IEA/APHA Showmanship Challenge

Please use this form to nominate an IEA Youth rider or APHA youth member to participate in this special Showmanship Exhibition Class during IEA Western National Finals/APHA World Championship Show on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at approximately 2:00pm in the Watt Arena at the Will Rogers Coliseum Complex - Fort Worth, Texas.

PURPOSE:
To establish friendly competition between IEA regions and APHA while providing a fun, educational time-filler between IEA schooling and the beginning of our
competition on Day 1 of IEA Western National Finals.

STRUCTURE:
Each IEA Western Region and APHA will choose one (2 for APHA) youth representative to compete in a showmanship class to be judged by the official National Finals judges.

Rules of the class/competition will follow the APHA showmanship class guidelines and scoring listed in the 2026 APHA Rulebook.

Four horses will make up the grid and will be drawn at random following the IEA rules.

Each exhibitor will be given a sixty (60) second warm-up and then required to stand still if any time remains prior to the start of their pattern.

Class placings will be determined by the composite score of both judges with the winning exhibitor receiving a ribbon and trophy with social media acknowledgement for the Region or Association that the represent. Participation ribbons will be provided to the remaining exhibitors.

ATTIRE:
Exhibitors may wear the showmanship attire of their choice, meeting APHA rules.
This is not to be considered a “fun” class where costumes might be acceptable.

PATTERN:
The showmanship pattern will be chosen by the Zone Administrator with the input and approval of the National Finals judges.

CHOOSING EXHIBITORS:
Region Presidents will accept nominations by the coaches within their Region until Friday, May 22 using this online nomination form.

Members may also self-nominate and must be in good standing with IEA.

In the case of multiple nominees in a Region, the following selection criteria will be implemented:
• Grade Order- 12th grade has priority followed by 11th grade and so on.
• Highest number of points during the 2025-2026 season
• Tie breaker method listed in the IEA Rules and Policies.

APHA exhibitors must be current APHA youth members in good standing and parents must sign a liability waiver.

ONE rider from each of the 10 IEA regions will be selected to participate for a maximum of 12 exhibitors in the Showmanship Challenge. There is no entry fee if selected.

Riders who are selected to participate will be notified by June 1.

QUESTONS ABOUT THIS EVENT?: Contact Tammy Braham by calling/texting (724) 967-5501 tammy.braham@rideiea.org

I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE THE FOLLOWING IEA YOUTH MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SHOWMANSHIP CHALLENGE CLASS:

RIDER BEING NOMINATED (Self Nominations are OK.)*

First NameLast Name

RIDER TEAM NAME*

RIDER EMAIL ADDRESS (One that will get checked.)*

example@example.com

IEA COACH FOR THIS RIDER*

First NameLast Name

NAME OF PERSON SUBMITTING THIS NOMINATION ON BEHALF OF THE RIDER*

First NameLast Name

EMAIL OF PERSON SUBMITTING THIS NOMINATION ON BEHALF OF THE RIDER*

example@example.com

This information will be collected in this form and forwarded to the appropriate IEA Western region President to make a final selection. Participants selected will be notified by June 1st. By submitting this form, the rider and person submitting the nomination understand that this is an exhibition class (no fee required) that will require the exhibitor to be dressed in appropriate showmanship attire per the APHA rulebook and that they will be given a random draw horse to participate in the class. The showmanship pattern will be released closer to the event to each exhibitor and their coach. Questions about this form? Contact Kimber Whanger at kimber@rideiea.org or by TEXTING (614) 542-9415.