Riders Set Sights on High-Point Titles at 2026 IHSA National Championship
Competition begins for the UHSJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup and Back on Track Western High-Point Rider
Coach Education Grants Awarded to Luther College Hunter Seat Coach Anne-Marine Feat and Michigan State University Western Coach Taylor Fabus
Savannah College of Art & Design (Savannah, Georgia) senior, Alex Alston (New Albany, Ohio), jumping to a 90 aboard Tuck, provided by Sewanee: The University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee) to lead the class in the hunt for the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup. Photo by Winslow Photography
Gladys, Va. – May 2, 2026 – The second day of competition at the 2026 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) National Championship held at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, featured the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup and Back on Track Western High-Point Rider.
The Horseware Ireland Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences started the day of competition in the hunter seat arena. Judges Kat Mulkey and Heide Bossow-Casciaro rewarded forwardness with top scores of more than 80.
With a top score of 86, Taylor Ernst (Grand George, New York) from Centenary University (Hackettstown, New Jersey) rode to the championship in the Horseware Ireland Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences aboard the 17h chestnut gelding, Avatar from Miami University of Ohio (Oxford, Ohio). Taking home the reserve championship title was Ian Gaudio (Redding, Connecticut) from Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York) and Savannah College of Art & Design’s (SCAD/Savannah, Georgia) Quinn. The Miami University of Ohio freshman Caroline Stanwood from Duxbury, Massachusetts, piloted the Skidmore University mount, Tommy to third place.
The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation Over Fences National Champion is Goucher College (Baltimore, Maryland) freshman Cameron Andruskiewicz (Westbrook, Connecticut) aboard Max from Centenary University (Hackettstown, New Jersey). Lola Saunders (Flourtown, Pennsylvania) from Long Island University (Post, New York) and Quinn from SCAD took reserve honors and Skidmore College’s Ani McIntyre (Andover, New Hampshire) aboard the St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York) mount Dennis earned the third-place prize.
Stakes rose as riders entered the arena for the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider Cacchione Cup Over Fences class. Twenty-four riders took on the Bill Yeager-designed track, where pace, precision and subtle invisible aids proved essential to topping the field and earning a place in IHSA history as a Cacchione Cup National Champion.
Leading the class in the over-fences phase of the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup, is the 2025 national champion SCAD senior Alex Alston (New Albany, Ohio) and the Sewanee: The University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee) mount Tuck to a score of 92. Amaya Bellfield (Longmont, Colorado/University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Virginia) is close behind with an 87, and only a half-point separates Madison Frankel (Roslyn Harbor, New York/Long Island University) with an 86.5.
“When I found out that I was riding the horse that I worked off on last year to the win, I felt super confident,” Alston said. “So I was ready for it.
“It’s always exciting scoring above a 90 — closer to the perfect 100 score,” he added. “And after last year winning, there was a lot of pressure that I put on myself, so it was quite a relief.”
Jumps were cleared from the hunter seat arena and the footing was prepared for the flat sections of the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup, Corro Individual Equitation, Corro Team Equitation, Presented by Mount Holyoke College, and Team Novice Equitation.
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Champion: Maggie Ames from the College of Charleston (Charleston, South Carolina) aboard Sid from Long Island University
Reserve Champion: Halle Aho (Campobello, South Carolina) from Converse College (Spartanburg, South Carolina) aboard Quinn from SCAD
Third: Alexa Carey (Los Altos Hills, California) from Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) aboard Gina from St. Lawrence University
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Champion: Sophia Inglesias (Gainesville, Florida) from SCAD aboard Big Shot from Centenary University
Reserve Champion: Fiona Bukhman (Wayne, New Jersey) from Centenary University aboard Avatar from Miami University of Ohio
Third: Nila Rothman (Louisville, Kentucky) from Skidmore College aboard Ollie from the University of Lynchburg
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Champion: Isa Washburne (New York, New York) from Skidmore College aboard Quinn from SCAD
Reserve Champion: Jenna Choinski (Marlton, New Jersey) from Long Island University aboard Frankie from Skidmore College
Third: Jilyan Moorman (Mountainside, New Jersey) from Centenary University aboard Sid from Long Island University
Action in the Western pen started Day Two with the NRHA Team Ranch Riding, presented by NSBA. Twelve riders completed the pattern, vying for the national championship title. University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio) senior Cassidy Fritz (Bremen, Indiana) rode to the 2026 national champion title with Findlay’s own Benz. Reserve honors went to Black Hawk College’s (Galva, Illinois) Elizabeth Ellis (Chenoa, Illinois) aboard Reba, provided by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU/Murfreesboro, Tennessee). Marina Carroll (Grand Junction, Colorado) from West Texas A&M University (Canyon, Texas), aboard Delaware Valley University’s (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) Callie, earned the third-place prize.
