10/06/2026
Thank you All American Quarter Horse Congress for giving IEA the opportunity to show in the BEAUTIFUL new CINCH ARENA yesterday.
Our youth members crushed it! Hosted by dmb Performance Horses and IEA Board President Dustin Boehmer, this regular season IEA show will be a hard one to beat. AQHA judge Clint Fullerton expertly maneuvered through classes accompanied by an outstanding professional crew of stewards, announcers, paddock masters, coaches, volunteers, and well-mannered horses which made for a quick, smooth show for exhibitors - many of which were showing IEA for the first time and in such a big venue!
IEA Western Administrator, Tammy Braham coordinated numerous details to pull together a unique opportunity for IEA and Congress members alike. When legendary reiner, Shawn Flarida and his son Sam got tied up at the last minute showing in the other arena and weren't available to conduct the NRHA Pro Reining Clinic, IEA Alum and Top-4 finisher in the 2026 Run For A Million, BEN BECKETT, volunteered to step in and expertly conducted a 90-minute lesson on reining maneuvers, how to handle difficult draws, and how to get the best out your horse and IEA experience. Ben's unique perspective on draw-based riding resonated with members as he answered questions throughout. Special thanks to Ben's wife, Ariana, who also stepped in last minute to join the other 4 collegiate riders from University of Findlay and Albion College who served as demo riders.
NRHA Pro, Casey Hinton kicked off the event by introducing Ben and explaining to the attentive audience the partnership between NRHA and IEA and how opportunities like these clinics help introduce the sport of reining to new audiences. What a great opportunity for everyone. We even spotted IEA Co-Founders, Myron Leff and Wayne Ackerer in the stands. A handful of IEA exhibitors were also coming off of their own successful Congress competition or gearing up for more as the Congress continues through October.
We even got a visit from Ohio's First Lady, Fran DeWine and her grandson, who stopped by the Congress to get a photo op aboard one of our IEA horses, provided by Mikal Porter/ Double M Horsemanship, LLC.
We love this event at the Congress and are grateful to the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, NRHA - National Reining Horse Association, Schneiders and KeyBank for sponsoring the IEA Western show at the Congress!
Video courtesy of All American Quarter Horse Congress.
