Alexander Alston from SCAD won the championship of the Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences
Gladys, VA – May 3, 2024 – Day one of the 2024 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship held at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina featured hunter seat and Western riders competing in individual and team classes. In a special highlight, Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Rebecca Huddleston and Julie Mann.
The first national champion of 2024 was crowned in the Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences. 16 horse-and-rider combinations navigated the Bill Yeager-designed course. After additional testing of the top four riders, Alexander Alston (Wellington, Florida) from Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah, Georgia/SCAD) aboard Centenary University’s Capri, a 17.1-h bay gelding, took the top honors. The reserve champion call went to SCAD’s Celia Cram (Aiken, South Carolina) riding King, a horse provided by SCAD. Rafi Wolf (Bellevue, Washington) from Stanford University (Stanford, California) with Centenary University’s (Hackettstown, New Jersey) mount Houdini rounded out the top three.
Alexander Alston (SCAD) and Capri from Centenary University with coaches Ashley Henry and Sammy Perlman with IHSA founder Bob Cacchione. Photo by Ella Peterson
Watch the video with highlights of Alexander Alston's winning round.
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana/LSU) senior Caroline Bardwell (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) was champion in the Horseware Ireland Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences aboard the George from Centenary University, a 16.1-h dark bay gelding. Taking home the reserve championship title is Roberta Cullinan from Miami University of Ohio (Oxford, Ohio) and SCAD’s Tago. Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, Virginia) sophomore Kelsey Sullivan from Hamilton, Virginia piloted the Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York) mount Crosby.
The Chronicle of the Horse Individual Limit Equitation Over Fences National Champion is Becca Polzin (Falmouth, Massachusetts), a sophomore from the University of Vermont (Chittenden County, Vermont), aboard Houdini from Centenary University. Sophia Mirando (Islip, New York) from Long Island University (Brooklyn, New York) and Porkchop from SCAD took reserve honors and Saint Louis University’s (St. Louis, Missouri) Andrea Battram (St. Louis, Missouri) aboard the Skidmore College mount Mo earned the third place prize.
The ring was cleared in preparation for the flat classes where the riders would be tested at the walk, trot and canter each direction. The competition was tough as the judges often requested testing the top four.
On-the-flat competition started with the Horseware Ireland Individual Intermediate Equitation on the Flat. Christian Echavarria from Florida Atlantic University rode to the championship honors with the Skidmore College gelding Crosby. Reserve honors went to Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, Virginia) sophomore Rachel Chard (Avon, Connecticut) and Miami University’s Franco, with St. Lawrence University’s Nagini and Chloe Thatcher (Brownsburg, Indiana) from Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio) securing third place honors.
Alexis Schwarz (New Boston, Michigan) from the University of Michigan, aboard the 16.1-h bay gelding from SCAD is the 2024 The Chronicle of the Horse Individual Limit Equitation on the Flat National Champion. Alyssa Buback from Long Island University and Frankie from Skidmore College took reserve honors and University of Lynchburg’s (Lynchburg, Virginia) Alexandria Russel (Ocean City, Maryland) aboard the Long Island University gelding Leo earned the third place prize.
Rebecca Kaplan (Montclair, New Jersey) from Centenary University stood out to the judges in the Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation on the Flat and is the 2024 National Champion. She rode Crosby, a 16.2-h bay gelding from Skidmore College. Taking home the reserve championship is Willow Vince (Verbank, New York) from Amherst College (Amherst, Massachusetts), aboard Bon Bon from SCAD. Rounding out the top three was junior Celia Cram from SCAD aboard Seigfried, provided by St. Lawrence University.
The Practical Horseman Individual Novice Equitation National Champion is Ana Berd (Hubbardston, Massachusetts), a senior from Endicott College (Beverly, Massachusetts), aboard the 16.2-h bay gelding Otto from Miami University of Ohio. Madelyn Whitley (Stuarts Draft, Virginia) from Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University (Emory, Virginia) and Snowbound from Hollins University (Hollins, Virginia) took reserve honors while Centenary University’s Victoria Varella (Garrison, New York) aboard Eloquence provided by Hollins University earned the third place prize.
The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation on the Flat concluded hunter seat competition in the hunter seat arena. Peter Cavagnac (Amherst, Massachusetts) from SCAD in the irons on the Long Island University 16.1-h mare Sarah is the 2024 national champion. The reserve tri-color honors went to St. Lawrence University freshman Lainey Rockacy (New London, New Hampshire) on the Skidmore College mount, Nica. Rounding out the top three is Hannah Minton from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and Siegfried, provided by St. Lawrence University.
For the first time in IHSA National Championship history, both the hunter seat and Western classes ran simultaneously thanks to the accommodating indoors at Tryon International Equestrian Center.
Western competition began with the AQHA/NRHA Individual Ranch Riding. Twelve riders competed the pattern in hopes to impress the judges. The 2024 National Champion is Kaitlyn Praizler (West Salem, Ohio), a junior at Morehead State University (Morehead, Kentucky), riding Penny provided by Team NAH. Reserve honors went to St. Andrew’s University’s (Scotland County, North Carolina) Jerica Bozio aboard Gunador, provided by Team NAH. West Texas A&M University’s (Canyon, Texas) Jennica Dannehl aboard the University of Findlay’s Cinch earned the third place prize.
