Cawley Clinches 2025 USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic - East, presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University

Lexington, Ky.—June 19, 2025—From the first round of the 2025 USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic - East, presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University, to the last, Taylor Ashe Cawley led the way aboard Cheap Trick WM Z to capture the win on Wednesday, June 18. Held at the Kentucky Horse Park during the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships, the Classic saw Cawley take the top, with reserve honors going to Madison Ramsey, and taking third was Lilly Herzog.

"This is my third year in a row doing this championship," Cawley said. "Cheap Trick WM Z is a newer horse for me and is also new to showing in Equitation classes. I think it's amazing to watch him grow up and win this class. It's also great feeling to win."

250618_ACE_0728 copy

Skip Bailey's Classic Hunter Style course set the stage for judges Bill Schaub and James Toon to sort the 130 competitors that contested the first round in the Walnut Ring. The first round consisted of 10 jumping efforts allowed riders to execute flowing routes mixed in with tighter technical routes. Coming up from Wellington, Florida, Cawley completed the first round on an untouchable 92 with Ardencote Stud's Cheap Trick WM Z. Sitting in second place on a 90 was Lexington, Kentucky, native, Campbell Cauthen on Chris Craft, owned by DCTM, LLC. Hot on their heels with a score of 89.75 was Cecilia Chatterjee, of New York, New York, aboard Sappington Equine, LLC's Coconder PS.

"Round one was a little bit more of a Hunter-based course," Cawley reflected on her rounds. "There were a lot of disconnected lines and single fences. The course was mainly trying to get the best jump out of your horse while keeping it as smooth as you can. This was one of the biggest tests, and I was very happy with my first round."

"Coming back on top in the second round, there was a bit more added pressure," she continued. "I think they tested us a bit more in the second round through the course, but I was super happy with how my horse handled all of the tests and questions; he handled it better than I could have ever asked for."

With an eight-point spread between the top 25, riders returned in reverse order for the Handy Hunter Round, which included trot and hand gallop fences. Last to enter the ring, Cawley delivered a standout performance, earning an impressive score of 96 to take the lead with a two-round total of 188. Ramsey, of Palm Harbor, Florida, made a strong move up the leaderboard from fourth to second, adding a 95 to her first-round 89.5 for a combined score of 184.5 aboard Taylor Madden’s Mac One III. Close behind, Lilly Herzog, of Pepper Pike, Ohio, piloted Ashland Farms’ Valdemonsa to scores of 89 and 91, finishing the second round in third on a total of 180.

"It's always interesting doing a rider swap, especially because you don’t know the horse that you are getting on," Cawley explained. "Working off of feel by feeling how the horse is jumping and knowing that this is their third class of the day, you have to keep that in the back of your mind, some may light up more, or may be more tired. I think I have had more experience in the rider swap than others, but it's always a fun challenge to have to do."

Moving on to the Final Round, the top six riders were asked to switch horses and jump a shortened third course. Sitting in sixth, Faith Schuttemeyer was first in the ring aboard Parker Peacock's mount owned by Ashland Farms, Montverdi. The new pair's round moved the Boynton Beach, Florida, rider up to a fifth-place finish. Peacock, of Wellington, Florida, followed on SHL Farm's Patronus, previously piloted by Schuttemeyer, improving her position from fifth to fourth. Herzog and Chatterjee were next to trade mounts, where a slight bobble slid Chatterjee to sixth and Herzog held on to her third-place spot. Last to swap were Ramsey and Cawley, who both handled the challenge with ease and secured their final placings, with Ramsey staying in second and Cawley clinching the win. For their efforts, Cawley's mount, Cheap Trick WM Z, was also presented the Best Equitation Horse honor.

250618_R5W_7790

"I think this is a great mid-year final in preparation for the end-of-year finals," remarked Cawley. "I think it's great knowing I feel confident on this horse going into the finals season and seeing how well he is responding to all of the hard work we have done. I would I would like to thank my trainer, Stacia Klein Madden, and the whole team at Beacon Hill for everything that they do for me. I truly appreciate them."

The USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic, presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University, is a three-round class that combines the precision of equitation and handiness of hunters over a course set at 3'6". Held during the East and West Coast Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships, the Gladstone Cup is open to any rider that is an Active USHJA junior member at the time of the competition and has won a USEF Hunter Seat Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, either phase of WIHS Equitation Classic at a National or Premier show or Overall WIHS Equitation Classic during the qualifying year. This year's West Coast competition will take place at HITS at Del Mar in Del Mar, California, on July 24.

The USHJA sends special thanks to the entire Split Rock Jumping Tour team for hosting the Classic. The USHJA also thanks Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti; Presenting Sponsor Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University; and Supporting Sponsor Essex Classics.

For more information about the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic, presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University, visit ushja.org/Gladstone.

USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic - East, presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry University Results

Rider | Horse | Trainer | Owner

Round 1 | Round 2 | Two-Round Score*
*The Final Round was not scored.

Photos: Winslow Photography