Celia Cram from SCAD leads after the over-fences phase of the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup. Photo by Hannah Foreman
Riders Vie for the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup and Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Titles
Gladys, Va. – May 4, 2024 – The second day of competition at the 2024 Intercollegiate Horse Show 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.
After the 16 riders completed the Bill Yeager (Midland, Virginia) designed course, the judges requested to test the top five. Sadie Nesbitt (Rochester, New York) from Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York) was champion 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 Sierra Smith from Intermont Equestrian at Emory and Henry College and Centenary University’s Denmark. The University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware) sophomore Natalie Onisko from Cranford, New Jersey, piloted the Centenary University mount, George to third place.
The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation Over Fences National Champion, Cait Weis (Newburyport, Massachusetts), a sophomore from St. Lawrence University, rode Classico, provided by St. Lawrence University. Molly Drass (Columbia, Missouri) from Penn State University (State College, Pennsylvania) and Mo from Skidmore College took reserve honors and Skidmore Colleges Elise Sigety aboard the Centenary University mount Fantastique earned the third-place prize.
Then, USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup Over Fences class took center stage. Twenty-four horse-and-rider combinations navigated the course vying for the national championship title.
“What we've decided over the past few years is to build one course so it works out best for the horses, so there are no surprises throughout the week. And I start with the Cacchione Cup,” Yeager said. “When I designed the course for this week, I decided I wanted to give some more options,” he added. “This year, there are multiple options throughout the course, and it gives you an opportunity to make some decisions as you're riding around the course.”
Competitors had many options to showcase their riding. From fence five, riders have a choice to turn left or right for fence six which will then provide different approach options to fence seven, which is a single vertical set at the short side of the ring. Riders can approach fence seven in a few different ways depending on the strength of their horse and confidence in their skills.
Leading the class in the over-fences phase of the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup, was Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) junior Celia Cram who rode Iowa, provided by Long Island University, to a score of 89. “It was really good. I was very impressed with the score,” Cram said. “I thought he was a bit of a trickier horse. I think he was one of the harder ones in the class, so I was a little worried coming in, how he would react to all that and how rideable he'd be, but he actually was quite nice.
“Jump one wasn't my favorite, but I think it gave me a really good idea of how to ride the rest of the course and then I could really show him off and show myself off,” she added.
The 24 riders drew a new mount for the flat phase which was split into two sections. Cram flatted Crosby, a 16.2-h gelding provided by Skidmore College. “I'd seen him go a lot during this show and I really like him. He is one of my favorites,” Cram said. “ I was excited about him and he went really nicely. The (Skidmore College) coach said a couple things that I had to keep track of and keep that in the back of my head a little bit going around, but he was really good.”
The top-10 competitors will return Sunday with a work-off of the top-six riders to determine the 2024 USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup National Champion.
Celia Cram from SCAD. Photo by Josh Walker
Watch the video of interviews with course designer Bill Yeager and SCAD's Celia Cram and highlights of her round
Three flat classes followed the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup, on the Flat sections.
Mara Bunderson (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison stood out to the judges in the Individual Introductory Equitation and was named the 2024 national champion. She rode CSS High Up, a 16-h bay gelding provided by Hollins University (Hollins, Virginia). Taking home the reserve championship is Leticia Vaz (Irvine, California) from California State Polytechnic University, Pamona, aboard Rou from Morrisville State College (Morrisville, New York). Rounding out the top three was Skidmore College Emma Jennison (San Francisco, California) aboard Siegfried, provided by St. Lawrence University.
The Team Introductory Equitation National Champion was Kameron Riggs (Avon Lake, Ohio), a sophomore from SCAD aboard Goodman from SCAD. Wendzdae Wendling (Wolcott, Vermont) from the University of Vermont (Chittenden County, Vermont) and CSS High Up, provided by Hollins University, took reserve honors while Skidmore College’s Bevin Dean (South Burlington, Vermont) aboard Siegfried from St. Lawrence University earned the third-place prize.
Jordan Martin from Middle Tennessee State University leads after the horsemanship phase of the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider class. The reining phase will be held Sunday. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
The last hunter seat class of the day crowned Hudson Gauthier (Los Angeles, California) from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California) as the 2024 Team Novice Equitation National Champion. She rode Goodman, a gray gelding provided by SCAD. The reserve call went to Sacred Heart University’s Ava Flannery (Reisterstown, Maryland) on Otto from Miami University of Ohio. Rounding out the top three was Lexie Stoebenau from SCAD on the Hollins University mount, CSS High Up.
