John Price and Bandit at the Pinto World Nationals. Photo credit: Kathy Price
Nearly 700 Interscholastic Equestrian Association riders were eligible for the 2021 National Sportsmanship Award, but first-place went to 18-year-old John Price of Danville, PA.
The IEA National Sportsmanship Award is given annually to a student rider, selected from a group of applicants who have earned a Sportsmanship Award that year at a local, regional or zone IEA show.
With nearly 14,000 members across the United States who are riding and coaching Hunt Seat, Western, and Dressage disciplines, the non-profit IEA was organized to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to students in grades 4-12 at public and private schools and in barn teams. This year marks IEA’s 20th anniversary, and the national competition will be held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA in late April.
John’s IEA coach, Kelly Smith-Wells of Turtleback Farm, said at IEA shows, participants don’t know which horse they’ll be riding. It is all luck of the draw.
“IEA gives kids who don’t have their own horses an opportunity to ride quality animals and to show and exbibit their equitation skills on horses they have never been on before,” Smith-Wells said. “If they have good skill-sets they can get on any horse within reason. I love that it is a team sport. Here, the older kids help the younger kids, and they root each other on, and I love that.”
John’s mom, Kathy Price recalled the show where John won his regional Sportsmanship Award, at The Grier School in Tyrone, PA.
“We thought it was very appropriate because he pulled a very difficult horse that day,” Price said. “He did everything right, even though it was difficult. He used his skills and was patient and showed good sportsmanship. That horse was pulled after his ride, but they had noticed how he handled the horse and the situation.”
Smith-Wells agreed.
“Throughout the day this horse was giving all the kids problems. John went into the ring and did the best job,” she said. “The horse was jigging the whole time. He wouldn’t walk and was going down the arena sideways. But John came out of the ring so poised, even smiling, and I couldn’t be prouder of him. The ring steward was the one who recommended John for the sportsmanship award that day.”
Because of Covid, other team members were not allowed in to watch the show, but they watched it stream live on Facebook. Smith-Wells (who is also one of John’s high school Ag teachers and an FFA advisor) said she was getting texts from his team members, saying he needed a re-ride.
“It was so good that the other kids could see how he came out just smiling - such a great example,” she said. “All year long, John seemed to pull the bad horses,” she said with a laugh. “This was the last show [of the season] and we were thinking his luck had to get better, but it didn’t!”
Afterward, John - like other local and regional Sportsmanship Award winners - was invited to apply for the National Sportsmanship Award, submitting a photo, resume, school transcripts, a 250-word essay explaining how horses and/or equestrian competition has influenced his life, and three letters of recommendation.
In his essay, John wrote: “My involvement with horses and other equine activities has made a positive impact on my life. The summer before middle school, I decided to ‘take the reins’ and begin riding lessons. I was not a confident person, and in school, I had trouble finding friends. After a long day at school, I’d go to the barn to de-stress. Becoming more involved with horses, I quickly learned that horses were my way of coping. I grew close to one horse in particular. Sam was a horse nobody ever rode. Finally, I saved up enough money cleaning stalls to buy Sam. Working with him every day helped me cope with my anxiety.”
John spoke of what the award means to him.
“Winning this award will help me in college, since it is a scholarship,” he said. “It encourages good sportsmanship for future IEA riders and overall builds friendships and more opportunities in the horse industry. I plan to go to college to study equine business and ride on an IHSA [Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association] team.
Feather Fund Winner
In addition to his IEA experience, John was awarded a Chincoteague Pony foal in 2018 from the Feather Fund, a non-profit that provides financial assistance to kids who have been saving to buy a Chincoteague Pony foal. These days, he is starting Bandit, the Chincoteague Pony gelding he brought home that year. John serves as the president of his FFA chapter and is a member of Pinto Horse Association of America, The Foundation for Western Professionals, Boy Scouts of America, and the National Junior Honor Society. He also participates as a volunteer junior firefighter and serves as an annual spokesperson for the Feather Fund and Chincoteague Ponies at Horse World Expo, with Bandit at his side.
Currently a senior at Danville High School, John said he hopes to take Bandit to college with him next year where he will major in equine business. He has narrowed his choices to Penn State University and the University of Findlay.
“My plans are to keep working on Bandit’s lounging with the saddle on and groundwork. I’ll start to break him soon. If he goes to Findlay with me, I will use him as my project horse and will train him there every day as a sophomore college class.”
Smith-Wells is proud of John and the recognition he’s brought their team.
“John has such a bright future,” she said. “He is a wonderful young man and I know he will be successful in whatever he does. The horse business is tough. I tell all my students you need a primary source of income to get you started. I encourage them to think ahead and have a plan B with that primary source of income. John is starting to think about that realistically.”
According to his mom, John learned he had won the national award the day after he and his twin brother Carl celebrated their birthday in July.
“He has come so far,” she said. “He was a shy guy who seldom said anything. The first summer of Boy Scout camp he took the horsemanship merit badge before crossing over from Cub Scouts. Someone came and taught them about saddles and equipment and then they went on a trail ride. On the last day before school started that year, I asked them what they wanted to do – one more fun activity before school started. John wanted to go horseback riding, so we found a local farm. After that John went back every weekend to help her out and then he took lessons.”
After he decided he wanted to take lessons twice a week the farm owner suggested John buy his own horse. She said board would be less expensive than two lessons a week, so six years ago, John bought Sam. Since then, the family has purchased their own farm.
John will receive a $500 scholarship, a lifetime membership to the IEA and a nomination by the IEA to affiliates’ sportsmanship award programs.
Roxane Durant, IEA Executive Director said, “Good sportsmanship is a tenant in the IEA and this award is held in high regard. Choosing the National Sportsman from the pool of amazing candidates is always a difficult decision. John is clearly dedicated to making a difference in his community and in the equine industry and we are thrilled to present him with this recognition.”
Learn more about IEA online at: www.rideiea.org
Writer Lois Szymanski knows John Price, as she is a co-founder of the Feather Fund and a current board member.