🏆 TES Rider Places 3rd at IEA National Finals

We are incredibly proud to share that TES rider Verona Pasker placed 3rd in the nation at the 2026 IEA National Finals in St. Louis, Missouri.

This is a major accomplishment. Nearly 700 riders from across the country compete at IEA Nationals, representing the top middle school and high school equestrians in the United States.

Verona competed in the Future Novice Dressage Test division, earning a podium finish in a competitive class of 14 riders.

Getting to Nationals is no small feat.

Throughout the regular season, riders are limited to just five shows and must earn a minimum of 18 points to qualify for postseason competition. Points are awarded based on placings, so riders must consistently perform at the top of their division.

From there, Verona qualified for Zone Finals, where riders from multiple states competed for a chance to advance. Only the top two riders in each division move on to Nationals—and Verona earned her place among them.

She then traveled to St. Louis with her parents and coach, Karina Lyons, a USDF judge, representing TES on the national stage.

The National Finals had a big, exciting show atmosphere, with dressage running alongside hunter/jumper competition, a busy vendor area, great shopping, and even a college fair.

One of the most exciting moments came during the awards ceremony. In a class of 14 riders, placings are announced one by one as competitors are called into the arena—so the anticipation builds with every name. Hearing Verona’s name called all the way up to 3rd place made the moment especially thrilling.

Verona rode a beautiful test on a talented Arabian named Taighlor, showcasing her skill and composure in a true catch-riding format.



We are so proud of Verona for her hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance. Finishing 3rd in the nation is an incredible achievement, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.

🎯 Interested in IEA at TES?

IEA tryouts will be held in July for the upcoming season.

TES offers teams for:

• Grades 4–12

• Adult riders

Unlike most show programs, everything is included. TES provides the horses, tack and equipment, and even has show clothes available to borrow.

In fact, an entire season of IEA showing often costs less than what many riders spend on a single weekend at a rated show.

IEA is an incredible opportunity to compete, build horsemanship skills, and be part of a team—without the financial barriers of traditional showing.