Avery Wright of Tyrone achieved national acclaim by winning Champion in her class at the 2026 Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals held on April 25 at the National Equestrian Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Competing in the highly competitive Future Beginner Walk, Trot and Canter dressage Seat Equitation division, Wright was among only 12 riders nationwide, representing the top 1-2% of approximately 12,000 IEA riders. She qualified for nationals by earning Reserve Champion at regionals earlier in the year.

A key challenge of the IEA competition is that riders are randomly assigned horses just minutes before their performance, testing their adaptability and skill. Wright drew a horse named Regal from Ohio and had only about 10 minutes to prepare before her ride, showcasing her precision, control, and balanced form to secure the national title.