How do I join Interschool Queensland?
You will need to join Equestrian Queensland as a Junior Competitor (IQ riders north of Rockhampton only require Participant membership, however if competing in events south of Rockhampton Junior Competitor membership is required). After joining EQ you will also need to register your horse(s) with Equestrian Queensland (either EA Base or Life Registration). See below for further information about EA horse registration.
Does my school need to do anything?
Your school is required to be an Equestrian Queensland (EQ) School Affiliate and renew this affiliation annually. If your school is not already an affiliate, they will need to complete a NEW EQ School Affiliation Form.
Each year the school team and competition uniform (refer to Article 3 in the IQ Handbook for Uniform Guidelines) is required to be updated via this LINK.
School Affiliation Applications
What region is my school in?
There are six regions that have been defined to facilitate the coordination of IQ events and qualification requirements for the State Championships.
The competition region you belong to is generally determined by the location of the school you attend and not by your residential address.
Riders in some regions are permitted a reduced number of qualifiers in order to attend the state championship. This is due to the reduced number of events available to riders in these regions. The IQ school regions are detailed in the IQ Handbook.
What type of EA registration does my horse need to compete in IQ competitions?
All horses competing in interschool competitions must be EA Base Registered as a minimum requirement. EA Base registration is free of charge.
Your horse will need to be EA Life Registered if you are competing in above the line classes- Elementary Dressage and above, EvA95 Eventing and above, and 1.05m Showjumping and above. If you are competing in the Interschool State Championships or Australian Interschool Championships, your horse must be EA life registered regardless of what level you are competing at.
Horse Registration Applications
What are the benefits of joining IQ?
You and your school will become part of the Equestrian Queensland IQ Program and can participate in IQ events, Regional and the State Championships. Riders have access to our education programs including EquiSkills. As a member of Equestrian Queensland you will also receive benefits including, but not limited to, the ability to participate in all levels of competition in the sport and 24/7 insurance.
This allows your schools IQ events to be included on our website and social media, provides access to the EA rules and regulations, use of EA accredited judges, officials and coaches, regular IQ newsletters, risk management guidance, and of course assistance and advice from our friendly office staff!
How do I find out what IQ events are being run?
There is a calendar specifically for IQ which has the details of all IQ events that are being run in Queensland. Most IQ nominations are taken on nominate.com.au however if you need further information regarding an event you can contact the event coordinator listed on the calendar. You can also keep up to date with all the latest information by signing up for the IQ newsletter (subscribe - HERE) or by joining the Equestrian Queensland facebook page and Interschool Queensland facebook group.
What competitions can I particiate in?
- Interschool (IQ) events (Dressage, Show Horse, Jumping and Combined Training), where ONLY interschool riders participate are conducted throughout the year by the IQ state and regional committees, EQ school and clubs affiliates.
- IQ Eventing Leaderboard -Eventing competitions are not hosted by schools or the Interschool committee. The competition schedule is found on the EQ Eventing calendar. The IQ committee conducts an IQ Eventing Leaderboard for the discipline of Eventing. The leaderboard determines the overall State placings and State team members. For more information, refer to the IQ Handbook.
What are the Regional Championships?
There are four regions (Darling Downs and South West Qld, South East Qld, Wide Bay and North Qld) that currently have their own Regional Championships each year. You do not need to attend any qualifiers to compete in the Regional Championships.
Refer to the IQ Handbook to determine your region. Each Regional championships may also open to riders from outside their region at the discretion of the OC, riders may be required to participate on a HC basis, however can still obtain qualifications for the State Championships.
What is the State Championships?
Queensland hosts a State Championship event each year providing a high level of competition for all riders. This is the qualifying event for selection onto the Queensland State team for the Australian Championships.
The State Championships provides the opportunity for schools to further develop a strong team spirit and ethos. Riders who do not qualify to participate are encouraged to attend, support their school teams and to assist in the running and operation of the event.
Results must be obtained during the qualifying period:
From the previous IQ State Championships close of entries date to the upcoming IQ State Championships close of entries date.
Specific qualifying requirements of each discipline are outlined in the discipline sections of the IQ Handbook.
It is the competitor’s responsibility to:
- keep a record of all your qualifying results
- ensure all qualifying criteria is met
- provide the full correct information when nominating
What is the Australian Championships?
The Australian Interschool Championships (AIC) was inaugurated in 2008 is run annually and have been hosted annually by various states.
The AIC since then, to date the following Nationals have been hosted:
Queensland 2008, 2012, 2017, 2020*, 2024
Victoria 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2021*, 2023, 2026
New South Wales 2010, 2015 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025
Western Australia 2013
*cancelled due to COVID-19
Please refer to the IQ Handbook for classes that are included at Nationals. To gain a position on the Qld State Team to attend the AIC (Nationals) you must qualify by placing in the top 4 overall at the State Championships or for Eventing in the top 4-6 on the IQ Eventing Leaderboard.
