On February 15th and 16th, Grier School dressage riders competed in Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Dressage Zone 2 Finals in Doylestown, PA. Grier had teams and individuals competing in this event and the school led the competition on the whole.
IEA is a draw-format competition where riders don’t know the horse they are riding until just before they compete. To qualify for zones competitions, like the one at Doylestown, riders have to earn enough points throughout the regular season of five shows. The stakes at zones are high since the first and second place at zones qualify for nationals.
(Lindsay Shaw)
In dressage, the horse and rider have to execute a series of movements showing balance, precision, and obedience. Marian Pownall, a senior at Grier, qualified for dressage nationals this year for the fourth time. “There’s thousands of IEA riders and out of all of them you’re the one who made it to zones,” said Pownall. “So even if you didn’t make it to nationals, you still made it very far.”
Both the middle school and high school teams secured a spot to go to IEA National Finals in Missouri this April. Grier riders also claimed 21 out of the 28 spots to compete individually at nationals. Eighth Grader, Maria Escandon, who qualified for nationals individually, said “The first direction I was a little nervous, but the second direction I got it together and rode well. The pony was not anything like I’m used to riding, but I learned a lot from him.”
Congratulations to all riders who had the opportunity to ride at zones and best of luck to all those who qualified for nationals!
