Boston University Senior Elizabeth Nevins Wins Hunter Seat High-Point Rider Cacchione Cup at the 2023 IHSA National Championship Horse Show
Boston University Senior Elizabeth Nevins Wins Hunter Seat High-Point Rider Cacchione Cup at the 2023 IHSA National Championship Horse Show
Skidmore College Thoroughbreds are the 2023 IHSA Hunter Seat Champion Team
2023 Cacchione Cup National Champion Elizabeth Nevins (Boston University) on Houdini (Centenary University) with Kevin Price, USHJA executive director, Boston University Hunter Seat Head Coach Phyllis Cervelli, Bob Cacchione, Tom Cacchione and James Ruder, Back on Track CEO and managing director. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography
Lexington, KY – May 6, 2023 – The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) awarded Boston University senior Elizabeth Nevins the Cacchione Cup as Hunter Seat High-Point Rider of the 2023 National Championship Horse Show.
After the over-fences and flat phases, the judges brought back the top eight riders for the work-off round. Nevins (Boston, Massachusetts) was last to execute the short course aboard Houdini, a 16.1h bay gelding from Centenary University (Hackettstown, New Jersey).
"I was so excited (to draw Houdini)," said Nevins. "I watched him all of last year and loved him, and I've been watching him the past two days just go in and be such a consistent lovely horse. He's smaller and I'm smaller, so we got along really great and I was just so thrilled. I knew he was one that I would get along with pretty instantly and he was so much fun. Exactly my type of ride."
Hear from 2023 Cacchione Cup winner, Elizabeth Nevins.
Hunter Seat Judges Tony Sgarlata and Robin Rost Brown Weigh in on the 2023 IHSA Nationals
Hunter seat judges Robin Rost Brown and Tony Sgarlata. Photo by Danielle Dun
The riders at the 2023 IHSA National Championship Horse Show were fortunate to have two of the top judges in the country to officiate. Robin Rost Brown (Ocala, Florida) stepped in at the last minute when Linda Andrisani had to cancel. No stranger to the IHSA, Rost Brown's son, James Fairclough II, won the Cacchione Cup in 2008.
Tony Sgarlata (Raleigh, North Carolina) is a venerable USEF R judge who has officiated all aspects of the hunter and equitation rings, including the International Hunter Futurity, numerous World Champion Hunter Rider events and USHJA hunter derbies.
IHSA Proudly Presented Lifetime Achievement, Pioneer Award and Hunter Seat Sportsmanship Awards
Lisa Bailey Cassidy accepting the Pioneer Award with IHSA President Peter Cashman, Kevin Cassidy and Bob Cacchione. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
The IHSA proudy presented the Lifetime Achievement Award, Pioneer Award and IHSA Nationals Hunter Seat Sportsmanship Awards.
Back On Track Western High-Point Rider Competition Begins with Reining Phase
Team Horsemanship Classes Name Beginner, Rookie and Level II National Champions
Ashton Knerr from the University of Findlay on Boone from Murray State University in the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Reining Section B. Photo by Madeleine Nielsen
Back on Track Western High-Point Rider competition began with the reining phase with twenty riders are vying for the national championship title. Split into two sections, cheers filled the arena as riders galloped, spun and slid to impress the judges panel of Holly Hover (Cave Creek, Arizona) and Debra Jones-Wright (Abbeville, South Carolina). High-point riders will showcase precision and control in the horsemanship phase on Sunday to determine the 2023 winner.
The final day IHSA National Championship competition resumes in the Alltech Arena Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Highlights include the conclusion of the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider classes, NRHA Team Ranch Riding, presented by NSBA, and the Western team awards presentation.
For those unable to attend in person, IHSA's Official Media Partner, Horse & Country, will capture all the action. Horse & Country is offering a 15% discount off an H&C+ Annual Membership using the code IHSA15 good from now until May 17.
