Fitzgerald Finds IHSA/USHJA 3'3'' Hunter Seat Medal Final - East Win
West Springfield, Mass.—Oct. 21, 2025—Fiona Fitzgerald rode her own Étoile to the top the 2025 IHSA/USHJA 3'3'' Hunter Seat Medal Final - East on Saturday, October 18. The Walpole, Massachusetts, native bested a field of 106 riders with a two-round score of 175.5 at the 50th annual New England Equitation Championships in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
"Winning this is really important to me. My sister, Keira, was second last year, so it's super exciting," Fitzgerald said of her win.
Judged by Hope Glynn and Jack Towell, with courses designed by Ken Krome, the Final tested riders with two technical rounds before the top four returned for a work-off. Fitzgerald posted a score of 88 in Round One to sit fourth and maintained her position with an 87.5 in Round Two. With the top four set to test in reverse order, Fitzgerald tackled the work-off's trot, counter-canter, and hand gallop fences first, rising to the occasion and up the leaderboard to capture the winning tricolor.
"I came into the work-off fourth and we've been working on coming forward more in the test. Hand gallops is normally where I struggle more, so it was fun being able to practice that, just going for it and being bold," said Fitzgerald.
Victoria Valiquette, of New Canaan, Connecticut, claimed the reserve honors aboard her own Charolette. Sitting third after the first two rounds with scores of 89 and 87.75, her polished test moved her up one spot into second place.
Finishing third was Taylor Demong, of Greenwich, Connecticut, with Point Blank Van’t Phenahof Z, owned by Andrus Pitch LLC. After sitting second on scores of 89.5 and 88.5, Demong closed out the afternoon in third following the work-off.
Rounding out the top four was Finley Mattos, of Barrington, Rhode Island, and her own Liarado J.P.. The pair earned an 87.75 in Round One before posting the highest score of Round Two, a 91, ultimately finishing fourth overall after the test.
The IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal serves as a stepping stone for Equitation riders, providing an opportunity to qualify and compete in a National Equitation Final at fence heights of 3’3”. The Medal is open to Junior riders, who have not competed in any of the following National Equitation Finals with fences at 3’6” within the same competition year, including USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic, ASPCA Maclay Finals, USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals (East or West), WIHS Equitation Classic Finals, Jump Canada Medal Finals, or the North American Equitation Championship.
The USHJA extends special thanks to the entire New England Equitation Championships team for hosting the event, as well as Title Sponsor IHSA and Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti.
The USHJA also congratulates the New England Equitation Championships on 50 years as a cornerstone of the Equitation community.
To learn more about the IHSA/USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal, visit ushja.org/HunterSeatMedal.
IHSA/USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Final - East Results
Rider | Horse | Trainer | Owner
Round 1 | Round 2 | Two-Round Score*
*The Final Round was not scored.
1. Fiona Fitzgerald | Étoile | Amber Viera | Fiona Fitzgerald
88 | 87.5 | 175.5
2. Victoria Valiquette | Charolette | Andre Dignelli | Victoria Valiquette
89 | 87.75 | 176.75
3. Taylor Demong | Point Blank Van't Phenahof Z | Andre Dignelli | Andrus Pitch LLC
89.5 | 88.5 | 178
4. Finley Mattos | Liarado J.P. | Ann Dotoli | Finley Mattos
87.75 | 91 | 178.75
5. Casey Arriaga | Gatsby De Talma | Lindsey Knight | Dupoux
85.75 | 87 | 172.75
6. Reese McNally | Indiana Jones | Gregory Prince | Reese McNally
82.75 | 89 | 171.75
7. Keira Fitzgerald | Carado | Amber Viera | Keira Fitzgerald
87.5 | 83.5 | 171
8. Lily Parrinello | Monte Cristo vd Withoeve | Cory Hardy | Jean Sheptoff
85.5 | 85 | 170.5
9. Marlayna Murphy | Hallmark | Ann Dotoli | Marlayna Murphy
81 | 88 | 169
10. Grace Majoros | RF Marvel | Frank Madden | Marilyn Little LLC
84 | 84 | 168
11. Juliette Pletka | G-Star | Monty Kelly | Kathleen Schmeler
85 | 82 | 167
12. Chandra Kyrwood | S&L Harrisberg | Jan Golash | Chandra Kyrwood
80 | 86 | 166
Photos: Jess Windhurst Photography
