Team and High-Point Champions Named at 2026 IHSA National Championship
USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup and Back on Track Western High-Point Rider National Champions Crowned at Tryon International.
Alexander Alston (New Albany, Ohio) from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD/Savannah, Georgia) with SCAD’s Bon Bon jumping to the win in the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup for the second year in a row. Photo by Winslow Photography
Gladys, Va. - May 3, 2026 - National championship competition at the 2026 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship held at Tryon International in Mill Spring, North Carolina, culminated with team and high-point rider titles awarded. Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) earned its fifth Hunter Seat Champion Team title and West Texas A&M University was named the champion Horse & Rider Western Team, presented by APHA. Alex Alston (SCAD) earned his second consecutive USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup, and Wilmington College's Maegan Pearson was honored with the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider.
Over fences competition began with the Dover Saddlery Team Open Equitation Over Fences. Alex Alston’s (New Albany, Ohio) win provided a boost to the leaderboard for SCAD (Savannah, Georgia) in the hunt for the Hunter Seat Champion Team title. Alston piloted the 17-h chestnut gelding, Avatar, provided by Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), to the national championship title. The reserve tricolor went to Amaya Bellfield (Longmont, Colorado), from the University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, Virginia) aboard Milton, a mount provided by Centenary University (Hackettstown, New Jersey). Rounding out the top three were Colorado State University's (Fort Collins) Maddie Hawks (Redding, Connecticut) and Luca from the University of Lynchburg.
Next, the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup Work-Off round showcased the top-seven riders after the over fences and flat phases: Alex Alston, SCAD; Amaya Bellfield, University of Lynchburg; Emma Sameth (Far Hills, New Jersey), Sewanee: The University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee); Harper Eskey (Austin, Texas), St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York); Emma Linton (Galena, Ohio), Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio); Eva Froio (Wall Township, New Jersey), Centenary University; and Natalia Onisko (Cranford, New Jersey), University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware).
Judges Kat Mulkey and Heide Bossow-Casciaro tested the riders over a course of six jumps, including hand galloping, a halt mid-course, a counter-canter and a trot fence, before leaving the ring at the walk.
Riders were tested in reverse order of points after the over fences and flat phases.
Alston emerged as the national champion of the 2026 USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup. He rode Bon Bon, a 17.1-h liver chestnut gelding, also from SCAD. Topping the field after the flat phase with a score of 180, six points separating him from second place, Alston secured the win with his precise work-off round. Taking home the reserve tricolor is Emma Sameth, who rode the Centenary-provided Houdini. Third-place honors were awarded to Eva Froio aboard the SCAD mount Crumble.
“When I found out I was riding Bon Bon, I knew I would have no problem with the questions that were being asked,” Alston said. “Everyone around the horse show knows Bon Bon and that he's probably one of the best draws.
“I was quite lucky to ride him. And he comes from our team, so that's also a big advantage. I knew I was in good hands with that,” he added.
The history of the Cacchione Cup dates back to 1972. Alston joins a small group of riders to ride to multiple wins. The esteemed group includes CeCe Williamson, University of Virginia/Charlottesville Virginia (1981, 1982, 1983), Heide Bossow-Casciaro, Hollins College/Hollins, Virginia (1985 & 1987) and Kelly Mullen, SUNY Stony Brook/Stony Brook, New York (1988 & 1991).
“Winning the Cacchione Cup two years in a row means a lot to me as well as my team, and I'm very glad that I could bring it home to them,” Alston said.
Two team flat classes continued competition in the hunter seat arena. After jumps were removed and the footing dragged, Horseware Ireland Team Intermediate Equitation on the Flat and Dover Saddlery Team Open Equitation on the flat crowned national champions, adding points toward the Hunter Seat Team National Champion title.
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Champion: Peter Cavagnav (Amherst, Massachusetts) from SCAD aboard Snail from St. Lawrence University
Reserve: Taylor Ernst (Grand George, New York) from Centenary University aboard Peri from SCAD
Third: Samantha Wertz from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) aboard Itina from University of Lynchburg -
Champion: Alex Alston from SCAD aboard Luca from University of Lynchburg
Reserve: Emma Linton from Otterbein University aboard Bettina from SCAD
Third: Amaya Bellfield from the University of Lynchburg aboard Peri from SCAD
Western Competition
Kicking off the final day of competition in the Western pen was the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Reining Phase - Section A. Eight riders slid, spun and galloped around the pattern before a short break in the action to crown the AQHA Level II Horsemanship before the section B riders had their turn in the pen. The seven remaining riders in Section B rode for their chance at a national championship.
Meagan Pearson (Laurel, Indiana) from Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio), who led the field of 15 after the horsemanship phase, clinched the national championship title after a stellar reining pattern aboard Ned from Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania). The reserve champion honors went to Mount Holyoke College’s (South Hadley, Massachusetts) Lili Evans (Groton, Massachusetts) on the University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio)-provided Brutus. Rounding out the top three was Marci Leath (Columbia, South Carolina) from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU/Murfreesboro, Tennessee) on Sam, provided by the University of Findlay.
“Once I drew Ned, I knew that he was a perfect angel,” Pearson said. “I was like, all right, I'm gonna trust him and go with my gut and believe in the horse.
Meagan Pearson (Laurel, Indiana) from Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio) aboard Ned from the Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) in the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Reining phase. Photo by Winslow Photography
“IHSA means I have a whole other family,” Pearson added. “I see people here from all over, and I see them once a year and I absolutely love it. It's just like catching up with old friends.”
