Competition Kicks Off at Tryon International for 2026 IHSA National Championship
Eight Inducted into the 2026 IHSA Hall of Fame Class, Kenn Marash Presented with Pioneer Award and Washington College Western coach Bryan Bradley Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, Virginia) freshman, Amaya Bellfield (Longmont, Colorado), rode to the Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences national championship aboard Miami University of Ohio’s Francoe. Photo by Winslow Photography
Gladys, Va. – May 1, 2026 – Day One of the 2026 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) National Championship, hosted at the Tryon International in Mill Spring, North Carolina, featured some of the top collegiate riders in the country. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Western Head Coach Bryan Bradley of Washington College (Chestertown, Maryland), Kenn Marash was honored with the Pioneer Award. Eight founders coaches, riders and horses were inducted into the IHSA Hall of Fame.
The first national champion honor of 2026 was presented in the Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences. Sixteen horse-and-rider combinations navigated the Bill Yeager-designed course, which showcased the riders pace and track with unrelated distances, rollbacks and options at fences eight and nine. Amaya Bellfied (Longmont, Colorado), a freshman from the University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, Virginia), aboard Miami University of Ohio’s (Oxford, Ohio) Francoe, a 17.1-h bay gelding, took the top honors, giving Lynchburg their first IHSA national champion in their program’s history.
Along with three other competitors, Bellfield took the outside option to fence 8 and the inside option at fence 9. “I thought the track rode more even and it set me up for a more straight outside instead of the bend,” Bellfield said. “My option to go inside…was more of just a sleek inside look instead of having to bow out and then come back to the right side of the option.”
When asked about her mount, Francoe, Bellfield said, “Probably one of the best horses I could have gotten. He was super calm, great stride. I just got to go in and pick up my canter and he was right underneath me the whole time.”
The reserve champion call went to Centenary University’s (Hackettstown, New Jersey) Aislinn Bermingham (Chatham, New Jersey) riding Luca, a horse provided by the University of Lynchburg. Maddie Hawks (Redding, Connecticut) from Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colorado) with Miami University of Ohio’s mount Avatar rounded out the top three.
With only one point separating the top two riders, the judges asked each rider to return with their same draws to execute a shortened course. After testing first, Albion College (Albion, Michigan) sophomore Victoria Panasiuk (North Barrington, Illinois) was crowned champion in the Horseware Ireland Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences aboard Crumble, a 16.2-h gray gelding from SCAD. Taking home the reserve championship title is Daisy Ballantine (Upperville, Virginia) from Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pennsylvania) and Centenary University’s Johnny. Salve Regina University (Newport, Rhode Island) junior Emma Hufford from Burnt Hills, New York, piloted the SCAD mount, Harvey, to third.
The Chronicle of the Horse Individual Limit Equitation Over Fences National Champion is Peter Cavagnac (Amherst, Massachusetts), a junior from SCAD, aboard Revel from Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York). Isabella Ruisi (Kingston, Massachusetts) from Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Connecticut) and Ollie from the University of Lynchburg took reserve honors while Penn State University’s (University Park, Pennsylvania) Isabella Quill (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) aboard the Miami University of Ohio mount Miami Quinn earned the third place prize.
The ring was cleared in preparation for the flat classes, where the riders were tested at the walk, trot and canter each direction, with and without stirrups, demonstrating collection and extension of gaits.
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Champion: Annabelle Glitterman (Williamstown, Massachusetts) from St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York) aboard Sarah from Long Island University (Post, New York)
Reserve Champion: Sophie Miller (Belmont, Massachusetts) from Lake Erie College (Painesville, Ohio) aboard Quinn from SCAD
Third: Morgan Seibert (Phoenix, Arizona) from Stanford University (Stanford, California) aboard Bettina from SCAD
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Champion: Meredith Miramonti (Columbia, South Carolina) from the College of Charleston (Charleston, South Carolina) aboard Max from Centenary University
Reserve Champion: Peter Cavagnac from SCAD aboard Ancho, also from SCAD
Third: Margaret Elliott (Williamsburg, Virginia) from James Madison University aboard Sid from Long Island University
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Champion: Natalia Onisko (Cranford, New Jersey) from University of Delaware aboard Francoe from Miami University of Ohio
Reserve Champion: Laura Jun (Menlo Park, California) from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California) aboard Sarah from Long Island University
Third: Abby Talcott (Hughesville, Maryland) from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) aboard Carlson from Sewanee: The University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee)
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Champion: Carly Akins (Copley, Ohio) from Miami University of Ohio aboard Houdini from Centenary University
Reserve Champion: Kaitlyn Harper (Staunton, Virginia) from the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky) aboard Revel from Skidmore College
Third: Elaine Nibbio (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) from Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley Massachusetts) aboard Ollie from University of Lynchburg
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Champion: Nathaniel Biery (Seattle Washington) from SCAD aboard Motaz from University of Lynchburg
Reserve Champion: Tristan Chan (Staten Island, New York) from Centenary University aboard Max, also from Centenary University
Third: Carolina LaCosta (Goshen New York) from the University of Rhode Island (Kensington, Rhode Island) aboard Quinn from SCAD
Action in the Western pen began with 12 athletes vying for the NRHA/AQHA Individual Ranch Riding championship title. The pattern tested riders and their draws with extended gaits, rollbacks, pole work and ending with a halt and back. The first Western title of the 2026 National Championship was awarded to Faith Dady (Jerusalem, Tennessee) from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU/Murfreesboro, Tennessee) aboard MTSU’s Happy. Reserve honors went to Gabrielle Olson (Viroqua, Wisconsin) from Black Hawk College (Galva, Illinois). Albion College’s Madison Weedon (Paw Paw, Michigan) aboard MTSU’s Lil, earned the third-place prize.
