Gina Diliberti Qualifies for IEA Hunt Seat National Finals

Gina Diliberti of Melville, NY is a freshman at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington. She has been horse back riding at the Thomas School of Horsemanship in Melville for eleven (11) years and riding with the IEA team, Farmstead Equestrian of Thomas School, for four (4) years.

Competition season starts in September and ends at the National Finals in late spring. Individuals and teams earn points to qualify for regional, zone and national finals. Students ride horses that are furnished by the host barn and chosen by random draw. This equalizes competition variable and tests the horsemanship of the contestant.

Zone finals were held this year on March 24 and 25 at Kirby Hill Farm in Pawling, NY. Gina Diliberti placed 1st in her class, Junior Varsity Novice Equitation o/f x-rails. The 1st and 2nd place riders are moving on to National Finals. This year Hunt Seat National Finals will be held April 20-22, 2018 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York.

Gina’s dedication as an athlete through the hours of practice, the coaches who pushed her and the horses that challenged her, have paid off. Deep inside she remains the little girl who fell in love with the sport and never looked back. With hard work in every stride, good luck will always be by your side. Good Luck Gina! You deserve it. Go for it!

The mission of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) is to introduce students in middle and secondary schools to equestrian sports to develop understanding and appreciation of equestrian sports through organized competitions and education opportunities. Good horsemanship and honorable participation are priorities at every event.