The Dare Equestrian High School Team, comprised of student-riders from the Big Walnut, Dublin, Hilliard and Canal Winchester school districts, earned a second national championship in three years at the Western Finals of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association June 25-26 in Oklahoma City.

The winning team from Dare consisted of Hallie McClintock of Big Walnut, Ben Beckett of Dublin, Carsyn Miller of Hilliard and Lily Johns of Hilliard.

In the individual competitions, Kimberly Hartman of Hilliard earned championship honors in Junior Varsity Beginner Horsemanship. Carsyn Miller was reserve champion in Junior Varsity Novice Horsemanship. Leah Palm of Canal Winchester was reserve champion in Varsity Intermediate Reining.

Hallie McClintock, a resident of Galena, also received the National Reining Horse Association Sportsmanship Award at the competition.

The Dare Equestrian Team won the national IEA high school championship in 2013. The team placed third nationally in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Nearly 200 riders, representing 35 teams from six zones throughout the United States, took part in the IEA Western Finals.

During the 2014-15 season, more than 11,000 individuals from more than 1,000 teams participated in local IEA competitions, including regional and zone finals, to qualify for the events in Oklahoma City.

IEA was founded to promote and provide equestrian athletic competition among middle and high school students, whether or not they owned a horse of their own. All competitions involve a random draw of horses, providing a true test of the rider’s skill.

“These kids work so hard all year and although not everyone on the team can participate in the Western Finals, we know it takes every member of the team to get us there,” said Coach Linda Dare. “I am so proud of every rider on the Dare Team, both for how they competed and for how much they have supported each other at practices and competitions all year long.”

The Dare Equestrian Team is accepting new members for the 2015-16 season and welcomes the interest of western and/or hunt seat riders entering grades 6-12 in the fall of 2015.

Linda Dare also teaches both western and hunt seat classes for those looking to learn more about the sport.

For more information on the Dare Equestrian Team, visit www.DareEquestrianCenter.com. For more information on the IEA, visit www.RideIEA.org