Stanford
Recreation and Wellness

IEA & AEL

IEA & AEL

High School & Middle School Teams

Girl riding a horse

Riders do not need to have experience competing in the IEA or any other horse shows to participate on our IEA Teams. The IEA team is led by Head Coach Katie Steiner and our IEA Emerging Team is led by Coach Tina Davey (bios here).

The Stanford Red Barn is proud to host two Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Teams as well as an IEA Emerging Team. The Stanford Red Barn Teams are open to riders in grades 4th to 12th who are comfortable riding at the walk, trot and canter in a group setting up through riders competing at the highest levels of competition.

Our Stanford Red Barn IEA Teams are an opportunity for riders to learn more about the catch riding format of IEA and improve their equitation skills by riding different horses in lessons, scrimmaging on our team’s horses, and traveling away to competitions throughout the fall, winter, and spring.

Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Teams

The IEA is comprised of riders from local high schools and middle schools from throughout the Bay Area. Tryouts are held in May for our summer IEA program and in August for our regular season. Practices take place on Monday and Wednesday nights, with riders taking lessons once a week.

The IEA is based on a system of “catch riding” where athletes compete on horses they are riding for the first time. This ensures a level playing field, with each rider being judged on how they ride the horse they are on, with credit given for those who demonstrate good equitation and solid horsemanship. Riders compete as individuals as well as with their team. To tryout, riders should be able to ride in a group at the walk, trot, and canter and may also be asked to jump a course. Riders must also be able to groom, tack-up and properly care for their assigned horse before and after lessons.

Our two IEA teams, The Red Barn Team and The Woodside Team, compete against teams from throughout California. Both teams are active in the ribbons. In 2019, our teams took home High Point Team at the Zone Finals and went on to finish in the Top Ten at the IEA National Finals.

For more information on the IEA please visit: rideiea.org.

IEA Emerging Team

The IEA Emerging Team at the Red Barn is for riders who are taking steps towards being on our IEA Team. Riders are a part of the Red Barn Teams which includes the Emerging Team (ET) and our two IEA teams, Red Barn and Woodside. The ET is for riders in fourth grade and up who are able to ride in a group at the walk, trot and canter on a variety of horses. While riders are not required to compete, if they are interested in showing in IEA there may be opportunities for some riders to show in 1-2 IEA shows each season (though not guaranteed). ET riders can also attend Red Barn Team scrimmages with other Red Barn Team members. Like IEA Team lessons, the ET lessons focus on developing solid foundations in equitation and catch riding skills. Riders must also be able to groom, tack-up and properly care for their assigned horse before and after lessons.

Contact Tina Davey for more information on IEA or AEL: Tina Davey