Wheeler Stays the Course To Win Marshall+Sterling/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Finals - East

Upper Marlboro, Md.—Sept. 28, 2026—A field of 168 horse-and-rider combinations contested the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final - East, but it was Natalie Wheeler, of Wellington, Florida, in Zone 4, who emerged triumphant after three rounds of competition. Held on September 23-25 during the Capital Challenge Horse Show's Equitation Showcase, Wheeler delivered strong performances aboard Quintago, taking the win on a total score of 397.9.

DSC_8783Wheeler

Wheeler started the opening Flat Phase on Wednesday with a score of 87.5, which put her sixth in the standings aboard Quintago, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Sweet Oak Farm. It was a relatively new partnership, as the pair had made their competition debut together just a week earlier.

“I got to borrow him from one of my best friends, Lucy Sweetnam,” explained Wheeler, who trains with Allison Sweetnam. “He’s the most fun horse I've ever had in my entire life, and he's the best guy. I've been preparing for the Final for a year, but only last week, we realized I was going to show this horse. Once we found out I was riding him, we showed in a class and then came right here. Last week was really my first week properly riding him."

“He's very comfortable, very nice to find the jumps on, and a very smart horse,” she continued. “He was in charge in there.”

Returning on Thursday for the Gymnastics Phase, designed by Joe Carnicom, Ken Krome, and Meghan Rawlins, Wheeler guided Quintago to add a score of 85.6, which resulted in them rising to the top of the overall standings.

Wheeler remarked that Gymnastics Phase was her favorite of the three phases. “It’s so fun doing all the bounces and the three-strides on both ends of the ring. The course was really fun,” she said.

The final Jumping Phase was on Friday, September 25. Going last out of 168 riders, Wheeler put in a foot-perfect round, earning a score of 91 from judges Tammy Provost and Tony Sgarlata, which gave them their total score of 397.9 for the win.

While walking the course, Wheeler considered inside turns to stay within the time allowed. However, after watching the class from her vantage point as last to go in the ring, she adjusted their plan. “We could see what other people were doing and how tight the time was, which was helpful,” she confirmed.

Wheeler waited nearly six hours after the class began before she and Quintago started warming up, but she managed to channel her energy in the meantime. “I watched a good bit of the class, but I was also told to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t overthink,” she said. “I did homework, and I rode a bunch of horses, too.”

Once she swung her leg over Quintago, she focused on managing her nerves and the pressure of returning last. “I tried to go over the course and my plan in my head,” she revealed. “Once I got going, the nerves kind of faded away because I was more focused on what was happening. I made sure I knew my track, how I was going to turn everywhere, and had an exact plan for what I'd like to do.”

This was Wheeler’s first time competing in the Final, and she enjoyed riding in the qualifying classes throughout the year. “It's great how it shows every bit of skill, and it’s preparing you for the [USEF Talent Search] classes,” she said. “Having the final over three days makes it a little more stressful.”

Kathryn Padilla, of Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, in Zone 10, scored 87.5 in the Jumping Phase to finish second overall with a total score of 388.87 riding Georgetown, owned by Highland Farm, LLC. Olivia Johnson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Zone 2, placed third on Claus van de Helle, owned by Chessland Equestrian, LLC, with a total of 387.97.

Audrey Geren, of Greenwich, Connecticut, in Zone 1, scored a 90 to place second in the Jumping Phase and move up from 21st place to fourth overall. Her mount, Levanto, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc., was named the Best Equitation Horse. They finished with a total score of 385.45.

Wheeler said that thinking about her victory in the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final was “crazy, and I’m still a bit in shock.” She added, “Considering how much I've been working all season, it's nice to see it pay off.”

The Marshall+Sterling/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal provides Junior exhibitors with the opportunity to develop their equitation skills over a jumper-style course, aiming to help riders gain experience in a format similar to that of the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search. The Medal is open to Junior riders who have not reached their 18th birthday as of December 1 of the current competition year and qualify for the Finals by earning points in Jumping Seat Medal classes during the qualifying period.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the Capital Challenge Horse Show team for hosting the Final; Title Sponsor Marshall+Sterling; Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Stridefull, and Parlanti; and Supporting Sponsor Essex Classics.

For more information about the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal, visit ushja.com/jumpingseatmedal.

USHJA 3'3'' Jumping Seat Medal Final - East Results

1. Natalie Wheeler | Quintago | Allison Sweetnam | Sweet Oak Farm
87.5 | 85.6 | 91 | 397.9

2. Kathryn Padilla | Georgetown | Paige Dendiu | Highland Farm, LLC
84.5 | 86.25 | 87.5 | 388.875

4. Audrey Geren| Levanto | Emmy Tromp | Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc.
82.75 | 81.8 | 90 | 385.45

5. Cisy Zhou | Goriam de Quintin | Andre Dignelli | Abigail Ron Portilla
83.8 | 81.3 | 89 | 383.75

6. Sabrina Miller | Splender van de Achterhoek | Chris M. Iwasaki | Knees 2 Nose, LLC
86.5 | 85.1 | 83.8 | 381.75

Edited Release: Jennifer Wood/Jump Media and USHJA

Photos: Shawn McMillen Photography