Smith Takes the Crown at the IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunt Seat Medal Finals - East
West Springfield, Mass.—Oct. 19, 2026—After two rounds of competition and a final work-off, on Saturday, October 17, Logan Elizabeth Smith, of Holly Springs, North Carolina, claimed the 2026 IHSA/USHJA 3'3'' Hunter Seat Medal Final - East title on a final score of 174.50. Riding Independence M, owned by Dachis Sporthorses, LLC, and trained by Stacia Madden, the pair led the victory gallop during the New England Equitation Championships at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
An impressive list of 110 Junior competitors took to the first-round course of the IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal Finals - East, designed by Ken Krome, with the top 25 combinations returning for a second round. Final results came down to a test of the top four in front of judges Mike Rosser and Susan Schoellkopf.
“I liked the first line of the course,” said Smith of the opening track of the Finals. “One of my biggest struggles is going to the first jump; it could go either way, but I liked how the first line rode today.”
Smith, of Zone 3, carried her confidence from the start of the course through both rounds, heading into the second round with an 85.50 and sitting in eleventh place. Climbing to the top of the leaderboard in round two, she scored an 89 to total 174.50 across both rounds. The final tally put her two and a half points ahead of the runner-up.
“My horse has such a big stride and is really game and willing for anything,” said Smith of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “All of our hard work and preparation at home got us here, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Following Smith on the leaderboard was Catalina Biase, of Rye, New York, in Zone 2, and Milan, owned by Ann Miller Morton. The pair scored an 87 in round one and an 85 in round two. Hannah Hutter, of Reno, Nevada, in Zone 10, and Vivant, owned by Hutter Equestrian, rounded out the top three with an 87.25 in round one and an 84 in round two.
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 Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Parlanti, and Stridefull, Title Sponsor IHSA, and Supporting Sponsors Essex Classics.
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. Logan Elizabeth Smith | Independence M | Stacia Madden | Dachis Sporthorses, LLC
85.50 | 89 | 174.50
2. Catalina Biase | Milan | Anthony Desimone | Ann Miller Morton
87 | 85 | 172
3. Hannah Hutter | Vivant | Christa Endicott | Hutter Equestrian
87.25 | 84 | 171.25
4. Mila Nechaev | Zinzano | Andre Dignelli | Mila Nechaev
84 | 88 | 172
5. Meriella Pitt Miller | Casino 71 | Patricia Harnois | Addison Slye
87.25 | 81.50 | 168.75
6. Olive Gutzler | Karakter C | Ann Dotoli | Anna Leighton
86 | 82.50 | 168.50
7. Grier Van Rooyen | Evito Sun Z | Jennifer Tirrell | Gowe Farms
86.75 | 81 | 167.75
8. Lacey Powers | Braxton | Andre Dignelli | Heritage Farm Inc
80.5 | 87 | 167.5
9. Madelyn Huson | Double-07 | Amber Viera | Madelyn Huson
83.75 | 83 | 166.75
10. Lillian Orne | Lorenzo 354 | Abigale Seley-Ferrigno | Robertson Family LLC
83.5 | 82 | 165.5
11. Finley Doyle | Lemon Squash | Kristi Smith | Carol Holt
79.5 | 86 | 165.5
12. Keira Fitzgerald | Carado | Amber Viera | Keira Fitzgerald
85.75 | 79.5 | 165.25
Edited Release: Lindsay Brock/Gable and USHJA
Photos: Jess Windhurst Photography