Horsemanship riders then took to the pen with champions crowned in the following classes:
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Champion: Alyssa McPhersen (Ithaca, Michigan) Albion College aboard Benz from University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio)
Reserve Champion: Ashlynn Albaugh (Odessa, Texas) from West Texas A&M University (Canyon, Texas) aboard Honey from University of Findlay
Third: Chloe Joiner (Pell City, Alabama) from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi) aboard Nota from Wilson College (Swannanoa, North Carolina)
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Champion: Maegan Pearson (Laurel, Indiana) from Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio) aboard Sheldon from Black Hawk College
Reserve Champion: Natalie Ruha (Alabaster, Alabama) from Mississippi State University aboard Kody from Alfred University (Alfred, New York)
Third: Alicia Smoot (Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania) from Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) aboard Batman from SUNY Oswego (Oswego, New York)
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Champion: Hayley Pettus (Covington, Louisiana) from Mississippi State University aboard Archie from Black Hawk College
Reserve Champion: Bridgette Smith from Missouri State University aboard Sheldon from Black Hawk College
Third: Alessandra Rivera (Chicago, Illinois) from Black Hawk College aboard Ben from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana)
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Champion: Carrie Brigham (Clanton, Alabama) from Mississippi State University aboard Pickles from University of Findlay
Reserve Champion: Kaitlyn Purssord from Miami University of Ohio aboard Calvin from SUNY Oswego
Third: John Price from University of Findlay aboard Joey from Albion College
The excitement of the NRHA Team Reining, presented by NSBA, concluded Day One competition in the Western pen. The 2026 national champion is Mackenzie Moore (Walnut Grove, Mississippi), a junior from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi) aboard Brutus, provided by the University of Findlay.
Mackenzie Moore (Walnut Grove, Mississippi) a junior from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi) aboard Brutus, provided by University of Findlay. Photo by Winslow Photography
“I was obviously a little nervous. This is Nationals, but I put in a lot of preparation, and I think it really paid off,” Moore said. “We just had a very smooth, very consistent ride, and it turned out really good.”
Reserve honors went to Helene Keiser (Gothenburg, Nebraska) from West Texas A&M University aboard Callie from Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania). Samantha Johnson (Williamston, Michigan) from Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina) rode to third place aboard the University of Findlay-provided mount, Leonard.
Special Awards
Special awards were presented to Bryan Bradley for his service and dedication to collegiate riding, Kenn Marash for being the “voice of the IHSA” and to the eight inducted into the 2026 IHSA Hall of Fame class.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) leadership named Bryan Bradley the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at their board meeting in early January. Bradley, a Cazenovia College Equestrian Team alum who competed in both hunter seat and Western disciplines, has coached since 1994 and served on the IHSA board for nearly 25 years.
“I am honored,” Bradley said. “The IHSA is like a big family.”
Pictured: (back row) Chris Mitchell, Peter Cashman & Kelly Francfort; (front row) Rebecca Huddleston, Bryan Bradley & Bob Cacchione. Photo by EQ Media
Pioneer Award
The IHSA Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who have been instrumental in developing collegiate riding. Kenn Marash has been one of the most recognizable voices in equestrian sport for more than three decades, and the IHSA is proud to honor him with its Pioneer Award.
Marash brings a rare combination of horsemanship knowledge, storytelling instinct and genuine passion to every event he calls. His ability to inform, educate and entertain while connecting exhibitors and spectators to the action has made him an irreplaceable part of the horse show experience.
Pictured: Cindy Ford, Kenn Marash & Bob Cacchione. Photo by EQ Media
Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Hall of Fame Class of 2026: Heather Richardson, hunter seat head coach at Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University, accepting for Monty; Anne Brezeicki; Phyllis Cervelli; Dr. Duncan Peters; Ollie Griffith; Heide Bossow-Casciaro; Paul Cronin (awarded posthumously and accepted by David Cronin); and Dan and Jill Bergstresser accepting for Colonel Pepenator “Peppy,” joined by guests and previous inductees. Photo by EQ Media
IHSA National Championship competition resumes Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. Highlights include the Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup and the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Horsemanship classes.