Saddles, Success and Scholarships
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403 – September/October, 2026
By Megan Arszman
Success at a horse show is often measured by ribbons, buckles, and championship titles. But for members of the Youth Equestrian Development Association (YEDA), success extends far beyond the show pen. Through a scholarship program that recognizes not only competitive achievements but also academic excellence, leadership, community service, and personal growth, YEDA is investing in the futures of young riders. By encouraging students to excel both in and out of the saddle, the organization continues to fulfill its mission of introducing, encouraging and rewarding the next generation of horsemen and horsewomen in the past 10 years.
What is YEDA?
The association was founded in 2015 by Debbie Arnold, Ric Weitzel and Laura Smith. Arnold was inspired to start her own youth equestrian team after judging an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) show in 2008. “I had never seen a show where the exhibitors were catch-riders, and it was a team competition,” says Arnold. “I thought it was so cool.”
Arnold and her husband, Chris, started their own IEA team in 2011, and then she was inspired to develop YEDA with Smith and Weitzel. Their concept was to make horse showing a little more attainable to families while focusing on showcasing the best of the best at the end of the year.
Competitors with YEDA all wear the same uniform shirt to show in—an affordable, button down (with a hidden zipper) shirt that’s available in a large variety of colors. “We wanted to make (horse shows) a more even playing field from a clothing standpoint—there are kids who can’t afford a $2,500 custom-tailored show shirt,” says Arnold. “Teams don’t need to have the same color, but they can if they want.”
Exhibitors can show to a maximum of 12 judges per year, and then their top six placings are used to rank the rider in their class–the top 20% receive an invitation to show at the national championship. Teams do not have to designate a point rider before the start of the show, much like they do for IEA and IHSA. “The highest placing rider at the end of the day, in each division, is your point rider,” explains Arnold.
The concept of YEDA allows horse lovers of all ages, levels, and locales to do what they love–be around horses, learn to ride horses, and become a bigger part of the equine industry.
“I have had 200-300 kids go through YEDA through my program, and many were not horse owners when they started,” says Arnold. “But I would say that at least 10% of those kids ended up leasing or buying horses afterward, and if not, just being involved in horses in some sort of capacity. The impact on the equine economy is great through IEA, YEDA, and the IHSA. The families start buying boots, chaps, hats, etc., all while taking lessons from local trainers.”
Beyond the Arena
Click here to read the complete article
403 – September/October, 2026
