SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026


Mill Spring, NC – October 25, 2026 – Championship ribbons were awarded to seven junior riders on Saturday in the Pérez & Bennett Under 14 Equitation, Pérez & Bennett 14–15 Equitation, and Pérez & Bennett 16–17 Equitation Divisions. The day concluded with the highly anticipated $10,000 Adult Amateur Hunter Classic, presented by Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Oare. Equitation week at the 143rd National Horse Show comes to a close on Sunday with the NHS 3'3" Equitation Championship, sponsored by the Hamel Family Foundation, as 190 junior riders take to the ring to compete for top honors.

Stay up to date with the latest NHS news, orders, results, livestream, and more!

Junior Equitation Champions

© Shawn McMillan Photography

Relive your favorite moments from the 143rd National Horse Show! Find your photos captured by the Official Show Photographer, Shawn McMillen Photography.

Seven champions were crowned in Tryon International’s indoor arena as junior equitation riders concluded two days of competition in the Pérez & Bennett Junior Equitation Divisions.

Pérez & Bennett Under 14 Equitation Division – Section A Champion

MILO MCKEE

Pérez & Bennett Under 14 Equitation Division – Section B Champion

KATHRYN PADILLA

Pérez & Bennett 14–15 Equitation Division – Section A Champion

NATALIE WHEELER

Pérez & Bennett 14–15 Equitation Division – Section B Champion

AMELIA SCHOENFELD

Pérez & Bennett 14–15 Equitation Division – Section C Champion

SABRINA MILLER

Pérez & Bennett 16–17 Equitation Division – Section A Champion

ANDREW READ

Pérez & Bennett 16–17 Equitation Division – Section B Champion

RYLEIGH ORTON

$10,000 Adult Amateur Hunter Classic

The Adult Amateur Hunters took center stage Saturday evening at the 143rd National Horse Show as horse-and-rider combinations competed for top honors in the highly anticipated $10,000 Adult Amateur Hunter Classic, presented by Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Oare. Following an evening of impressive performances, Owen Gajoch and Bacchus, a seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Michelle Gajoch, emerged victorious, claiming the coveted championship title.

OWEN GAJOCH & BACCHUS

CHAMPION

BLAIR BALMER & BOCELLI

SECOND PLACE

WILLOW VINCE & SLS CASUALLY COOL

THIRD PLACE

Sponsor Spotlight

A special thank you to Cindi Pérez and Annie Bennett, presenting sponsors of the Pérez & Bennett NHS Junior Equitation Division. 

We are grateful for their commitment to the next generation of equestrians and their continued support of the National Horse Show!

NHS Candid Gallery

The 143rd National Horse Show is officially underway! Make sure to check out our candid gallery daily to see if you can spot yourself.

NHS Quick Links

The NHS livestream is completely free to watch and will be live on nhs.org starting tomorrow morning.

The National Horse Show's 2026 orders and results are provided by Show Management System.

Features daily class offerings. For more info, check out the 2026 NHS Prize List.