Emory & Henry University senior Emma Pell riding Denmark from Centenary University in the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup. Photo by Maddy Falkowitz
Gladys, Va – May 3, 2025 – Competition for coveted high-point rider national champion titles began on Day Two of the 2025 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) National Championship held at Tryon International in Mill Spring, North Carolina. The first phases of the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup and the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider class culminated after a day of tough competition.
Day Two competition in the Horseware Ireland Hunter Seat Arena began with 16 riders from across the country vying for the Horseware Ireland Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences. The judges requested to test the riders sitting in second through sixth. Emma Gurley (Rutherfordton, North Carolina) from Emory & Henry University (Emory, Virginia) rode to champion in the Horseware Ireland Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences aboard Emory & Henry’s Romeo. Olivia Wilson from Miami University of Ohio (Oxford, Ohio) and Centenary University’s Denmark took home the reserve championship title. Skidmore College’s (Saratoga Springs, New York) sophomore Isa Jenson from Albany, New York, piloted the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) mount, Crumble, to third place.
The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation Over Fences national championship was awarded to Taylor Earnst (Grand George, New York), a Centenary University (Hackettstown, New Jersey) sophomore, aboard Denmark, also from Centenary University. Reserve honors went to Ava Jackson (Apex, North Carolina) from the University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, Virginia) and the Skidmore College mount, Mo. Madelyn Whitley (Stuarts Draft, Virginia) from Emory & Henry University rode Petro (University of Delaware/Newark, Delaware) to the third-place prize.
Twenty-four riders contested the Bill Yeager (Midland, Virginia) designed course in the first round to determine who takes home the Cacchione Cup as the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider. The course flowed well with 11 jumping efforts and an option to jump fence four to five in a direct bending line with a right rollback to fence six, or jump fence four straight, then a left rollback to fence five and a bending line to fence six.
“I did actually keep more focus on pace and track,” said Yeager, who has designed IHSA National Championship courses for 12 years. “It is mostly a straightforward course. There aren't a lot of technical options, so it should allow the riders to show their best.”
Hear from course designer Bill Yeager about the course he set for the 2025 USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup.
The judges rewarded a forward pace and accuracy, with 10 riders scoring in the 80s and the top five in a two-and-a-half point spread. Topping the field going into the final day of competition is Emma Pell (Waterford, Virginia), from Emory & Henry, aboard Denmark from Centenary University. Sewanee: The University of the South’s (Sewanee, Tennessee) Emma Sameth (Far Hills, New Jersey) with Bon Bon from SCAD and Isabella Karr (Charlottesville, Virginia ) from University of Vermont (Burlington, Vermont) on the Centenary University-provided mount, Caro rounded out the top three going into the next phase.
“We came up with a really good plan this morning for the course,” Pell said. “The course did have the option, so we made sure to walk both options and pick which one we wanted and what would be best for me as a rider.”
I tried to think about not just the jumps but the track and every part of the course from when I walk into the ring to when I leave,” Pell added.
“I never have any doubts about what she's going to do,” said Heather Richardson, clinical associate professor of Equine Studies at Emory & Henry and IHSA Hunter Seat head coach. “She's always going to do the right thing by the horse. Always be a competitor, but at the end of the day, she's a good horsewoman.”
Watch highlights of Emma Pell's round and hear from her and Head Hunter Seat Coach Heather Richardson.
The ring was cleared and dragged before the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup, was divided into two sections of 12 riders who drew new horses for the flat phase. Judges tested the riders at the walk, trot and canter with and without stirrups.
A work-off at the judges’ discretion is slated for Sunday morning to determine the 2025 USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup National Champion.
The Corro Individual Introductory Equitation national champion was Skidmore College’s Bevin Dean (South Burlington, Vermont) and the University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware) mount, Petro. The reserve championship went to Ciarra Launzinger (Guangzhou, China), a junior from Centenary University on Dee, from SCAD. Grace Fowler from the University of Central Florida (Orlando, Florida) was third with Goodman, provided by SCAD.
Purdue University’s (West Lafayette, Indiana) Kelsey Olivadoti (Fishers, Indiana) rode to the Corro Team Introductory Equitation national championship title on Quinn, from SCAD. The reserve call went to Megan Majkut (Levittown, New York), a sophomore at Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Connecticut). Majkut rode Goodman from SCAD. Fiona Bukhman (Wayne, New Jersey) of Centenary University earned third-place honors aboard the University of Delaware’s Petro.
The action in the Horseware Ireland Hunter Seat Arena on Day Two culminated with the Team Novice Equitation, and another opportunity to score essential points toward the 2025 Hunter Seat Team National Championship title. The 2025 national champion honors went to Cara Sowa (Newport Beach, California), a freshman from Stanford University (Stanford, California), aboard Quinn from SCAD. Maya Samlan (Mount Prospect, Illinois) from Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio) and Goodman, provided by SCAD, took reserve honors. Skidmore College’s Stella Allen (Cortlandt Manor, New York) aboard Crosby from Skidmore earned the third-place prize.
