Longines Masters New York to Feature the Inaugural IHSA Metropolitan Equitation Invitational

Athletes from the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) will showcase their equitation on an international stage at Longines Masters New York. The inaugural IHSA Metropolitan Equitation Invitational will be held April 26 at NYCB Live, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, in Uniondale, New York, at 3 p.m.

The IHSA Metropolitan Equitation Invitational features talented collegiate equestrians who compete in the Cacchione Cup and Open divisions of the IHSA. The participants draw to compete aboard horses, sight-unseen, on the flat and over a course of fences and will be judged on the riders’ effectiveness, style and form. First, the riders compete over fences and the top 12 return to be judged on the flat.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our IHSA riders to compete at an event surrounded by the best in the world,” said Bob Cacchione, founder and executive director of the IHSA. “We are so proud of them and grateful to the Longines Masters and the EEM team for their support and providing this chance to share our catch-ride format.”

IHSA athletes participating:

Michael Andrade
Centenary University

Merle Beach
St. Lawrence University

Hadley Benneyan
Skidmore College

Francisco Caba Guil
Emory & Henry College

Thea Chafee
Colgate University

Jennifer Depietro
Johnson & Wales University

Caitlin Doocy
St. Lawrence University

Mia Fellin
Marist University

Maeve Foley
Skidmore College

Michael Golinowski
Bridgewater College

Erica Heffernan
Trinity College

Grace Jackson
St. Lawrence University

Cariann Johnson
Sacred Heart University

Samantha Johnson
Washington And Lee University

Sarah Levi
Marist University

Samantha Leuci
Centenary University

Arielle  Luogidice
Centenary University

Madison Myro 
Centenary University

Blake Portmann
Marist University

Irene Elise Powlick
Goucher College

Abby Staskel
Drew University

Elizabeth Traband
Penn State

Hannah Tuckner
Skidmore College

Olivia van der Meer
University Of Massachusetts

Alicia Weismann 
Rider University

Established in Paris, Hong Kong, New York, and recently added, Lausanne - the Longines Masters series was inspired by the legendary tennis Grand Slam. It is considered is one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world. The American leg of the Longines Masters Series will feature international show jumping competition and unparalleled sport with the world's top-ranked equestrian athletes, as well as luxury shopping, dining and entertainment. Each Longines Masters event is broadcast in close to 100 countries and reaches up to 260 million households.

Longines Masters New York has provided two of the most respected authorities on hunter seat equitation to judge the first-ever event. George H. Morris is widely regarded as the founding father of hunter seat equitation. At 14, he won both the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Finals and the AHSA Hunt Seat Equitation Medal Finals, the youngest rider ever to achieve the two titles. He is an Olympic silver-medalist and as the U.S. chef d’equipe, he led the team to Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008.

Brianne Goutal-Marteau will join Morris in the judges’ booth. Goutal-Marteau was the first U.S. junior rider to win all four major equitation finals, including US Equestrian Federation [USEF] Jumping Talent Search Finals-East, the Washington International Equitation Classic Finals, the USEF Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal Finals and the ASPCA Maclay National Championships. She was awarded the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider honor and has won countless grand prix competitions. Goutal-Marteau is a graduate of Brown University, where she competed in the IHSA.