Hallman-Luhn Takes 2025 USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals
Midway, Ky.—Nov. 10, 2025—Encompassing horsemanship in and out of the saddle, Ella Hallman-Luhn dominated the 2025 USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals. Hosted at Midway University in Midway, Kentucky, the competition took place from November 7-9, alongside the MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session.
“I’m super excited about this win,” said Hallman-Luhn, who represented USHJA Zone 9. “This was my first time attending, and the weekend went by so quickly. It was intense but so much fun. I didn’t really know what to expect, so I’m proud of how it turned out.”
A 20-year-old from Woodinville, Washington, Hallman-Luhn competed earlier this year on the winning inaugural IHSA Team Challenge team, and that experience that helped prepare her for Nationals. She credits her success to consistent studying, teamwork, and her lifelong dedication to learning every facet of horsemanship, including textbooks and YouTube videos to hands-on barn work.
“After we won the IHSA Team Challenge, some of my teammates and I qualified for HQC Nationals,” she said. “We started study groups every weekend, which made all the difference. Studying with friends kept me motivated, and we bounced ideas off each other, watched old study sessions, and even asked our coaches and barn managers questions to learn more. I don’t think I would’ve studied as hard without them.”
Taking a clean sweep of the competition, Hallman-Luhn earned the highest score across all three phases: the Practicum A Exam, Horsemanship/Identification Exam, and Written Exam. In preparation for the event, she and her Savannah College of Art and Design teammate—also a finalist—held weekly study sessions, reviewed past materials, and consulted their barn manager on topics such as feed identification and stable management. “I even brought my study guide on the plane,” she said with a laugh. “Every bit of review helped.”
She also encouraged other riders to take on the Challenge. “If you’re thinking about doing HQC, just go for it,” she said. “You’ll learn so much about horsemanship, and it’s such a rewarding experience. I was a first-timer, and I just jumped in with both feet.”
“This year’s Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals were fantastic,” said Cricket Stone, chairman of the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Committee. “Our winner, Ella Hallman-Luhn, was a standout from start to finish. She’s poised, knowledgeable, and did exceptionally well across all three phases of the competition. Ella participated in the IHSA Team Challenge earlier this year as part of the winning Savannah College of Art and Design team, and she carried that same dedication through to this weekend.”
Stone shared that finalists were tested on written, practical, and identification phases covering topics such as horse care, current and historical knowledge, conformation, and stable management. “We even added a new pasture management section this year, along with the ever-popular ‘sniff table,’ where participants identify common barn items by scent,” she said.
Beyond the competition itself, Stone emphasized the importance of the program’s mission. “Horsemanship is the foundation of everything we do,” she said. “In today’s busy world, not enough riders get to study horsemanship and learn how to truly be partners with their horses. These finalists take the time to deepen that knowledge, and they go home ready to share it with others. That’s how we build a bright future for our sport.”
As the HQC Nationals winner, Hallman-Luhn received a gift certificate from SmartEquine, an internship with Spy Coast Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and a $2,000 training and education grant from the USHJA Foundation.
In second place, Eden Albelda, 16, of Oak Hill, Virginia, from Zone 3, took second in the Practicum A Exam and Horsemanship/Identification Exam, and third in the Written Exam. For her efforts, she received a gift certificate from SmartEquine, and a $1,500 training and education grant from the USHJA Foundation.
Taking home the bronze, and representing Zone 8, was Sova Coyle, 16, from Longmont, Colorado. She earned a fourth place finish in the Practicum A Exam and in the Written Exam. For her efforts, she was awarded a gift Certificate from SmartEquine, and a $500 training and education grant from the USHJA Foundation.
The HQC Committee also honored Skylar Fivecoat, from Zone 4, of Joelton, Tennessee, with the Developing Horsemanship Award as the youngest participant at age 11.
Participants voted on their peers to earn the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Sportsmanship Award, which was presented to the participant who exhibited integrity, supported his or her fellow competitors, and showed respect for each other. This was awarded to Coyle.
New for 2025, four $250 travel grants, provided by East West Equine Sports Medicine, were awarded to Cadence Blackwood (Alvin, Texas), Neve Hagenstein (Anchorage, Alaska), Hallman-Luhn, and Michaela Munson (Rogers, Ark.).
Throughout the event, participants had the chance to learn from expert presentations, including sessions with veterinarian Dr. Lori Bidwell, Liz Douglas, founder of MEND Equine Massage & Bodywork, and Dr. Jennifer Speisman, a licensed clinical psychologist as well as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. They also observed the MZ Farms/USHJA EAP National Training Session, featuring clinicians Joe Fargis and Colleen Reed.
This enriching experience not only celebrates the achievements of dedicated young equestrians but also reinforces the value of horsemanship as a lifelong foundation in the equestrian sport.
Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals Results
|
Overall Practicum A Exam |
Horsemanship/Identification Exam Written Exam |
The USHJA thanks Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti; Educational Partner Spy Coast Farm; Supporting Sponsors East West Equine Sports Medicine, SmartEquine, and Essex Classics. The Horsemanship Quiz Challenge is supported in part by grants from US Equestrian and the USHJA.
For more information about the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, visit ushja.org/HQC
The sixth annual Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge will be taking place virtually again this year from November 5-22. The competition will consist of a written exam, an interview, and a final practicum that will require participants to demonstrate their mastery of horsemanship knowledge across a variety of topics. Prizes will be awarded to the highest-scoring participants in each phase, as well as to the overall top finishers.
Photos: Rachel Milewski/USHJA
