Here at EN, we know that a big part of the heart and soul of this sport lies with local amateur eventers. That’s why we’re featuring awesome local eventing organizations that are recognizing and celebrating low-level eventers in our Schooling Horse Trials Spotlight series. Know of a great local organization or schooling horse trials that deserves some love? Tip us.
IEA members Melissa Crider, Liz Bagsby, Jody Cattell, Rita Selheim, Monica Foley, Ina Kamenz, Dorie Mayfield, Donald Kamenz, and Tom Santelli at Flying Cross Horse Trials. Photo courtesy of Ina Kamez.
The rich history of eventing in Indiana isn’t immediately obvious to the naked eye of a non-Hoosier, but thanks to the Indiana Eventing Association (IEA) it’s being well preserved for future generations.
Indiana was home to the Pan American Games in 1987, with the equestrian events taking place at the Hoosier Horse Park in Johnson County. That year, Mike Huber and Emily MacGowan took home individual eventing Gold and Silver respectively, helping the USA Eventing Team clinch the win on home soil.
The Hoosier Horse Park, which is now part of the Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department, was parceled from land originally part of the pre-World War II National Guard base known as Camp Atterbury. The year after the Pan Ams, the IEA (originally the Indiana Combined Training Association) was founded in order promote the sport of eventing and to preserve the historic Hoosier Horse Park.
Dorie Mayfield and Chad Holcomb receive instruction from Chris Ruysen during a 2014 IEA Sponsored clinic. Photo by Naomi Holcomb.
Lea Ann Zobbe has been involved with the IEA since its inception and was the co-organizer for the 1987 Pan Am Three-Day Event. “Being a part of this group and this sport has enriched my life with wonderful, interesting friends and provided lots of learning experiences, including not to weed whack poison ivy and how to properly tamp post holes,” she says.
Today the IEA actively promotes eventing in Indiana as a USEA affiliate organization and hosts both recognized and unrecognized horse trials. The original cross country course for the IEA H.T. was designed by Les Smith (who notably assisted in designing the cross country course for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia) and built with the help of IEA members. Later on after Les retired from course design, the role was — and to this day — is filled by well-known course designer Jon Wells.
This year the IEA is excited to unveil a brand-new second water complex designed by Jon at the IEA H.T. Classic Training and Novice 3-Day Event on June 2-5, 2016. Unexpected costs sprouted up during the excavation phase of the project, but a successful fundraising push along with the support of many amazing sponsors have brought the new state-of-the-art complex to fruition.
Volunteers Sally Holman, Jackie Brown and organizer Lee Ann Zobbe prepare the course for the 2015 IEA Horse Trials. Photo by Jon Wells.
The IEA Horse Trials is the primary fundraiser for the organization and are almost completely volunteer run. The event offers Beginner Novice through Intermediate/Preliminary horse trials divisions as well as long-format Training and Novice three-day events as part of the USEA’s Classics series.
In addition to their recognized horse trials, the IEA also annually hosts the unrecognized Leg Up H.T. Leg Up provides the opportunity for Starter through Novice level competitors to show at the Hoosier Horse Park in a one-day format over a similar course layout as the recognized event. This event is also nearly completely volunteer and provides competitors with a low-key friendly atmosphere.
For many members, IEA has been a family-affair and a central part of their lives growing up. Board member and Volunteer Chair for the horse trials, Dorie Mayfield, grew up as an IEA member and often volunteered together with her mom and sister at the horse trials and Leg Up events whenever possible. After graduating college and focusing on eventing as her primary discipline she jumped back into getting involved with the IEA.
Liz Messaglia and Teresa Rozenboom listen as Andrea Baker receives instruction from Doug Payne during a 2015 IEA Sponsored clinic. Photo by Dorie Mayfield.
“Being a central part of this organization has made a huge impact on my life. It enables me to give back to the sport that I love and I feel as though IEA is really just a big family,” Dorie says. “There is an incredible amount of camaraderie and support within our membership. It may sound cliché, but IEA just feels like home.”
“We have a great group of eventers in Indiana. Everyone is supportive and encouraging of each other,” says long-time member Rachel Skirvin, who fondly remembers going to the Hoosier Horse Park as a barn rat to help prepare for the horse trials. Rachel is currently a board member and the Pony Club liaison for the IEA.
“What we lack in glitz we make up for in grit, hard work and determination. It’s been super cool watching our sport evolve over the years. I’m proud to be a member of such a wonderful organization.”
The judge and spectators take advantage of the great view from “Spirit’s Descent” during the July 2015 IEA Benefit Derby, which raised funds for the new water complex. Photo by Dorie Mayfield.
IEA membership supports the on-going maintenance and improvement of the Hoosier Horse Park cross country course. Members are eligible for year-end awards which combine points from both recognized and unrecognized shows into a single program. Additionally, members receive discounted rates on schooling fees at the Hoosier Horse Park and discounted entry into clinics. Scholarships and grants are awarded annually to chosen applicants in order to further their eventing education.
Ina and Donald Kamenz are eventers and foxhunters who moved from USEA Area I to Area VIII. “Relocating to the Indianapolis area meant meeting all new people, finding new coaches and learning new and challenging venues and terrain,” says Ina.
“We found the IEA and immediately joined! We have made great friends who have welcomed us and included us in clinics, schooling days and conditioning rides. The IEA team is fantastic — we are so glad to be a part!”
