Mill Spring, NC – November 1, 2026 – Continuing a time-honored tradition on the first Sunday in November, the National Horse Show welcomed North America’s top junior equitation riders to Tryon International for the prestigious 2026 NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship, presented by Chansonette Farm. Established in 1933 by renowned horseman Alfred B. Maclay as the nation’s first major equitation final, the championship has become one of the most coveted titles in junior equestrian sport. This year’s competition served as the grand finale to two weeks of elite competition at the 143rd National Horse Show.
A total of 160 horse-and-rider combinations qualified for Sunday’s featured event, each eager to showcase their skills and compete for top honors. All 160 riders had the opportunity to navigate course designer Paul Jewell’s 15-obstacle first-round track. Of the 160 competitors, just seven broke into the 90s. Emi Richard topped the leaderboard following the first round with a score of 94.25, narrowly edging out Kaitlyn Linck, who earned a 94, and Baylee Rowan, who rounded out the top three with a 93.00.
The flat phase brought a new order to the top of the leaderboard, as Baylee Rowan moved into first place with a score of 92.04, followed by Kaitlyn Linck with a 91.71 and Parker Peacock with a 90.13.
Demonstrating exceptional skill throughout the competition, Kaitlyn Linck aboard her own Zangersheide gelding, Don Touch de Tiji Z, ultimately emerged victorious, securing the coveted title of 2026 NHS ASPCA Maclay National Champion with a final score of 92.39. Baylee Rowan and Rabbit Creek Inc.’s Lucky Spot RW claimed reserve championship honors with a score of 90.78, while Parker Peacock and Ashland Farms’ Montverdi rounded out the top three with a score of 90.63.
“It feels so surreal,” stated Linck. “I honestly was kind of expecting to be second again. So to win really feels unreal, and it’s really all come together today.”
The third time proved to be the charm for Linck, who had earned two reserve champion finishes throughout her 2026 indoor season before finally claiming a victory of her own, saving the best for last. The championship marked a fitting conclusion to her indoor season and a milestone made even more meaningful by the years she has spent developing her partnership with Don Touch de Tiji Z.
“He’s so amazing. I’ve been bringing him up in the equitation for quite a few years now, about three indoor seasons,” Linck explained. “I had the great opportunity to be the first person to ride him in America, and then two years later, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to lease him, and then later, we bought him outright. He’s just been such an incredible horse.”
Having progressed from their earliest rides together to the pinnacle of junior equitation, Linck credited the strength of their partnership as a key component of their success.
“He’s just been the most incredible partner, and we’ve really grown together. That’s great to see as well.”
FROM THE JUDGES’ PERSPECTIVE:
As the competition narrowed to the top 24 riders, the 2026 NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship judges, Scott Fitton, Tom Brennan, Holly Orlando, and Hope Glynn, were met with an exceptionally talented group, seeing scores climb into the mid-to-high 90s. With such strong performances across the board, the competition came down to the smallest details among the top three riders.
“Once we got to the top 24, that top group was all in the mid-to-high 90s, which was exciting,” stated judge Hope Glynn. “As a judge, you want to give good scores. We were at a point where we were deciding whether we were giving them 94s or 96s. I think there’s a common misconception in judging that the judges are rooting against you. We’re rooting for you. We would always rather give a 98 than a 78. It was exciting to see this group of riders, a lot of whom we had seen before at this level. We also saw a lot of new faces really rise to the top, and a lot of consistency throughout the medal finals. We were very proud to judge this group of exceptional riders.”
With the championship on the line, Glynn explained that the final placings came down to subtle differences in the riders’ performances.
“We had a top group, but we had to decide whether to have an additional work-off, and the leader had enough of a lead at the end that she really rose to the top,” explained Glynn. “We were big fans of the top three. When Baylee came in, she had a beautiful canter. She came in beautifully off the turn, with a forward gallop down to the base of the triple bar, which is exactly what you want. Her horse swapped off the lead, off the ground there, and then she worked beautifully to the middle with a nice forward canter. She got a little snug coming up to the combination in front of us, and the horse was a little bit slow with his shoulder there. To me, that was the difference between first and second. When we discussed our top scores, that was the difference for us as to who rose to the top in that last round. It was a very strong group.”
With the coveted Maclay title secured, Kaitlyn Linck etched her name into the championship’s storied history, bringing the 143rd National Horse Show to a memorable close as the final champion crowned in 2026.
2026 NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship
TOP 12 FINISHERS
1. Kaitlyn Linck
2. Baylee Rowan
3. Parker Peacock
4. Elizabeth Rinehart
5. Wyatt Rofey
6. Maggie King
7. Emi Richard
8. Olivia Sweetnam
9. Brooke Hagerty
10. Lilly Herzog
11. Violet Tatum
12. Campbell Cauthen
EMI RICHARD
The Hannah M. Serfass Memorial Award
Presented By Friends and Family of Hannah Serfass and Awarded to the Highest Placed Rider After the First Jumping Round of the NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship
VIOLET TATUM
The Trailblazer Award
Presented By Perfect Products for Being Drawn To Compete First In the NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship
SPECIAL AWARDS
MACLAY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINER AWARD
STACIA KLEIN MADDEN
Presented by the Walker Family In Memory of Maryl Walker and John Y.G. Walker, Jr.
Presented to the trainer of the winning rider of the Maclay National Championship for the
ASPCA Horsemanship Classes
THE GORDON WRIGHT PERPETUAL TROPHY
To be awarded to the family of the winner of the Maclay National Championship for the
ASPCA Horsemanship Classes
WILSON DENNEHY EQUITATION TROPHY
Awarded to the rider with the best overall results from the ASPCA Maclay Finals and the Dover USEF Medal Finals.
THE REMEMBER THE MOMENT AWARD
Presented by Stacia Klein Madden
Presented to the winner of the NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship
The process of designing the 2026 NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship course, presented by Chansonette Farm, began this past summer, when course designer Paul Jewell created the first draft of what would become one of the most anticipated tests in junior equitation. The course underwent revisions throughout the fall, with further adjustments made upon arrival at Tryon International, before taking its final form as the 15-obstacle challenge unveiled to 160 riders Sunday morning at the 143rd National Horse Show.
After more than 30 years of course designing, Jewell’s passion for the craft and the joy he finds in it remain as strong as ever. Reflecting on the course’s design and the elements that make it special, Jewell shared, “I like the start, the first three jumps with a little snake line, and then that little gymnastic. Then there’s a single jump to let them take a deep breath, followed by the serpentine through the middle, a technical line, and then, if they have enough nerve, the last jump by itself. I love everything about it.”