University of Kentucky senior Callie Schott (third from right) won both team open flat and fences. Freshman teammate Ali Cibon (fourth from right) won team intermediate over fences. Though the Wildcats did not earn any other team points, 21 was all they needed to capture 2008 IHSA National Champion hunter seat team honors.

KENTUCKY, OHIO STATE WIN 2008 IHSA NATIONALS TEAM COMPETITIONS

In total contrast to 2007 IHSA Nationals, when both team competitions were decided by the midpoint of the contest, the 2008 National show in Burbank, California showed that the IHSA is becoming more and more balanced, as seven hunter seat and two western teams had a shot at a share of the National Championship going into each discipline's final team class.

Perhaps the most exciting moment of the entire show came when the placings for team open flat were announced, as the final two riders yet to be called were certain to determine the new National Champion. With St. Lawrence freshman Suzanne Snyder announced as second, this meant University of Kentucky senior Callie Schott would earn the blue ribbon and thus give the Wildcats 21 points and their first hunter seat IHSA National Championship in program history.

Less than an hour later Meghan Ritchey placed fourth in team open western horsemanship for Ohio State, leaving the Buckeyes 27 points. However third went to Katie Morehead of Findlay, meaning the defending National Champion Oilers finished a point behind with 26. Ohio State can now claim to have won or tied for the IHSA Western National Championship nine times, a record for either an english or western team.

The 2008 Cacchione Cup went to Drew University junior James Fairclough II, who was first in the jumping phase with a '90' score. Though the Drew program has produced notable riders such as Archie Cox and Sandra Sayre, Fairclough is the first rider in school history to win the Cacchione Cup.

Morehead, a Findlay freshman whose mother Cindy is the Head Coach, won the 2008 Individual AQHA Trophy, becoming the fourth Findlay rider in as many seasons to take the Trophy back to Findlay, Ohio. The Findlay program thus moves into a tie with Texas A & M for most Individual AQHA Trophy wins at four each.

But perhaps the most amazing record set during the four-day event took place on the morning of May 10th, when Amanda Forte won the alumni flat. The 2002 Brown University graduate became the first rider in the 41-year history of the IHSA to win seven different classes at IHSA National Shows. As an undergraduate Forte won Team and Individual Open Flat, Team and Individual Open Fences and the Cacchione Cup. Forte was the Alumni Over Fences Champion at 2007 Nationals and her blue ribbon performance in alumni flat this season put her into uncharted territory. Several individuals associated with the Brown team think the next step is for the IHSA to create an 'Open Level' alumni division so Forte can go after that! (alumni riders jump at the novice level and are similarly judged on the flat - Editor)

Complete IHSA Nationals results will appear by Saturday afternoon while separate stories on the various components of the National Show will begin appearing early next week (or sooner).

--Steve Maxwell