Equestrian Concludes Season at IHSA National Championships

MILL SPRING, N.C. (May 4, 2025) – Seniors Madeline Ahern and Grace Faddoul, along with junior Rosalie Martin concluded their 2024–25 campaign at the prestigious Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships, held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
 
Ahern qualified for the Cacchione Cup for the second consecutive year and delivered another strong performance, placing 16th out of 24 elite riders—matching her result from last season. She also earned a 10th-place finish in the Dover Saddlery Open Flat Equitation, capping off an impressive showing at the national level.
 
Throughout the 2024–25 season, Ahern was a consistent standout in the open division, collecting nine top-three finishes, including four blue ribbons. Her accomplishments included being named the Zone 1 Cacchione Cup High Point Rider, earning Reserve High Point Rider honors at UConn on October 29, and securing High Point Rider recognition at the Brandeis home show on November 4.
 
Faddoul and Martin each made their debut at the IHSA Nationals this season. Faddoul competed in the intermediate flat division, while Martin represented Stonehill in the novice division. Both riders earned honorable mention status in their respective events.
 
Faddoul’s season was highlighted by two first-place finishes and a runner-up performance. Her standout moment came on April 6, when she captured the individual championship in intermediate flat to punch her ticket to Nationals.
 
Martin also enjoyed a strong campaign, recording four top-three finishes. Her season was punctuated by a Reserve Champion title in the novice division at the IHSA Zone 1 Championships.
 
About The IHSA
 
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association was established in 1967 by Robert Cacchione while an 18-year-old sophomore attending Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. Cacchione developed the prototype competition program with the help of his professor and renowned horseman Jack Fritz. 
 
Launched with just two colleges competing in hunter seat equitation, the IHSA was praised for its innovative competition format and quickly caught on. In 1979 the Western divisions premiered at the IHSA National Championship Horse Show (Nationals). In 1999 IHSA Inc. was established as a nonprofit organization. 
 
The early shows were judged by great horsemen, like Frank Chapot and Michael Page. Originally, Nationals were held at various college facilities.
 
IHSA now encompasses 40 Regions in 8 Zones with over 400 member colleges in 45 states and Canada and represents 10,000 members in hunter seat equitation on the flat and over fences, Western horsemanship, ranch riding and reining. To support the size of the organization, IHSA now requires major venues like Harrisburg, the Kentucky Horse Park and Los Angeles Equestrian Center for its National Championships.
 
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.