MacNair's and the Triangle IEA Team
A Raleigh, NC hunt seat team where riders in grades 4 to 12 compete in horse shows, no horse of their own required.
MacNair's Country Acres sponsors the MacNair's and the Triangle IEA Team. IEA, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to introducing and promoting lifelong involvement in equestrian sport. Through IEA, riders in grades 4 to 12 can compete in horse shows without owning a horse.
Catch-ride competition
IEA shows use a catch-ride format. Riders are not assigned their horse until the day of the show, so part of the challenge, and the fun, is riding a horse you may have never sat on before. Each host team provides the horses, which keeps the sport open to riders who do not own one.
A season to celebrate
One of our proudest seasons yet. More than half of the team qualified for Regional post-season competition, five riders advanced to Zones, and two rode all the way to Nationals.
A national placing. Our high school walk-trot rider, Alice Medoff, placed fourth in her division at Nationals.
Coached by Madison Rigney
Our IEA team is led by Madison Rigney. Madison rode IEA herself all through high school, so she knows the format inside and out, and she brings a calm, easygoing warmth that riders and horses both love. Her lessons are full of games and challenges, so riders are often having too much fun to notice how much they are learning. Competing as an amateur, she won the NCHJA Medal Final on her horse Daisy Duke, whom she brought along from a young age. More about Madison
How to join
Ride at the Top Barn
Team members are enrolled in our lesson program and riding at the Top Barn, where they build the skills IEA competition asks for.
Try out
Tryouts are held in June and practices begin in July, so our trainers can place each rider on the right part of the team before the season starts. Registration for next season will open here later.
Practice and compete
Team riders add IEA practices and a monthly team meeting to their weekly lessons, then compete through the season and cheer each other on.
Ride as a team
Riding is often an individual sport, but IEA makes it a team one. Our riders travel together, cheer each other on, and represent MacNair's as one team. Win or lose the class, they grow in their horsemanship and as teammates. That team spirit is what keeps riders coming back.
A few good things to know
Classes offered at IEA shows
Varsity and Junior Varsity
- Varsity Open Equitation over Fences, 2 feet 6 inches
- Varsity Open Equitation on the Flat
- Varsity Intermediate Equitation over Fences, 2 feet
- Varsity Intermediate Equitation on the Flat
- Junior Varsity Novice Equitation over Cross-Rails
- Junior Varsity Novice Equitation on the Flat
- Junior Varsity Beginner Equitation on the Flat, Walk Trot Canter
- Junior Varsity Beginner Equitation on the Flat, Walk Trot
Future Division
- Future Intermediate Equitation over Fences, 2 feet
- Future Intermediate Equitation on the Flat
- Future Novice Equitation over Cross-Rails
- Future Novice Equitation on the Flat
- Future Beginner Equitation on the Flat, Walk Trot Canter
- Future Beginner Equitation on the Flat, Walk Trot
Show schedule
Dates pending
The 2026 to 2027 show schedule is not set yet. We will post the full season here as soon as the dates are confirmed.
Questions families often ask
Who may join the IEA team?
Riders in grades 4 to 12 may join IEA. At MacNair's, we ask that team members be enrolled in our lesson program and riding at the Top Barn.
Is the team open to boys and girls?
Yes. IEA is a coed sport, open to boys and girls in grades 4 to 12. Every rider on our team competes in the same classes, judged on the same equitation.
How do I get started or try out?
Team members first join our lesson program and ride at the Top Barn. From there, riders try out in June, and practices begin in July, so our trainers can place them on the right part of the team before the season starts.
Tryout registration for the coming season will open on this page later. You are always welcome to email the office to learn more in the meantime.
What is the time commitment?
Team riders keep up their weekly lessons, add two IEA practices each month (three if they qualify for post-season), and attend one monthly team meeting, along with the shows they enter.
We also ask each family to volunteer at least 10 hours per season, on top of the rider's own hours. That can look like working the concession stand at our home shows, helping put together raffle and gift baskets, or pitching in on other fundraisers such as our consignment sale.
How does IEA work?
IEA lets riders compete without owning a horse. Our team competes against other teams in our region, and each host team provides the horses. Shows run in a catch-ride format, so riders may not be familiar with the horse they draw for a class.
Riders compete in up to five shows during the regular season. Those who earn enough points are invited to post-season competition at the Regional, Zone, and National levels.
What is catch riding?
Catch riding means competing on a horse you have not ridden before. At an IEA show, the host team provides the horses, and each rider draws their horse the day of the show, often meeting it just before their class with little or no warm-up.
It levels the playing field, since no one has the advantage of riding their own horse, and it rewards riders who can adapt quickly and ride well on any horse they draw.
What is equitation?
Equitation classes judge the rider rather than the horse. A judge looks at the rider's position and balance, the correctness and effectiveness of their aids, and how smoothly and accurately they guide the horse, both on the flat and over fences.
Because IEA classes are scored on equitation, the catch-ride format fits so well. It is all about the rider's skill and horsemanship, not the horse they happen to draw.
How do riders qualify for post-season?
Riders earn individual points by placing in their classes across up to five regular-season shows. Riders who reach the points total set by IEA qualify for Regionals.
Strong finishes at Regionals advance riders to Zones, and top riders at Zones move on to Nationals in the spring. Teams can also earn their way to post-season based on team points.
What classes are offered at IEA shows?
IEA groups riders by experience, so everyone competes at their own level. In both the Future division (middle and elementary school) and the high school division, there are walk-trot, walk-trot-canter, cross-rails, and 2 foot divisions. High school also has a 2 foot 6 inch division. Anyone who rides in an over-fences class also rides a matching flat class at that show. You can see the full list of class names above.
Where are shows held, and how far do you travel?
Our region stretches from the Triangle up to Lynchburg, Virginia, so away shows are hosted at barns and schools across central North Carolina and southern Virginia. MacNair's hosts one to two shows each season here in Raleigh, which are the easiest and most affordable for our families.
When is the IEA season?
The team holds tryouts in June and begins practices in July. Regular season competition runs from August through February.
Post-season competition follows for riders who qualify, with Regionals in February, Zones in March, and Nationals in April.
What does it cost to be on the team?
A few pieces make up the cost. This season, IEA membership is $85, a fee that IEA sets each year. On top of that, riders keep up their regular lesson fees.
Each show has a per-class fee set by IEA, plus a MacNair's office administrative fee. For away shows, the riders entered split the coach's travel costs, such as mileage and a hotel when one is needed, and post-season shows carry higher class fees. Because IEA sets several of these amounts each year, reach out to the office for this season's exact figures.
How can I sponsor or support the team?
As a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, our IEA team welcomes community support, and sponsorships help cover show fees, travel, and team needs. You can learn about opportunities on our IEA team sponsorship page.
Families also pitch in through our seasonal fundraisers, including raffle and gift baskets and our consignment sale.
Do you accept horse donations?
Yes. As a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, our IEA team can accept donated horses. You can find more about giving a horse to our North Carolina nonprofit on our donate a horse page.
Interested in the team?
The IEA team is open to MacNair's riders in grades 4 to 12 who train at the Top Barn. Reach out to the office to learn more, and watch this page for next season's tryout details.