Sydney Mohrhardt, Sabrina Miller, and Olivia Sweetnam earn championship wins as riders prepare for the fall equitation finals
Traverse City, MI — Three equitation finals unfolded Friday during week two of the Tournament of Champions as riders prepared for an intense fall season of indoor championships. While three winners were crowned, strong performances throughout the day also helped riders secure or solidify qualifications for upcoming year-end finals.
Sydney Mohrhardt’s Prep Pays Off in THIS NHS Adult Area Championship
In the THIS NHS Adult Area Championship, Sydney Mohrhardt’s preparation showed through, as she guided Saint Louis, also known as “Junior”, to the winning position.
“It feels great,” Mohrhardt said of her win Friday. “I was really excited for today. This is my first season competing as an adult and doing the adult equitation classes. I was super excited to start the indoor season with my horse and have a fun time.”
Coming off a successful equitation career as a junior, Mohrhardt knew what was expected of her in this class, and she had been well prepared by her team behind her at Hickory Ridge.
“I really enjoyed the course,” she said of the day’s challenge. “I thought it was fun and inviting. There were some tough questions but it was fun for the riders to go around. My horse felt comfortable and confident.”
With the THIS NHS Adult Equitation Championship at the National Horse Show just around the corner, Mohrhardt was excited to secure the win and not only qualify but feel ready for her next big appearance. Also helping her to the win was her breakfast of champions, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“Every single day a PB&J is eaten at lunch, and sometimes for breakfast, depending on how hungry I am,” she shared. “I always have to have peanut butter and jelly no matter what the circumstances are. I use creamy JIF peanut butter. I believe the jelly is technically jam but that’s Smuckers Strawberry Seedless, and the bread is 100% whole wheat.”
Recognizing that she can’t do any of this by herself, Mohrhardt thanked both her trainers, Jacob Pope and Nick Pongracz, as well as Junior’s groom, Emir Marin.
“He’s been Junior’s groom since 2024 and I just can’t thank him enough,” she shared. “He takes the best care of my horse and works incredibly hard. He is equally deserving of this win and is such a great person. I’m so lucky to have him as my groom.”
Coming in second in the THIS NHS Adult Area Championship was Jennifer Kemp, while Avery Faye Smith finished in third.
Sabrina Miller Sets her Sights on Equitation in Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3”
Sabrina Miller took home a major win Friday in the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3”, proving she has an impressive equitation career ahead of her. She rode Splender van de Achterhoek, who is still quite green and learning the ropes of the equitation, but the pair made it look like they had been doing it their whole lives.
“He’s a really good boy in general,” Miller said of her partner. “He’s only 7 so this is his first time doing anything important. I just wanted him to do really well and be calm but my team really helped me today and he was so good.”
Training under Makoto Farm, the team of Elizabeth Reilly, Augusta Iwasaki, and Ava Peck have been supporting Miller as she’s stepped more into the equitation ranks.
“They have really helped me grow as a rider this year and to train my horse,” she shared. “They’ve helped mainly with my equitation; I used to only do the hunters and I really wanted to focus on equitation so this was a big win for me.”
In order to prepare for this class, as well as the upcoming NHS 3’3″ Equitation Championship, sponsored by the Hamel Foundation, Miller said it takes, “Lots of lessons, lots of no stirrups, and classes like this to prep for the finals because they replicate the courses we’ll see there.”
Friday’s course also suited Miller and Splender van de Achterhoek, and the pair took it all in stride.
“I thought the course was really nice,” Miller remarked. “You could do a lot of different strides in the lines so it was up to what horse you had. The course worked really well for my horse.”
Alexander Adkins finished second aboard Odiljo, while Corinne Colter and Favorit Julius took third.
Olivia Sweetnam Prepares for Indoors with ASPCA Maclay Regional Victory
In the ASPCA Maclay Regional Championship Region 4, the win was Olivia Sweetnam’s as she piloted a brand-new partner to a flawless round. Having just met Clemenzio this week, she got a feel for the horse early in the week and was able to put the pieces together Friday and finish first as she prepares for the NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship in October.
“This is actually my first week with him and I think he’s a horse with a lot of natural talent and ability,” Sweetnam said of Clemenzio. “I did two classes on him earlier this week and got to learn his buttons. Realizing the exact ride I needed to give him made the difference between today and yesterday. I’m really happy with our performance.”
Sweetnam has plenty of experience with equitation finals, though she has yet to win the prestigious NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship. A strong Regional Championship performance gave Sweetnam another opportunity to sharpen her equitation ahead of the national final, but Sweetnam also has other big challenges taking place this week, including jumping the CSI5* division.
“Regionals is really to set up for finals and I just give it my best go to make sure I’m in tune,” she shared about her preparation for this occasion. “I haven’t been doing equitation much recently so two weeks before finals start I can make sure I’ve still got it. I wanted to go in and give my horse the best chance he had and hopefully finesse it a little.”
Sweetnam is one of many young riders who balances a successful equitation career alongside the jumpers, and she credits her equitation experience for helping her better master big jumper tracks.
“Equitation helps my jumper riding the most through the line and the track,” she explained. “It’s such a great thing to have. Since I was 12 years old I have gotten five classes a week to solely focus on line and track and making a steady line look like it’s even or a forward line look like it’s the same as the steady line. Having that finesse and to apply it in the jumper ring without having to look so pretty is a super helpful thing.”
Elizabeth Rinehart and Charlie Brown finished second in the ASPCA Maclay Regional Championship Region 4, while Charlotte Colter and Juice WRLD took third.
The equitation during week two of the Tournament of Champions is only just getting started, with Sunday featuring the $100,000 Dudley & Barb Smith TCHS 3’6” Equitation Championship and $50,000 Cherry Capital TCHS 3’3” Equitation Championship. Adult equitation riders also get their next opportunity Sunday with the USHJA 3’3” Adult Jumping Seat Medal Final.
Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
