Martin and Davidson Claim 2026 USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs - East Titles

Lexington, Ky.—June 24, 2026—The USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs - East returned to Lexington, Kentucky, on June 24, to kick off the 2026 USHJA Amateur Festival – East hosted by Split Rock Jumping Tour, bringing together top Amateur Equitation riders. Highlighted by strong performances across two age groups, Katelyn Martin captured the 18–29 championship title aboard Relevé, while Shannon Davidson topped the 30+ section with Styled.

18-29 Age Group

Judges Steve Wall and Lyman Whitehead saw 62 horse-and-rider combinations contest Skip Bailey’s Hunter Style Equitation Round course for the 18-29 age group. Following the first round, the top 20 returned for the Handy Hunter Round, led by Sophia Tabasso, of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, in Zone 2, who sat in first with an 89 on her own Eretto. Close behind with an 88.5 was Katelyn Martin, of Tampa, Florida, in Zone 4, and her own Relevé, followed by last year’s USHJA 3'3" Adult Jumping Seat Medal Final champion Hannah Klinedinst, of Dallas, Texas, in Zone 7, on Ansolabehere Equestrian, LLC’s Admiral 37 with an 88.

The Handy Hunter Round shuffled the leaderboard, as Martin rose to the top position with an impressive score of 93, bringing her two-round total to 181.5, and Klinedinst advanced to second after posting a 90 for a cumulative score of 178. Tabasso added an 88 in the second round for a total of 177, moving into third, and Kate Hagerty, of Terrebonne, Oregon, in Zone 9, climbed to fourth, combining a 87 in the Handy with her first-round score of 85 for an overall 172 aboard Oakland Training & Sales, LLC’s Charlotto B.

The Final Round for the 18-29 age group featured the top four riding a shortened course with technical elements including counter-canter fences, a halt, a trot fence, and sitting trot. In the end, Martin maintained her lead to secure the championship tricolor aboard Relevé, who also earned the title of Overall Best Equitation Horse. Klinedinst claimed reserve honors, while Hagerty and Tabasso finished third and fourth, respectively.

“My favorite part of the [day] was probably the Handy. It was very technical, and I liked that there was something a little different,” said Martin after her win. “I had a great time with the test. [Relevé] is really good at the counter-canter, so that was one of my favorite parts to show off. He’s very handy, so it was fun doing the technical turns.”

30+ Age Group

The 30+ age group’s Hunter Style Equitation Round began with 30 horse-and-rider combinations, with the top 20 advancing to the Handy Hunter Round. Shannon Davidson, of Argyle, Texas, in Zone 7, set the early pace with a score of 85 aboard her own Styled. Alexandra Loprete, of Allentown, New Jersey, in Zone 2, followed in second on an 83 with Old Country Farm’s Amicus, while Cece Williamson, of Ocala, Florida, in Zone 4, held third on an 82 riding Ashland Farms’ Frisco Semilly.

In the Handy Hunter Round, Davidson maintained her lead, adding another 85 for a two-round total of 170. Loprete’s second-round score of 78.5 secured her hold on second with a 161.5 overall. Nicole Tuttle, of Austin, Texas, in Zone 7, climbed into third aboard Priya Alvarez’s Tomorrowland, posting scores of 80 and 79 for a 159 total. Jennifer Kemp, of Columbus, Ohio, in Zone 5, advanced to fourth with River Hollow Enterprises, LLC’s Hyperion du Stiquot, earning scores of 81 and 77.5 for a cumulative 158.5.

As in the younger division, the top four returned for the final test. Davidson ultimately held her lead to capture the championship and lead the victory gallop. Loprete earned reserve honors, while Kemp moved into third and Tuttle finished fourth.

“It’s the most beautiful ring and the most beautiful jumps ever. That was wonderful. Everything was very inviting…I show him in the Amateur Owners, so he’s used to this Hunter track and the big ring, and I think that’s what I love the most. It allowed us to just flow around the course,” said Davidson of the day’s courses.

“I just feel like I’m able to satisfy my Junior desires that I didn’t satisfy as a kid, and we’re able to do it as adults,” she continued. “The finals that offer an age break have huge attendance. There’s another final I did last year and the year before, and there were 67, I believe, over 30s. So it just shows there are a lot of us that love Equitation and respond to the age break!”

The USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs is a three-round class that combines the precision of Equitation and the handiness of Hunters over a course set at 3’. The Gladstone Cup is open to amateur riders who have placed first, second, or third in Adult Equitation classes at 2’9” or higher, or in the 3’3” Adult Jumping Seat Medal, Taylor Harris Insurance Adult Medal, or Ariat National Adult Medal classes at competitions held between June 1 and 45 days prior to the Classic. The West Final will be held during the National Sunshine Series at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, on October 28–November 1.

The USHJA extends its thanks to Split Rock Jumping Tour for hosting the event; Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Parlanti, and StrideFull; Live Stream Presenting Sponsor Windsor Stables; and Supporting Sponsors Essex Classics, RingSide Pro, and Frank & Eileen.

The USHJA Amateur Festival - East, hosted by Split Rock Jumping Tour, continues through the week with the USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships - East, presented by Frank & Eileen. Watch every round live, presented by Windsor Stables, on USEF Network.

For more information about the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs, visit ushja.org/Gladstone.

USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs - East Results

18-29 Age Group

30+ Age Group

Photos: Winslow Photography