06/13/2024
One of our IEA Sponsorship Applicants’ wrote this beautiful essay. We will keep all essays anonymous unless the applicant wishes to disclose their name. Please consider sponsoring and helping these kids be able to ride and show this season ❤️🐴
All sponsors will have their logo/name on our home and away banner. Displayed in our arena year round and with us at horse shows. Esposure to roughly 500 people or more monthly, and sponsor spotlights on our page throughout the season. Contact us for more information. Sponsorships of every level are welcomed and appreciated. [email protected]
Ever since I was little I have wanted to ride horses. Then, one day my mom took me to go ride horses and I instantly fell in love! After that my mom heard for many years "Can I please ride horses?" "Can we get into lessons?" but we didn't know where to start or who to go to. Then, we came across Danielle through my mom's friend. I was so happy and I started going to the barn every Thursday and began to grow an even larger passion for riding. After riding for about a year, it felt like the barn was my safe space. Even with everything going on in my life when I went to the barn it was like everything bad that was happening never happened at all. I felt like I had a connection with the horse, when riding I felt at peace and calmed. Riding has also helped with my confidence and me as a person. If it wasn't for riding I wouldn't be as confident in myself as I am now. I feel more adventurous and feel like I can do more things on my own. I remember when I first started riding I was quite nervous and would hang on to the horn of my saddle, I slowly learned how to connect with my horse.
As much as riding means to me, IEA is also something I am very passionate about because it gave me an opportunity to take riding to a new level that I wouldn’t have been able to do on my own. I started riding in IEA last year and really enjoyed it and hope to do it more again this year. Ever since I started taking lessons I have dreamed of being in a competition. Thanks to IEA I am able to achieve those dreams now. I probably wouldn't have had the chance to be in a competition if it wasn't for IEA because it’s very expensive. Most competitive horse shows require you to have your own horse and pay heavy fees. With IEA they have provided me with horses I can ride at the show and prices are easier for my family. My mom being a single mom, could not afford for me to have my own horse and all the things needed to ride and take care of a horse as well. IEA has made it possible for me to compete and I'm so grateful to be a part of IEA and everything they do for all their students. For me horse back riding is more than a hobby, it's a passion. Riding is a way for me to create a strong bond with horses and has not only strengthened me physically, but also mentally. Riding has improved my endurance, core strength, physical ability, muscle strength, and coordination. Riding has also strengthened my mental ability by helping me with socialization, compassion, problem solving, stress relief, and my mental health. Riding has helped me grow as a person in many different ways. Im very thankful for everyone who has helped me along my journey of riding, such as IEA members and my trainer Danielle. Riding means the world to me and they made it possible for me to achieve my dreams and goals and I couldn't thank them enough. I hope one day to have my own horses and one day pay it back to kids and help them live out their dreams of riding.