Kailin Praizler from Morehead State University won the AQHA/NRHA Individual Ranch Riding.Photo by Ella Peterson
Watch highlights of NRHA Team Reining, presented by NRHA and NSBA, and AQHA/NRHA Individual Ranch Riding
AQHA Individual Horsemanship is a hotly-contested class. Riders walked, jogged and loped both ways of the ring showing off their position and style. Taking home the championship prize, a buckle presented by AQHA, is Lake Erie College’s Hannah Belich (Willoughby, Ohio). She rode Racquel, a bay mare from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Megan Manlief (Westport, Indiana) from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and Wally from Albion College (Albion, Michigan) took reserve honors and Black Hawk College’s (Moline, Illinois) Calen Braden aboard Roxie, provided by University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio), earned the third place prize.
Marty Kasch (Evergreen, Colorado), a senior at West Texas A&M University, aboard the University of Findlay-provided chestnut gelding Cinch, is the 2024 Team Level I Horsemanship, presented by NSBA, National Champion. Taking home the reserve championship title is Kaylee Kleiin (Edwall, Washington) from Midway University (Midway, Kentucky) and University of Findlay’s Renegade. Middle Tennessee State University’s (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) Simone Allen from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee piloted the University of Findlay mount Benz to third place.
Next on the Day One schedule was Team Level II Horsemanship. The National Champion is Alana Utlak (Greenville, Pennsylvania), a freshman from Midway University, aboard the sorrel gelding Hooker from Black Hawk College. Haley Bucher (Washington, Illinois) from West Texas A & M and Maize from the University of Findlay took reserve honors. With the University of Findlay’s Roxie, Lily Roman (Wake Forest, North Carolina) of St. Andrew’s University secured third-place honors.
The AQHA Individual Beginner Horsemanship class features riders who have had no more than 24 weeks of instruction and who have not competed in a mounted competition that
required them to canter or lope. Katelyn Proshek (Concord, Michigan), a junior at Albion College, aboard the Morehead State University-provided sorrel gelding Juice, is the 2024 AQHA Beginner Horsemanship National Champion. Reserve championship honors went to Madison Cresanti (Verbank, New York) from the University of Findlay and Mouse from Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi), while Middle Tennessee State University’s Shelby Amanns from Knoxville, Tennessee piloted Team NAH’s Gunador to third place.
The excitement of the NRHA Team Reining, presented by NRHA and NSBA concluded competition in the Western arena. The 2024 national champion is Jordan Martin from Middle Tennessee State University on the palomino gelding Andy, provided by the University of Findlay. The reserve call went to Sydney Hill from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (River Falls, Wisconsin) aboard Reed, provided by Team NAH. Calen Braden from Black Hawk College, also aboard Reed, provided by Team NAH, rode to third place honors.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Julie Mann and Becky Huddleston
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
An IHSA National Championship tradition is to honor the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. The IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to the remarkable contributions made by Julie Mann and Becky Huddleston, recognizing their unwavering commitment to the IHSA and their outstanding work in the improvement and functionality of the organization's show management software. It is only the second time in IHSA history that two people have earned the honor in the same year. The husband-and-wife duo of Claiborne and Tom Bishop received the award together in 1996.
Together, they've dedicated 11 years to enhancing the IHSA show management platform's functionality and user-friendliness. The website is now integral in tracking points for IHSA members and teams, providing transparency and streamlining administrative tasks.
Huddleston started her journey with IHSA as a volunteer coach and progressed to become a regional president, board member and now secretary serving on the executive committee.
A lifelong rider who now competes in dressage, she started coaching the Augustana College IHSA Team in 2006. She became involved in governance and became a regional president.
Their dedication, hard work and love for equestrian sports have left an indelible mark on the IHSA and the students it serves.
Members travel from afar to compete at the IHSA National Championship
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Meet the Judges
The hunter seat judges at Tryon’s inaugural hosting of the IHSA National Championship are Archie Cox of Palm Springs, California and Andrea Wells from Ocala, Florida.
Cox, an IHSA national champion alumni from New Jersey’s Drew University, is a well-known and respected USEF hunter and equitation ‘R’ judge. He runs Brookway Stables, from which he has trained and coached multiple national champion hunter, jumper and equitation horses and riders. Watch his Master Class on Horse and Country TV
here.
Wells ran the equestrian programs at Centenary University and Albion College and created the equestrian studies program at Savannah College of Art and Design. She is a nationally recognized trainer, coach and judge.
The Western judges at the 55th annual IHSA national championship will be Tom McBeath from Union, Mississippi and Carolyn Johnson from Ringgold, Georgia.
McBeath holds judges’ cards with AQHA, APHA, NSBA, NRCHA, NRHA, and PHBA. He has judged such notable competitions as the AQHA World Show, AQHA Amateur World Show, AQHA Select World Show, PHBA World Show, NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, APHA World Show, AjPHA World Show, Australian National Championships, The All American Quarter Horse Congress. and more.
Johnson is an AQHA Professional Horseman and Life Member and a sought-after AQHA and NSBA judge. Johnson has graciously taken the place of Debbie Kail who had to bow out from judging this week.
Join us Saturday for the continuation of the IHSA National Championship featuring the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup,the Back on Track High-Point Western Rider and more.