GLADYS, Va.--Riders from New Jersey finished second and third in the National Championship competition at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship held at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C., on May 3.
Alex Alston on Bon BonIn IHSA competitions riders compete on horses provided by the member universities.
In the Cacchione Cup for the USHJA Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, the Work-Off round showcased the top seven riders after the over fences and flat phases:
The work off included Alex Alston, Savannah College of Art & Design, Amaya Bellfield, University of Lynchburg; Emma Sameth of Far Hills, N.J., Sewanee: The University of the South (Sewanee, Tenn); Harper Eskey , St. Lawrence University (Canton, N.Y.); Emma Linton,Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio); Eva Froio of Wall Township, N.J., Centenary University (Hackettstown, N.J.); and Natalia Onisko of Cranford, N.J., University of Delaware (Newark, Del.).
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 won 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.
Leading 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.
Emma Sameth o Far Hills, N.J., who rode the Centenary-provided Houdin, was seond, and in third was Eva Froio of Wall Township, N.J., on 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 said.
On the first day of competition,, Saturday, May 2, Taylor Ernst from Centenary University, Hackettstown, N.J. had the top score of 86 to win the championship in the Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences on the 17h chestnut gelding, Avatar from Miami University of Ohio (Oxford, Ohio).
Reserve champion was Ian Gaudio of Redding, Conn., from Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Cameron Andruskiewicz of Goucher College, Baltimore, Md., won the Team Limit Equitation Over Fences National Championship.
Lola Saunders of Flourtown, Pa.. from Long Island University was reserve.
