimson Acres IEA Team. 7. Lina Anderson, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 8. Carissa Chilcott, Butler - CTS.

National Reining Horse Association Team Future Intermediate Reining: 1. Carolina Gute, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 2. Sean Sullivan, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Seth Watkins, Hammond School. 4. Lindsey Healy, Crimson Acres IEA Team. 5. MacKenzie Stevens, KM Equestrian. 6. Taylor Roeder, Hancock Horseman. 7. Anna Meriwether, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 8. Sarah Strain, Caustelot Farms.

Team Future Novice Horsemanship: 1. Claire Darnall, Hammond School. 2. Hannah Grace Willeke, KM Equestrian. 3. Lexi Rehm, Dare Equestrian Team. 4. Cassidy Fowler, King Equestrian. 5. Sarah Roseberry, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 6. Claire Alexander, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 7. Kerry Cahill, Pond Hill Equestrian Team. 8. Amber Nash, Hancock Horseman.

Team Junior Varsity Beginner Horsemanship: 1. Jason Schmiedebusch, KM Equestrian. 2. Morgan Ocock, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Micah King, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 4. Kaitlyn Lomax, Central Carolina Equestrian NC. 5. Karah Ann Laughlin, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 6. Hannah Brizzee, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 7. Shannon Stovar, Butler - CTS. 8. MaKayla Ferguson - Reid, Pond Hill Equestrian Team.

Team Future Beginner Horsemanship: 1. Sabrina Buck, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 2. Mary Kramer, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Ellerslie McCue, Hammond School. 4. Laura Harper, Hancock Horseman. 5. Morgan Knerr, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 6. Leah Dodd, Crimson Acres IEA Team. 7. Allie Rhoads, Caustelot Farms. 8. Olivia Sears, KM Equestrian.

Team Junior Varsity Novice Horsemanship: 1. Eddie Clark, Dare Equestrian Team. 2. Lindsey Arns, KM Equestrian. 3. Keegan Anderson, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 4. Laura Otey, Last Lap Ranch. 5. Alysha Hardy, Crimson Acres IEA Team. 6. Kennedy Mitowski, Pond Hill Equestrian Team. 7. Alexandra Sievenpiper, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 8. Courtney Barnett, Central Carolina Equestrian NC.

Team Varsity Intermediate Horsemanship: 1. Rachel Ninke, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 2. Ashley Reichert, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Alexis Osting, KM Equestrian. 4. Corinne Bregman, Central Carolina Equestrian NC. 5. Sydney Hull, Bay Hill Farm Equestrian Team. 6. Jeff Gant, Last Lap Ranch. 7. Carissa Chilcott, Butler - CTS. 8. Sophia Hendrix, Freedom Riders.

Team Future Intermediate Horsemanship: 1. MacKenzie Stevens, KM Equestrian. 2. Sean Sullivan, Dare Equestrian Team. 3. Anna Meriwether, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 4. Seth Watkins, Hammond School. 5. Caroline Gute, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 6. Sarah Strain, Caustelot Farms. 7. Olivia Maxey, Bay Hill Farm Equestrian Team. 8. Karlie Easterling, King Equestrian.

Team Varsity Open Horsemanship: 1. Taylor Overmier, KM Equestrian. 2. Mariah Wright, Bay Hill Farm Equestrian Team. 3. Carly Bedinghaus, Dare Equestrian Team. 4. Jessica Ferris, Crimson Acres IEA Team. 5. Travis Harvey, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 6. Sarah Lebsock, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 7. Dakota Roy, Butler - CTS. 8. Maddy McDevitt, Last Lap Ranch.

Saturday, June 30, 2012:

National Reining Horse Association Team Varsity Open Reining: 1. Dakota Roy, Butler - CTS. 2. Travis Harvey, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 3. Kaci Jo O'Rourke, Pond Hill Equestrian Team. 4. Carly Bedinghaus, Dare Equestrian Team. 5. Ciara Bartholomew, Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team. 6. Erin Arnold, Central Carolina Equestrian NC. 7. Lauren Garmon, Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team. 8. Mariah Wright, Bay Hill Farm Equestrian Team.

Final Western Upper School Team Totals: KM Equestrian (2012 National Champion) 28; Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team (Reserve National Champion) 25; Dare Equestrian Team 24; Alfred University Interscholastic Team 10; Central Carolina Equestrian NC 10; Last Lap Ranch 8; Butler - CTS 7; Bay Hill Farm Equestrian Team 7; Crimson Acres IEA Team 6; Pond Hill Equestrian Team 5; Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team 2 and Freedom Riders 0.

Final Western Middle School Team Totals: Dare Equestrian Team (2012 National Champion) 19; Hammond School (Reserve National Champion) 18; KM Equestrian 14; Autumn Rose Farm Equestrian Team 13; Forsyth Central High School Equestrian Team 12; Crimson Acres IEA Team 4; Hancock Horseman 4; King Equestrian 3; Caustelot Farms 1; Pond Hill Equestrian Team 0; Bay Hill Farm Equestrian Team 0 and Alfred University Interscholastic Team 0.

(Special thanks to Jennifer Eaton of the IEA for forwarding us the results - Editor)