Alexander Alston, a junior from Savannah College of Art and Design, aboard My Way provided by Hollins University riding to the win in the Dover Saddlery Open Equitation Over Fences. Photo by Maddy Falkowitz
Gladys, Va. – May 2, 2025 – Day One of the 2025 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 Chris Mitchell of Albion College after his years of service to the IHSA and its members.
The Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences was the first division of the day in the Horseware Ireland Hunter Seat Arena, with 16 riders vying for the national championship. Competition proved tough as scores in the 80s dominated the class. After all riders navigated the Bill Yeager (Midland, Virginia) designed course, the judges tested riders sitting in third, fourth and fifth places as they were all within a three-point range. The shortened course consisted of four of the original nine fences with no related distances, a halt finishing with counter cantering the Horseware Ireland vertical.
With a 91, Day One’s top score in the Horseware Ireland Hunter Seat Arena, Savannah College of Art & Design (Savannah, Georgia) junior, Alexander Alston (Wellington, Florida) aboard the Hollins University gelding, My Way, took the Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences National Championship title for the second consecutive year.
“It was awesome, honestly,” Alston said of his round on My Way. “I walked in and I picked up a great gallop and the jumps kind of showed up and it went my way. So we're very happy.”
Watch parts of Alston's winning round and hear from him after being Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences National Champion two consecutive years.
The reserve champion call went to Stanford University’s Rafi Wolf (Bellevue, Washington) riding Barradouz, another horse provided by Hollins University. Amy Lewis (Fairfax, Virginia) from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Virginia) with Miami University of Ohio’s (Oxford, Ohio) mount Avatar rounded out the top three.
The next individual national champions crowned were the Horseware Ireland Intermediate Equitation Over Fences and The Chronicle of the Horse Limit Equitation Over Fences. More high scores and great rides were produced, with many scoring in the high 70s and above.
The top-three riders tested over a short course include a trot fence and two changes of lead, the 2025 Horseware Ireland Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences champion is University of Delaware’s (Newark, Delaware) Natalia Onisko (Cranford, New Jersey) with Hollins University's Barradouz. Kathleen Francione (West Palm Beach, Florida), a senior from the University of New Hampshire (Durham, New Hampshire) aboard SCAD's Crumble and Lexie Kern (Rehoboth, Massachusetts), a senior from SCAD, with Centenary University’s (Hackettstown, New Jersey) Big Shot finished second and third respectively.
The Chronicle of the Horse Individual Limit Equitation Over Fences class included some tough competition, with nearly half of the class scoring in the 80s. After testing the top four, the judges awarded the top call and championship honors to Charlotte Lyon from Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York), with SCAD's Pork Chop. Michigan State University’s (East Lansing, Michigan) Sydney Fish (Birmingham, Michigan) and the Miami University of Ohio-provided mount, Mozart, earned the reserve championship title. Taking third was SCAD senior Karma Redman (Raleigh, North Carolina) and Gus from Hollins University.
After clearing and dragging the Horseware Ireland Hunter Seat Arena, the equitation on-the-flat classes tested riders to showcase their ability to use invisible aids, separating the national champions from the rest of the class. Judges Michael Tokaruk (Germantown, Tennessee) and Joyce Przebowski (Farmingdale, New York) watched the riders execute walk, trot and canter in both directions–including no stirrup work–scrutinizing rider position, effectiveness and connection with their mounts. The IHSA is pleased to announce and congratulate the top three in each of the following equitation on the flat classes:
Horseware Ireland Individual Intermediate Equitation on the Flat
Champion: Hope Gillaspie (Stockton, New Jersey) / St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (St. Mary’s Indiana) / Ronda (Marist University, Marist College, New York)
Reserve Champion: Nicole Imbeault (Charlotte, North Carolina) / University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia) / Caro (Centenary University, Hackettstown, New Jersey)
Third: Ellie White (Sterling, Massachusetts) / Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio) / Crumble (SCAD)
The Chronicle of the Horse Individual Limit Equitation on the Flat
Champion: Reese Dorsey (Parkton, Maryland) / Midway University (Midway, Kentucky) / Roxette (Centenary University, Hackettstown, New Jersey)
Reserve Champion: Grace Allen (Ottsville, Pennsylvania / Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) / Trey (Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia)
Third: Hudson Warren (Englewood, Colorado) / St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York) / My Way (Hollins University, Hollins, Virginia)
Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation on the Flat
Champion: Alexander Alston (Wellington, Florida) / SCAD (Savannah, Georgia) / Grant (Morrisville State College, Morrisville, New York)
Reserve Champion: Anna Huard (Howell, Michigan) / Albion College (Albion, Pennsylvania) / Walter (Goucher College, Towson, Maryland)
Third: Cora Floyd (Kalamazoo, Michigan) / Hollins University (Hollins, Virginia) / Tuck (Sewanee: The University Of The South, Sewanee, Tennessee)
Practical Horseman Individual Novice Equitation
Champion: Elizabeth Bechtold (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania) / Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, Virginia) / Eloquence (Hollins University)
Reserve Champion: Ella Muschlitz (Lusby, Maryland) / College of Charleston (Charleston, South Carolina) / Werner (Albion College)
Third: Natalie Nawa (Romeoville, Illinois) / Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio) / Moose (SCAD)
The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation on the Flat
Champion: Peter Cavagnac (Amherst, Massachusetts) / SCAD / Frankie (Skidmore College, Sherborn, Massachusetts)
Reserve Champion: Kathryn Smith (Wells, Vermont) / Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Massachusetts) / Ettie (Albion College)
Third: Jessica McElhaney (Virginia Beach, Virginia) / Lynchburg University (Lynchburg, Virginia) / Quinn (SCAD)
Cheers rang from the Western Arena as championship competition began with the AQHA/NRHA Individual Ranch Riding. In its fifth year of National-level competition, Ranch Riding has exploded in popularity with IHSA teams.