Western competition continued on day two with the NRHA Team Ranch Riding, presented by NRHA and NSBA. Twelve riders completed the pattern vying for the national championship title. The 2024 national champion title was awarded to Lily Roman (Wake Forest, North Carolina) from St. Andrews University University (Scotland County, North Carolina), riding Penny provided by Team NAH. Reserve honors went to Ohio State University’s (Columbus, Ohio) Isaiah Baughman aboard Benz provided by the University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio). St. Mary-of-the-Woods College’s (St. Mary’s, Indiana) Kyley Pelfrey (Greencastle, Indiana) aboard the University of Findlay’s Cinch earned the third-place prize.
Next, the Back on Track Western High-Point Horsemanship phase began with 11 riders in section A followed by the remaining 11 riders in section B. Donned in their fanciest show attire, riders showcased their position at the walk, jog and lope both ways of the pen and accuracy during the pattern work. Wowing the judges and in the lead going into the reining phase on Sunday was Jordan Martin from Middle Tennessee State University with the sorrel mare Pickles, provided by the University of Findlay. “I really liked the pattern because that horse is one that you can do the extended gaits on really well and I like to push those maneuvers, so I was glad to get a horse that I could do that on as well,” Martin said. “So she was really good. She did a really good pattern.”
Watch highlights of Middle Tennessee State University's Jordan Martin's Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Horsemanship Phase
Big smiles abounded when the results were called for the Team Beginner Horsemanship, presented by NSBA. The 2024 national champion title was awarded to Monica Braunwalder (Lascassas, Tennessee) from Middle Tennessee State University rode Roxie, provided by University of Findlay. Reserve honors went to Penn State University's Kira Maurer (Dalmatia, Pennsylvania) with Flint from Midway University. Third-place honors went to West Texas A&M University’s Amber Cox (Smithville, Texas) aboard Virginia Tech’s (Blacksburg, Virginia) Shadow.
Isabella O’Daniel (Arkana, Ohio), a junior at Bowling Green University, and the Midway University-provided sorrel gelding Dodge was named the 2024 AQHA Individual Level I Horsemanship National Champion. Reserve championship honors went to Sadie Tullock (Cleveland, Tennessee) from Midway University (Midway, Kentucky) and Fred, provided by Black Hawk College (Moline, Illinois), while Berry College’s Taylor McIntosh rode University of Findlay’s Renegade to third place.
Taking home the championship prize, a buckle presented by AQHA, and the AQHA Individual Rookie Horsemanship National Championship title was the University of Findlay’s (Findlay, Ohio) James Schrock (Muncie, Indiana). He rode Nota, a sorrel gelding from Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania). Regan Black (Lebanon, Tennessee) from Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) and Chip from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi) took reserve honors and the University of Findlay’s Mikayla Adkins aboard Chip, provided by Mississippi State University, earned the third-place honors.
With cheers from the crowd, NRHA/AQHA Individual Reining ended the day of competition in the Western arena. The 2024 national champion was Julie Warnick from Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) aboard Holly, provided by Murray State University. The reserve call went to Madison Story (Raleigh, North Carolina) from North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina) aboard Ned, from Team NAH. Rounding out the top three was Morrisville State University’s Maggie Herbert (Jeffersonville, New York) aboard Reed, provided by Team NAH.
Join us Sunday for the continuation of the IHSA National Championship featuring the final of the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup, the Back on Track High-Point Western Rider, the awarding of the Hunter Seat Champion Team and the Horse & Rider Western Team Champion, presented by APHA.
Present for the Hall of Fame induction was Nancy Peterson, George Lukemire and Russ Walther with Hall of Famer Cindy Ford (2020) IHSA founder Bob Cacchione, IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman, family and friends. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
The IHSA established its Hall of Fame in 2020 to celebrate the remarkable contributions of individuals and horses to the organization. This initiative was a significant milestone in recognizing the dedication and achievements within the equestrian community. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the postponement of the Hall of Fame class in 2022.
The IHSA remains committed to honoring excellence within its ranks. This year, the IHSA is resuming its Hall of Fame inductions. The second class of inductees comprises seven outstanding individuals and two remarkable horses, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the IHSA through their contributions and service.
Nominations into the IHSA Hall of Fame are carefully considered, with candidates falling into one of four distinguished categories: Founders, Coaches, Riders, or Horses. Each inductee is recognized for their years of dedicated service, impact on the sport, and embodiment of the values upheld by the IHSA.
During the IHSA National Championship, seven people and two horses are being inducted into the IHSA Hall of Fame. Jon Conyers, George Lukemire, Nancy Peterson and Russ Walther were inducted on Saturday. Greg Best, Naomi Blumenthal, Peter Wylde, and the two horses, Case In Point and Idol Talk will be inducted during the event on Sunday. The 2024 IHSA Hall of Fame inductees include:
After the competition on Saturday, members, parents, sponsors and guests were invited to the IHSA Hall of Fame Reception before the IHSA Parade of Teams that kicked off the Tryon Saturday Night Lights Grand Prix. Many IHSA National Championship attendees stayed for the Tryon Saturday Night Lights Grand Prix for an evening of show jumping action.