United States Eventing Association

Aiken, S.C.—May 17— In a display of depth, determination, and unmistakable purple pride, Go With It Farm (GWIF) made history this weekend by claiming both the champion and reserve champion titles at the 2026 USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championship. With 22 teams and 83 IEL riders contesting this year’s edition, the Atlanta‑based program known for its thriving lesson academy and youth‑focused training environment rose to the occasion with a dominant performance.

The winning squad, GWIF Groupies 2, clinched the national title on a score of 84.81. Decked out in their signature purple and this year’s “dragon” theme (complete with matching purple dragon saddle pads), the team delivered consistency across all three phases to secure the program’s first‑ever one‑two finish on the IEL podium.

Thirteen‑year‑old Bethany McKnight set the tone aboard My Valentine in the Beginner Novice division with the 22‑year‑old mare she half leases from Sidnee Milner. Their weekend began with a personal‑best 26.3 in dressage, followed by double‑clear jumping efforts that gave the team early momentum.

“My Valentine is 22, and she’s the best!” McKnight said. “We got through cross-country with a good time, and stadium was perfect.”

She added that the team environment helped her rise to the occasion: “When you’re riding as an individual, it’s all on you, but when you’re on a team, it’s a whole team contributing to the score, and that helps with the pressure.”

That sense of shared purpose carried through to Aya Koonz, who piloted Halliea Berry’s 11-year-old Pony of the America’s gelding Legendary Spots in the Starter division, to a weekend highlighted by a 27.2 dressage score and double‑clear jumping rounds. Despite having only ridden the gelding for two months, Koonz leaned on his experience and her own growing partnership with him.

“It was an amazing weekend,” she said. “We had a really good dressage test, an awesome cross-country with a little spice to it, and then an amazing stadium round. He was the absolute best!”

For Koonz, the magic of the weekend extended beyond the arena. “The team spirit is amazing. Everybody always tries to find a way to support and cheer for each other. GWIF always has their loudest voices on," she said.

Fourteen‑year‑old Macyn Wolpert added another layer of consistency aboard Gail Hilburn’s Don Conrad, earning a 31.9 in Beginner Novice dressage, also a personal best, and delivering double‑clear jumping rounds. Having leased the 22-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Don Alfredo x Cheshire Kitty) for 10 months, Wolpert said the pair has worked hard to refine their flatwork.

“That’s the phase we’ve been working at the most because his jumping has been pretty solid,” she explained. “He’s a really big horse, so keeping him balanced is key. He’s a beast out on cross-country—he just loves it.”

With the team entering the final day in the lead, Wolpert recalled a message from their coach that helped steady their nerves: “Our coach said, ‘Pressure is a privilege.’ We knew we were sitting in first, so we had to cope with that pressure well, and I think we did a good job.”

Rounding out the championship squad in Beginner Novice was Khloe Lovingood, who stepped up to the challenge aboard Shanna Early’s 18-year-old Appendix Quarter Horse gelding Colonial Art (Artful Investment x Colonial Charm), a horse she had ridden only three times before arriving at Stable View.

“It was definitely exciting and an adventure,” she said. “I’d never done cross-country with him, so I talked to one of his former riders to learn how he is. I knew I just had to ride every single jump, and he was such a stable horse. I had a lot of confidence in him and I’m really grateful to have him this weekend.”

As the final scores came in, the GWIF Groupies 2 riders gathered to celebrate not just a championship, but a shared achievement of teamwork.

“I’m really proud of our entire GWIF team in the way they rode this weekend,” Lovingood summarized. “Even for our teammates who didn’t make the top two, we all cheered each other on. Our riders showed up for each other’s rides. It was pretty amazing.”

Just behind their barnmates, team GWIF Groupies 3 secured the reserve championship, completing the historic one‑two sweep for the program with an overall score of 86.31. Their placing was a testament to the depth of GWIF’s training program and the strength of its riders at multiple levels.

• Jake Tessler & Gold de Riverland (Training) — Finished on dressage score of 25.0

• Collins Zgutowicz & Rossmount Aldi Hero (Training) — Finished on dressage score of 33.8

• Madison Zgutowicz & Keep Kitty (Training) — Finished on dressage score of 37.1

• Raegan Hornfeck & Gawain (Novice) — 35.3 dressage; 0.8 cross-country time penalties

Rounding out the podium in their debut at their championship debut was the Goldin Eventing Navy team with an overall team score of 90.155.

• Reagan Gibson & Ardeo On A Mission (Starter) — 24.7 in dressage; 4 show jumping penalties

• Kalli Holderfield & Maeve (Novice) — Finished on dressage score of 32.1

• Katherine Bright & Dali du Montesy (Training) — Finished on dressage score of 34.4

• Adeline Bright & Lakota (Starter) — 31.9 in dressage; 4 show jumping penalties

Helpful Links:

• USEA Coverage of Championships

• Stable View Website

• Digital Championships Program

• Live Scores

• Ride Times

• Meet the 2026 Intercollegiate Eventing Championship Teams

• Meet the 2026 IEL Championship Teams

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About the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program

The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program was established in 2014 to provide a framework within which eventing teams and individual competitors could flourish at universities and colleges across the country. Many events across the country offer Intercollegiate Team Challenges where collegiate eventers can compete individually or in teams with their fellow students. In Intercollegiate Team Challenges, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level to account for differences in level difficulty, and then the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship is a capstone event for the program, which is held annually in the spring. Click here to learn more about the Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Aiken Saddlery, AllStar Tents & Events, Horse & Country, Meybohm Realtors – Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, Powell Asset Protection Agency, Sidelines, U.S. Equestrian, Wendel Mobile Equine, WeRideTogether, World Equestrian Brands, Young Rider Magazine, and 100xEquine for sponsoring the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

About the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL)

In August 2020, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) as an official program of the USEA. The mission of IEL is to unite junior riders who are in the 5th—12th grade and provide a supportive community through which students can continue to pursue their riding interests. A group of junior members in the 5th—12th grade who share a common bond, such as the same barn, school, Pony Club, or other connection, can register with the USEA as an IEL Club. Click here to learn more about the Interscholastic Eventing League.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Aiken Saddlery, AllStar Tents & Events, Horse & Country, Meybohm Realtors – Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, Powell Asset Protection Agency, Sidelines, U.S. Equestrian, Wendel Mobile Equine, WeRideTogether, World Equestrian Brands, Young Rider Magazine, and 100xEquine for sponsoring the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program.