This weekend, Ojai Valley School will take two teams of riders to their first Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) horse show, launching the resurgence of a competitive riding program for elementary, middle and high school students.
IEA members across the U.S. participate in jumping, Western and dressage competitions. Based on scores at qualifying horse shows, riders can advance individually and with their teams to regional and national competitions.
OVS Equestrian Director George Halkett said participation in IEA presents an amazing opportunity for riders with a range of ability levels to show together. More advanced riders from the Upper Campus will compete in higher-level “open” and “intermediate” dressage classes, while younger riders from the Lower Campus will compete in “future” and “walk-trot” classes. Team scoring will be based on riders’ individual performances.
“If you are successful as individuals, your team will be successful,” Mr. Halkett told the Upper Campus riders.
The new teams consist of eight riders in grades 4-6, and eight riders in grades 9-12. Many of these students come from a jumping background, so being on a dressage team has been an adjustment. Likewise, most of the students have never been on an equestrian team or to a horse show.
The Upper Campus team members include senior Adelynn Todd, juniors Scout Mortenson, Addisen Hollon, and Min Lee, sophomore Ana Sophia Samano, and freshmen Enzo DeMartini, Danika Carver, and Frances Wilsrud.
Adelynn has ridden at a show jumping barn since first grade and has an extensive hunter/jumper background. She says she is excited to be on a team, but not so sure about the IEA program because it is a new experience.
“I am a little unsure because I have never done it before but at the same time, I believe it is a good skill to have,” said Adelynn.
This is a popular mindset even with the Lower Campus students.
All of the girls on the Lower Campus team will be paired with a mentor from the Upper Campus team. The primary aim of the mentorship is for the older riders to act as a support system for the younger girls as they adjust to a new environment.
The Lower Campus riders include sixth grader Lennon Bouvier, fifth graders Abigail Adams, Soren Bouvier, Paige Kircher, Avalon Longwill, and Astrid Vadas, and fourth graders Kendall Casey and Adeline Collins.
James Casey, Kendall’s dad and a member of the OVS Board of Trustees, said the school is making a great effort to bring back a competitive equestrian program. Kendall is an excellent rider, and excited to learn a new discipline on the IEA team.
“I don’t care if I win as long as I have fun,” she said.
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association is a nationwide team system that hosts almost every discipline. The association organizes shows in which one school hosts using its horses. Based on their ability level, riders are assigned a horse. Each rider on the team will compete in two classes in the morning and two classes in the afternoon. The riders get one minute to warm up on the new horse and then go straight into the competition.
The judges score the riders, and those placing 1st to 6th will earn a certain amount of points. If an individual rider accumulates 15 points, that rider qualifies for zone championships, or the team can qualify all together.
At zone championships there is an opportunity to go to nationals.
Mr. Halkett is ready to take on the challenge and help his team excel quickly and be ready for their upcoming shows.
The first four shows will take place over two days this weekend, December 9 and 10, with 11 riders competing at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Five team members will compete the following weekend at an IEA show in Watsonville
Head of School Lars Kuelling has been working hard since he got to OVS to promote and elevate the equestrian program, starting with the hiring of Mr. Halkett.
A native of Scotland, Mr. Halkett previously served as the Director of the Stoneleigh-Burnham School Equestrian Center for 15 years. While there, he coached students to multiple national IEA championships. Mr. Halkett has also coached at college programs, including at the Savannah College of Art & Design in Georgia and founding the equestrian program at Albion College in Michigan.
“The Equestrian Program is central to the OVS experience, and George is an accomplished coach and a respected leader in the equestrian world,” said Mr. Kuelling.
With that foundational piece in place, Mr. Kuelling said he is excited that the school is once again giving OVS equestrians the opportunity to compete and to work toward regional and national recognition.
“Imagine if we turned out a national championship competitor,” Mr. Kuelling said.
“That would be pretty boss.”
PHOTOS SHOT AND PROVIDED BY MISTY HALL