Twelve horse-and-rider combinations executed the pattern featuring extended gaits, lead changes–simple or flying–ending with a halt and back. The 2025 National Champion is Savannah Lindsey (Fayetteville, North Carolina) from North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina), riding Happy provided by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU/Murfreesboro, Tennessee). Reserve honors went to St. Mary-of-the-Woods College’s (St. Mary’s, Indiana) Kyley Pelfrey (Greencastle, Indiana) aboard Oakie, provided by MTSU. Missouri State University’s (Springfield, Missouri) Sophie Karney aboard MTSU’s Whiz earned the third-place prize.
Riders in the highly-contested AQHA Individual Horsemanship walked, jogged and loped both ways of the ring showing off their style and position. Taking home the championship title and a buckle presented by AQHA, is Black Hawk College’s (Moline, Illinois) Calen Braden, who was third in last year’s class. She rode Racquel, a bay mare provided by MTSU. Chase Summerville (Albion, Pennsylvania) from St. Andrews College and Robin, also from St. Andrews College, took reserve honors. Albion College’s (Albion, Michigan) Carli Kerns (Manchester, Michigan) aboard Bay Archie, provided by Black Hawk College, earned the third place prize.
Alice Kaufman (Bloomsbury, New Jersey), a senior at Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) aboard the University of Findlay-provided Ben, is the 2025 Team Level I Horsemanship, presented by NSBA, National Champion. Taking home the reserve championship title is Christina Francis (Turbotville, Pennsylvania) from Black Hawk College and Mississippi State University’s Lena. University of Findlay’s (Findlay, Ohio) Maggie Farley from Sandusky, Ohio piloted the MTSU mount Penny to third place.
Next on the competition schedule was Team Level II Horsemanship. The National Champion is James Shrock (Muncie, Indiana) from the University of Findlay, aboard Chip MS from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi). Fifth-year Albion College rider Ainslie Schlagel (Mason, Michigan) and Annie from Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama) took reserve honors. With MTSU’s own Whiz, MTSU senior Simone Allen secured third-place honors.
The requirements of the AQHA Individual Beginner Horsemanship class state that riders can have had no more than 24 weeks of instruction and can not have competed in a mounted division that required them to canter or lope. Dylan Allison (Republic, Ohio) from the University of Findlay, aboard the MTSU-provided Penny, is the 2025 AQHA Beginner Horsemanship National Champion. Reserve championship honors went to Brenda Yocom (Lindsay, California) from the College of the Sequoias and Nicky from Mississippi State, while Middle Tennessee State University’s Monica Braunwalder from Lascassas, Tennessee piloted Black Hawk College’s Sheldon to third place.
NRHA Team Reining, presented by NRHA and NSBA concluded Day One competition in the Western arena. Twelve riders with their draws rode the pattern to the delight of the crowd and judges. The 2024 national champion is Chase Summerville from St. Andrews University on Ned, provided by Wilson College (Swannanoa, North Carolina).
“I actually drew Ned at the semi-finals in New Jersey, so I rode him previously,” Summerville said. “So I was super excited to get him today. I felt like I could really go out there and show him off and that's what we did. He was absolutely amazing for me.”
Hear from the 2025 NRHA Team Reining National Champion, Chase Summerville from St. Andrews University and his head coach, Carla Wennberg.
The reserve call went to Ryan Stiles (LaFayette, New York) from the State University of New York at Oswego (Oswego County, New York) aboard Peggy, provided by Black Hawk College. Calen Braden from Black Hawk College, also aboard Oakie, provided by MTSU, rode to third-place honors.
Lifetime Achievement Award
In a special ceremony held in the Horseware Ireland Hunter Seat Arena, Albion College Head Hunter Seat Coach and IHSA Board Member Chris Mitchell was formally presented with the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award. He was joined center ring by several past recipients in a moving show of respect and camaraderie. Following the presentation, Jane Da Costa, executive director and founder of Metropolitan Equestrian, paid tribute to Mitchell’s enduring commitment to collegiate equestrian sport in a heartfelt video message.
Chris Mitchell was presented the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by EQ Media
“I'm humbled to be part of that group that was out there,” Mitchell said. “It’s like the history of the IHSA! That was amazing. The recognition really means a lot. I would like to thank my wife and my family for being supportive. My wife understands it because she rode at Centenary University before we met. The Jane (Da Costa) video was unexpected. It did make me cry.”
READ MORE ABOUT CHRIS MITCHELL
IHSA National Championship competition resumes Saturday morning at 8 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