The 2026 AQHA Individual Level II Horsemanship National Champion is Addison Schliesser (Bowling Green, Ohio) from the University of Findlay, aboard Chip, from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi). Gabrielle Olson (Viroqua, Wisconsin) from Black Hawk College (Galva, Illinois) and Ty from Alfred University (Alfred, New York) took reserve honors. With the University of Findlay’s Pickles, Kairi Quinn (Spring Hill, Kansas) from Colby Community College (Colby, Kansas), secured third-place honors.Competition in the race for the Horse & Rider Western Team Champions, presented by APHA in the Western pen heated up with the Corro Team Rookie Horsemanship, presented by NSBA and the Horse & Rider Team Open Horsemanship, presented by NSBA.
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Champion: Violet Hodgson (Geneseo, Illinois) from West Texas A&M University aboard Nicky from Mississippi State University, Head Coach Amanda Ellis and Bob Cacchione. Photo by EQ Media
Reserve: Dixie McKibbin (Camden, Michigan) from Albion College aboard Nota from Wilson CollegeThird: Savannah Bishop (Oil City, Pennsylvania) from University of Findlay aboard Chip from Mississippi State University
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Champion: Helene Keiser(Gothenburg, Nebraska) from West Texas A&M University aboard Batman from SUNY Oswego (Oswego, New York)
Reserve: Marci Leath from MTSU aboard Ocho from the University of Findlay
Third: Samantha Johnson (Medina, Minnesota) from Clemson University aboard Oliver from the University of Findlay
2026 IHSA Team National Champions Crowned in Tryon
Champion team awards were presented to the high-point hunter seat and Western teams after the three-days of tough competition. The 2026 Hunter Seat Team Champion is SCAD, earning 61 points, securing their fifth national championship title. The team reserve champion is Skidmore College with 47 points.
Savannah College of Art & Design
“The students behind me, their incredible riding ability and their energy they bring everyday to practice to want to be better and be the number one team in the country. And here we are!”
- Ashley Henry, director and head coach, Savannah College of Art & Design
The 2026 Horse & Rider Western Team Champion, presented by APHA, is West Texas A&M University, taking home the title with 53 points. The University of Findlay team rode to the reserve honors with 48 points.
West Texas A&M University
“(It took) hard work, dedication, and perseverance.”
- Lori Jaixen, Western head coach at West Texas A&M University
Special Awards
IHSA Team Challenge first place team, Savannah College of Art & Design (Savannah, Georgia) with Bob Cacchione and IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman. Photo by EQ Media
IHSA Team Challenge, Presented by the USHJA
The IHSA Team Challenge put collegiate horsemanship knowledge to the test and was open to all IHSA members, both hunter seat and Western. Teams competed by completing the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Practice Quiz, with bonus points available through the official Level One and Level Two quizzes. Each team's top three scores were averaged for a final ranking, and ribbons are awarded through tenth place. USHJA Director of Education Lauren Klehm presented the awards.
Congratulations to the top three:
First Place: Savannah College of Art & Design
Second Place: Purdue University
Third Place: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
IHSA Quiet Champions Award, Presented by BJ Ehrhardt
Every team has them — the ones who arrive early and leave late, who cheer the loudest for their teammates and ask the hardest questions of themselves. They may not always be in the competition ring, but they are always present, without fail. They show up when it counts, in the ways that don't always get counted. This award exists to say: we see you.
Nominations were submitted by team coaches, with each coach eligible to nominate one rider per discipline. Submissions highlighted specific examples of the rider’s dedication and sportsmanship and testimonials from student team leaders. Nominations were reviewed by a Selection Committee, with final selections made by BJ Ehrhardt, who presented the awards.
The IHSA and BJ Ehrhardt are proud to present Hongyu “Milly” Chen from Mount Holyoke College and Ashton Hollingsworth (Fort Worth, Texas), West Texas A&M University with the inaugural Quiet Champion Award.
Bob Cacchione, Hongyu “Milly” Chen, Mount Holyoke College, Ashton Hollingsworth, West Texas A&M University, West Texas A&M University Head Equestrian Coach Amanda Ellis, Mount Holyoke Coach CJ Law and IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman
The University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio) with Bob Cacchione, AQHA Marketing Strategist Daina Behe and IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman. Photo by EQ Media
Trot to Tryon, Presented by AQHA
The American Quarter Horse Association created an initiative just for IHSA riders — Trot to Tryon. From March 1 through April 24, teams across the country logged every hour spent working with their horses — grooming, training, riding, caring — all in a spirited race to see who could put in the most time in the saddle and the barn on the road to this very championship. It was open to all IHSA teams, both hunter seat and Western, as a celebration of teamwork, horsemanship, and the countless hours that never show up in the show pen but make every great ride possible.
We are grateful to the American Quarter Horse Association for their generous support of IHSA riders and for reminding all of us that the journey to Tryon begins long before you ever enter the ring. AQHA Marketing Strategist Daina Behe presented the awards.
Congratulations to the top three:
First Place: University of Findlay
Second Place: Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania)
Third Place: Miami University of Ohio
Hunter Seat Awards
Western Awards
The IHSA congratulates all of the student-athletes competing in the 2026 National Championship and thanks the schools, horse providers and volunteers for their hard work to make this championship possible and a special experience for all involved.