Kate Hagerty Continues a Legacy in North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships
September 25, 2025 — Upper Marlboro, MD — Kate Hagerty, of Terrebonne, OR, rose to the challenge in the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships on Thursday, September 25, 2025, piloting All In Z to the win on the second day of the 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. Forty-one riders contested the first course designed by Joe Carnicom at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, with the top 10 scored riders advancing to the second round.
Kate Hagerty and All In Z jump in perfect form to claim the win. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Hagerty, who trains with Vivian Yowan, led the class in both rounds to take home the championship sash, earning a score of 90 in the first round and returning last in the order in the second round to score a 92. With an overall score of 182, Hagerty topped the standings by seven points, negating the need for a test.
“It feels good. There’s definitely a lot of pressure, but I did exactly what I wanted to do. I just wanted to have a good second round,” said Hagerty, adding that this class will help prepare her and All In Z, owned by the Hagerty family, for the USEF Jumping Talent Search Finals in Gladstone, NJ, next week.
Hagerty has been partnered with “Alvin” since April, helping develop him for the equitation ring after a career in the jumpers. Hagerty was pleased with his performance. She reflected, “He was super good today. He was listening to everything that I asked. [The courses] asked a bunch of different questions, and I was just really happy how he was there for me through all of it.”
“He has such a big personality,” she said of the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Aganix du Seigneur Z x Quasimodo Z. “He’s the sweetest horse ever.”
Kate Hagerty receives her championship awards with groom Herson Marcos. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
A freshman at Auburn University, Hagerty was excited to travel to the Capital Challenge Horse Show, a favorite of hers to attend. With this win, Hagerty continues her family’s history of success during the Equitation Showcase, as her sister, Brooke Hagerty, won both the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final - East and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Final in 2024.
Brendan Weiss, also a previous winner of this class in 2023, returned to capture second place aboard North Run’s Audi 2000 Z with a final score of 175, and Xavier Gomez on Johnny Morales’ Baloucci rounded out the top three with a score of 172.5.
As the groom of All In Z, Herson Marcos won the North American Adult Equitation Champion Groom’s Award, sponsored by Holly Hill Farm, to recognize his hard work and dedication.
Avery Faye Smith Holds Her Lead
Avery Faye Smith and Keep Calm tackle the technical gymnastic course. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
In The Show Place Arena, 201 riders returned for the second day of the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final - East, set to tackle the gymnastics phase. The course, designed by Meghan Rawlins, Ken Krome, and Joe Carnicom, featured 11 obstacles and challenged the riders to trot into a one-stride line, take a bounce on a bending line, and canter through two-stride and one-stride combinations, with single fences between each of these questions.
Avery Faye Smith accepts her second blue of the week with Sue Bopp of Marshall+Sterling Insurance. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Fresh off her win in the flat phase the day prior, Avery Faye Smith navigated the technical course aboard Keep Calm with poise and precision to earn a top score of 89 from judges Ginny Edwards and Mark Jungherr, maintaining her overall lead. Eve Berry and Scottwood H, owned by Endeavors Way Equestrian LLC, finished just behind Smith with a score of 88.5, and Katherine Mercer rode to third place in the gymnastics phase with a score of 87 on Frog Pond Stables’ Mr. Anderson.
Smith and Berry maintain their first and second placings in the overall standings, while Eliana Klane and Kalina M, owned by Missy Clark, are third overall.
The 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show Equitation Showcase returns on Friday, September 26, for the final phase of the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final - East and Section A equitation division champions will be awarded for the 15, 16, and 17-year-old age groups.