Day Two Western competition began with crowning the Team Ranch Riding, presented by the NRHA and NSBA. St. Andrew’s University (Scotland County, North Carolina) senior Lily Roman (Wake Forest, North Carolina) bested the field of 12 riders to be the 2025 national champion. Roman rode Walla, provided by Misty Yelton. Taking home the reserve championship was Kayla Lawson (Dalton, Ohio) from Midway University (Midway, Kentucky) aboard Happy, from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU/Murfreesboro, Tennessee). Rounding out the top three was Black Hawk College (Moline, Illinois) sophomore Gabrielle Olson (Viroqua, Wisconsin) and Honey, a palomino mare from the University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio).
In the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Horsemanship phase, riders donned their best attire and showcased their draws on the rail at the walk, jog and lope both directions before completing the pattern.
When the cheers quieted, Black Hawk College (Moline, Illinois) sophomore Calen Braden, with State University of New York at Oswego’s Paisley, led the field of 15 going into the reining phase Sunday.
Calen Braden in the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Horsemanship phase. Photo by Winslow Photography
“It was a little nerve-wracking switching (mounts) last minute, but it was super good,” Braden said. “I wouldn't have changed anything I did. I drew super well, and it all laid out for us.”
“She's always been super good at managing high-stress, high-pressure situations, so I had about zero doubt that she would be able to handle it,” said Liv Henning, assistant Western coach at Black Hawk College. ”The mare rode really well for her, and she managed every piece of that rail and the pattern.”
Watch highlights of Calen Braden's pattern and hear from her and Assistant Western Coach Liv Henning.
Rounding out the top three was St. Andrews University’s (Laurinburg, North Carolina) Chase Summerville (Albion, Pennsylvania) aboard Harley, provided by Albion College and Faith Borbonus (Greensburg, Pennsylvania) from the University of Findlay aboard Findlay’s own mount, Boston.
Back on Track Western High-Point Rider competition concludes Sunday with the reining phase, which will determine the 2025 national championship honors.
Team action continued with the Team Beginner Horsemanship, presented by NSBA. After showcasing the walk, jog and lope, Shelby Ford (McMinnville, Tennessee) rode Lena from MTSU to the top call and is the 2025 national champion. Reserve honors went to Albion College’s (Albion, Michigan) Rose Stanton (Los Angeles, California) on Annie, also from Albion College. Taking home the third-place ribbon was Emily Watts (Georgetown, Kentucky) from Midway University on the Findlay University mount, Pickles.
More horsemanship national champions were crowned in the Western Arena. The AQHA Individual Level I Horsemanship championship title was awarded to John Price (hometown) from the University of Findlay on the Alfred University (Alfred, New York)-provided, Frank. St. Andrews University’s Luke Rogers (Fork, South Carolina) rode Nicky to the reserve championship from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi). Rounding out the top three was Mia Polozola from Rocky Mountain College (Billings, Montana) aboard Paisley, provided by the State University of New York at Oswego.
AQHA Individual Rookie Horsemanship was next on the schedule. Along with the national championship title, Katelyn Clemens (Galva, Illinois) from Black Hawk College was awarded the championship prize, a buckle presented by AQHA. She rode Benz, provided by the University of Findlay. Alexis Caneff from the University of Findlay and Misty Yelton’s Walla took reserve honors and MTSU’s Faith Fraker aboard Lena, provided by Mississippi State University, earned the third-place honors.
Finishing up Day Two in the Western Arena was NRHA/AQHA Individual Reining. Cheers, whoops and clapping filled the air as the field of 12 spun, slid and stopped to delight the crowd and judges. The 2025 national champion, earning the Clark Bradley Trophy, was Hayley Mertz (Purcell, Oklahoma) from the University of Findlay, on Findlay’s own, Andy. The reserve call went to Calen Braden from Black Hawk College aboard Happy, from MTSU. Rounding out the top three was St. Andrews University’s Chase Summerville aboard Whiz, provided by MTSU.
Meet Alex Ronningen
Alex Ronningen was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was just 11 months old. Her grandmother, a physical therapist, was familiar with the benefits of therapeutic riding and introduced the family to hippotherapy—therapy conducted on horseback. At age 2, Ronningen began hippotherapy, and by 8 or 9, she transitioned to traditional riding lessons with a trainer, joining her sister in riding and competing as an able-bodied athlete.
She participated in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) throughout middle and high school, all while managing the challenges of her condition. At 16, Ronningen was also diagnosed with diabetes, adding another layer to her daily health routine. Still, she remained determined and upbeat, working last summer as a working student for grand prix rider Wilhelm Genn.
Now a student at Louisiana State University, Alex earned a spot on the LSU Equestrian Team. At the Zone 5 Finals at SCAD, she qualified for the IHSA National Championship in The Chronicle of the Horse Limit Equitation Over Fences aboard SCAD’s beloved horse, Pork Chop.
Hear more from Alex about her journey with cystic fibrosis—and how horses continue to play a central role in her life.
A Word from the Judges
This year’s IHSA National Championship welcomed two highly-respected hunter seat judges, Michael Tokaruk and Joyce Przebowski, to the Horseware Ireland Hunter Seat Arena. While both are familiar with the IHSA format, 2025 marks their first time judging the National Championship. We caught up with them during the competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center to get their impressions of the event, their thoughts on the level of competition, and what makes judging IHSA so unique.
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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.