A Word From the 2026 IHSA National Championship Judges
Heide Bossow-Casciaro and Kat Demas Mulkey officiated in the hunter seat arena at the 2026 IHSA National Championship. Photo by Winslow Photography
Hunter Seat Judges
Kat Demas Mulkey from Talking Rock, Georgia, and Heide Bossow-Casciaro from Woodstock, Illinois, judged the hunter seat classes. Bossow-Casciaro, a two-time winner of the Cacchione Cup in 1985 and 1987 for Hollins College and was inducted into the IHSA Hall of Fame on May 1, the first day of the IHSA National Championship.
How did the weekend go?
Bossow-Casciaro: I’m very honored to be in the Hall of Fame. This whole weekend has been amazing.
Mulkey: This was my first experience judging IHSA Nationals. I had a great weekend. I really enjoyed every aspect of it. The show was run incredibly efficiently. Just a very finely tuned machine. There was lots of cheering. They're equally as loud (in the lower placings) as they are for those in first place, which I think is awesome.
What did you think of the quality of the horses?
Bossow-Casciaro: All the horses were amazing, so that made our job a little easier. We could just judge more on the performance. We have to pick a winner out of the top in the country, and we take it very seriously.
Mulkey: The horses were fantastic. (IHSA) does just an amazing job of No. 1 getting great horses and No. 2 placing them just right in the classes so that everything's very even. It makes our job so much easier.
And the riders?
Mulkey: The quality of the riding was very good.
Bossow-Casciaro: We tried to test them, to help separate the men from the boys, so to speak, so that we could let the winner rise to the top.
What was it like to judge together?
Bossow-Casciaro: Both Kat and I loved judging together. We have to pick a winner out of the top in the country, and we take it very seriously.
Mulkey: I loved judging with Heide. We really had a good system down and, you know, we didn't agree on everything, but we were always able to compromise.
When you compare it with other shows, what is different about the IHSA National Championship?
Mulkey: I've always loved IHSA for the team camaraderie that it brings forward for these riders. And one of the neatest things that kind of tugged at my heartstrings (that) very often as the, the rider would be in the ring for the presentation and when they came out the outgate, they would just get mobbed by their team.
Bossow-Casciaro: I encourage everybody to ride in the Intercollegiate and have that opportunity to ride in college, as it keeps you going if you don't have a horse during your college years. Bob (Cacchione) has certainly created opportunities for many at all levels. The IHSA certainly is part of my family because of the experience and having (developed) so many lasting relationships.
Holly Hover and Gretchen Mathes, pictured with IHSA founder Bob Cacchione, judged the Western competition at the 2026 IHSA National Championship. Photo by Winslow Photography
Western Judges
Holly Hover, from Cave Creek, Arizona, and Gretchen Mathes, from Harwinton, Connecticut, officiated in the Western pen. Both have judged the IHSA National Championship in the past.
How did the weekend go?
Mathes: I love the camaraderie of all the teams, and the volunteers are amazing. It was as wonderful as always. I've done several, and I judged the original Western discipline Nationals at Mount Holyoke. I've been going at this for a long time, and I love it!
Hover: I've (judged) maybe four or five times. Every time it's a great experience.
What did you think of the quality of the horses?
Hover: The horses were great. A very good cross-section of horses.
Mathes: I thought the set of horses was really nice this year.
And the riders?
Hover: I was so impressed by the level and the quality of the riders since I've been here last. Each time it gets better and better and better. This (AQHA Individual) Open Horsemanship was as good as I've seen. Gretchen and I just came from the NCEA Nationals, and it was every bit as tough as that.
Mathes: I just love this environment. Kids are great riders. Much improved, I think. I'm very impressed and I always enjoy it!
What was it like to judge together?
Mathes: I was fortunate enough to get to judge with my good friend Holly Hover!
What did you think of Tryon International?
Hover: Oh, I love it. It's beautiful. I've never been here. I'm from Arizona, where it's not very green, and so I keep walking around with Gretchen saying, ‘Oh my gosh, it's so beautiful!’ What a lovely facility. We had fine food and walked around, and certainly enjoyed ourselves.
Mathes: I love this place! It's very peaceful.