The pursuit of the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider title got underway with the Horsemanship phase, where 15 riders navigated their draws through the walk, jog and lope on the rail before tackling individual pattern work. The pattern challenged competitors to demonstrate accuracy, feel and finesse through extended gaits, a simple lead change and a 360-degree turn in either direction.
The top three after the Horsemanship phase are: Megan Pearson (Laurel, Indiana/Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio), Lili Evans (Groton, Massachusetts/Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts) and Peyton Podmolik (Pella, Iowa/West Texas A&M University). With a tightly-contested field emerging from the opening phase, all eyes now turn to the Reining phase on Sunday, when the national champion will be decided.
Megan Pearson (Laurel, Indiana/Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio) aboard University of Findlay mount Pickles leading after the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Horsemanship Phase.
Photo by Winslow Photography
Three horsemanship classes crowned national champions.
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Champion: Emma Weinberg (Delaware, Ohio) from the University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio) aboard Nicky from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi)
Reserve Champion: Anita Shama (Roswell, Georgia) from Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina) aboard Pickles from the University of Findlay
Third: Brooke Gochnour (New Enterprise, Pennsylvania) from Penn State University (University Park, Pennsylvania) aboard Sugar from Clemson University
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Champion: Keira Wagner (Columbia, Tennessee) from Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) aboard Honey from the University of Findlay
Reserve Champion: Charli Wells (Holdrege, Nebraska) from West Texas A&M University aboard Sugar from Clemson University
Third: Rachel Bardsley (Palmyra, Pennsylvania) from Wilson College aboard Jackfrost from Berry College (Rome, Georgia)
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Champion: Victoria Brandt (Medina, Ohio) from Miami University of Ohio aboard Nota from the Wilson College
Reserve Champion: Baylee Runyon (Springfield, Illinois) from Black Hawk College aboard Hooker from Black Hawk College
Third: Alyssa McPhersen (Ithaca, Michigan) from Albion College aboard Lex from Alfred University (Alfred, New York)
The NRHA/AQHA Individual Reining ended competition for the day in the Western pen. Whoops and clapping filled the air as the field of 12 spun, slid and stopped to delight the crowd and judges. The 2026 national champion, earning the Clark Bradley Trophy, was Hayley Mertz (Purcell, Oklahoma) from the University of Findlay, on Findlay’s own Leonard. The reserve call went to Marci Leath from MTSU aboard Frankie, from Delaware Valley University. Rounding out the top three was Mount Holyoke’s Lili Evans aboard Venus provided by Findlay.
Special Awards - iHSA Coach Education Grant
The IHSA GIVE Campaign and the IHSA fundraising committee announced the inaugural recipients of the IHSA Coach Education Grant, the first national grant dedicated to investing in the professionals who make this collegiate sport possible. The grants are made possible by donors who believe in the future of IHSA.
This grant supports professional credentialing and education through our membership partner programs, USHJA Trainer Certification and the AQHA Professional Horseman Program.
Anne-Marine Feat is an Associate Professor of French at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and has been the faculty advisor for the equestrian club for six years and the coach of the IHSA team for the last two. She says that the American hunter system wasn't part of the landscape growing up in Europe, and she wants to bridge that gap to be a better resource for her students and a more active contributor to the region.
Taylor Fabus served as an Extension Educator, leading the Michigan 4-H Horse Program for more than 10 years. In 2022, Taylor took over the Western coach position for the MSU Equestrian Team. She is looking forward to adding skills to her teaching repertoire that will benefit the MSU program and to connecting with more professionals in the industry who can become valuable resources.
IHSA National Championship competition concludes Sunday with the crowning of the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup and Back on Track Western High-Point Rider titles, team award presentations and more.