Logan Elizabeth Smith Claims the IHSA/USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Final – East Title
Logan Elizabeth Smith and Independence M. Photo by Jess Windhurst Photography
Edited Release: Lindsay Brock/Gable and USHJA
West Springfield, Mass.—Oct.20, 2026—Logan Elizabeth Smith of Holly Springs, North Carolina, won the 2026 IHSA/USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Final – East on Saturday, October 17, rising to the top after two rounds of competition and a final work-off with a score of 174.50. Riding Independence M, owned by Dachis Sporthorses LLC, and trained by Stacia Madden, the pair led the victory gallop during the New England Equitation Championships at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
An impressive list of 110 junior competitors took to the first-round course of the IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal Finals - East, designed by Ken Krome, with the top 25 combinations returning for a second round. The top four riders returned for a final test before judges Mike Rosser and Susan Schoellkopf to decide the title.
“I liked the first line of the course,” said Smith of the opening track of the Finals. “One of my biggest struggles is going to the first jump; it could go either way, but I liked how the first line rode today.”
Smith, from USHJA Zone 3, carried confidence from the start of the course through both rounds, heading into the second round with an 85.50 and sitting in eleventh place. Climbing to the top of the leaderboard in round two, she scored an 89 to total 174.50. The final tally put her two and a half points ahead of the runner-up.
“My horse has such a big stride and is really game and willing for anything,” said Smith of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “All of our hard work and preparation at home got us here, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Following Smith on the leaderboard was Catalina Biase, of Rye, New York, from USHJA Zone 2 and Milan, owned by Ann Miller Morton. The pair scored an 87 in round one and an 85 in round two. Hannah Hutter, of Reno, Nevada, from Zone 10, and Vivant, owned by Hutter Equestrian, rounded out the top three with an 87.25 in round one and an 84 in round two.
Mount Holyoke Director of Intercollegiate Coaching and Varsity Hunt Seat Team Coach and IHSA Board Member C.J. Law, and IHSA Founder Bob Cacchione, along with USHJA Director of Sponsorship and Donor Relations Jill Insko presented the award to Logan Elizabeth Smith. Photo by Jess Windhurst Photography
The IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal serves as a stepping stone for Equitation riders, providing an opportunity to qualify and compete in a National Equitation Final at fence heights of 3’3”.
“The IHSA is proud to serve as the title sponsor of the IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal Final,” said IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman. “We congratulate Logan and all the riders for their accomplishments, and we were happy to have IHSA Founder Bob Cacchione and Mount Holyoke Director of Intercollegiate Coaching and Varsity Hunt Seat Team Coach C.J. Law on hand for the presentations.”
The IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal Final - West will be held at the USHJA National Championships at the South Point Casino and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 10-15.
IHSA/USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Final - East Results
Rider | Horse | Trainer | Owner
Round 1 | Round 2 | Two-Round Score*
*The Final Round was not scored.
1. Logan Elizabeth Smith | Independence M | Stacia Madden | Dachis Sporthorses, LLC
85.50 | 89 | 174.50
2. Catalina Biase | Milan | Anthony Desimone | Ann Miller Morton
87 | 85 | 172
3. Hannah Hutter | Vivant | Christa Endicott | Hutter Equestrian
87.25 | 84 | 171.25
4. Mila Nechaev | Zinzano | Andre Dignelli | Mila Nechaev
84 | 88 | 172
5. Meriella Pitt Miller | Casino 71 | Patricia Harnois | Addison Slye
87.25 | 81.50 | 168.75
6. Olive Gutzler | Karakter C | Ann Dotoli | Anna Leighton
86 | 82.50 | 168.50
7. Grier Van Rooyen | Evito Sun Z | Jennifer Tirrell | Gowe Farms
86.75 | 81 | 167.75
8. Lacey Powers | Braxton | Andre Dignelli | Heritage Farm Inc
80.5 | 87 | 167.5
9. Madelyn Huson | Double-07 | Amber Viera | Madelyn Huson
83.75 | 83 | 166.75
10. Lillian Orne | Lorenzo 354 | Abigale Seley-Ferrigno | Robertson Family LLC
83.5 | 82 | 165.5
11. Finley Doyle | Lemon Squash | Kristi Smith | Carol Holt
79.5 | 86 | 165.5
12. Keira Fitzgerald | Carado | Amber Viera | Keira Fitzgerald
85.75 | 79.5 | 165.25