USHJA Announces Participants for Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals and Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals

Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 10, 2025—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleasedRMilewski-00291-Sep-04-2025-06-11-19-3557-PM to announce the 43 participants for this year’s USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, which will be held at Midway University in Midway, Kentucky, November 7-9, and USHJA Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, which will be held virtually November 5-22.

Congratulations to the following members who will be competing:

Horsemanship Quiz Challenge

  • Eden Albelda of Oak Hill, Va.
  • Josephine Anderson of Atlanta, Ga
  • Ella Baxter of Athens, Texas
  • Cadence Blackwood  of Alvin, Texas
  • Sova Coyle of Longmont, Colo.
  • Sarah Dinsmore of Armada, Mich.
  • Doris Farmer of Murillo, Ontario
  • Skylar Fivecoat of Joelton, Tenn.
  • Neve Hagenstein of Anchorage, Alaska
  • Ella Hallman-Luhn of Woodinville, 
    Wash.
  • Hannah Houck of Easton, Penn.
  • Coriander Houser of Harpers Ferry, W.V.
  • Mars Kibbar of Livermore, Calif.
  • Bayleigh Lansdell of Kakabeka, Ontario
  • Michaela Munson of Rogers, Ark.
  • Carrie Murray of Ashburn, Va.
  • Katherine O'Neal of Clifton, Va.
  • Addison Perry of Clarksville, Tenn.
  • Tatum Ray of West Linn, Ore.
  • Zoe Santilli of West Hartford, Conn.
  • Kaitlyn Sheerahamed of Lake Worth, Fla.
  • Delaney Svensson of Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Kathryn Wolff of New Braunfels, Texas
  • Taya Wykert of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge

  • Donni Athey of Savannah, Ga.
  • Isa Berdugo of Philadelphia, Penn.
  • Allie Calderon of Gallatin, Tenn
  • Erin Desloge-Eriksen of Greensboro, N.C.
  • Emily Felty of Seattle, Wash.
  • Casondra Fivecoat of Joelton, Tenn.
  • Karina Ghoul of Northridge, Calif.
  • Kos Gilbert of Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Morgan Houk of Bainbridge Island, Wash.
  • Nicole Imbeault of Woodstock, Ga.
  • Sarah Jarosinski Holy of Suffolk, Va.
  • Maggie Lawrence of Brewster, N.Y.
  • Emily Leibley of Newmanstown, Penn.
  • Rebecca McCoy of Coatesville, Penn.
  • Lori Morlock of Chicago, Ill.
  • Tabitha Okitsu of South Pasadena, Calif.
  • Lucie Olafsson of Gilbert, Ariz.
  • Ashlie Perry of Clarksville, Tenn.
  • Lauren Yadvish of Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

The USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals is an in-person, multi-phase event that tests the top-scoring participants who advanced through Levels One and Two of the HQC online test. The competition consists of a written exam, horsemanship/identification exam, and a practicum exam. Scores from the written exam and the horsemanship/identification exam will be combined, and the 12 individuals with the highest combined scores will compete in Practicum A on the second day of Nationals. Finalists ranked 13th-24th based on their combined scores will compete in Practicum B on the second day of Nationals but will not be eligible for prizes. Prizes will be awarded to the highest-scoring participants in each phase, as well as to the overall top finishers. The top three overall finishers at HQC Nationals will also receive training grants to continue their equine education, supported by the USHJA Foundation.

Offered virtually, the USHJA Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals is a multi-phase event that consists 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.

New this year, East-West Equine Sports Medicine will be providing four $250 grants to support Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals participants by helping offset travel and related expenses for those who qualify to compete. Applications are open now and close October 15, 2025.

The USHJA extends special thanks to USHJA Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti; Supporting Sponsors Spy Coast Farm, SmartEquine, Essex Classics, and East-West Equine Sports Medicine.

The Horsemanship Quiz Challenge is supported in part by grants from US Equestrian and the USHJA Foundation. To help support the HQC program, click here to make a charitable donation today.

Learn more about the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge and USHJA Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge at ushja.org/HQC and ushja.org/AdultHQC.

Photo: Rachel Milewski/USHJA