Harrisburg, Pa. — October 12, 2025 — Olivia Sweetnam has been knocking on the door of a Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final win for years, and this time, the victory was hers. The 17-year-old from Wellington, Fla. topped a field of 157 entries to take home the acclaimed championship title on Sunday, October 12, at the 79^th Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pa.

“This is my fourth time doing Medal Finals, I believe, and I’ve been lucky enough to have a really good go all three times,” said Sweetnam, who finished in fourth in 2023 and in fifth in 2024. “This is my third year in a row testing, and I’ve tragically messed up the test both other times. So, I’m really happy to be able to pull it off today! I’ve been wanting to win this final for a really long time.”

Finishing in second place was Parker Peacock of Pfafftown, N.C., and Lily Epstein of Coral Gables, Fla. took home third place. In an impressive – and likely unprecedented – feat for trainers Ken and Emily Smith, all three of Sunday’s top finishers train for the equitation at the Smith’s Ashland Farms.  

In order to take those top three positions, Sweetnam, Peacock and Epstein first had to navigate the first-round course in the Harrisburg Coliseum at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. From there, judges Ralph Caristo and Michael Tokaruk selected the top 25 to advance to round two.

“For the first round, I just wanted a smooth, consistent round. I didn’t want many changes in pace,” said Sweetnam, who was quick to credit her winning mount, Efendi, for her success through all three phases. “All three rounds actually were very suited to my horse, so I’m very thankful for that. Efendi is the best, and I knew that he was beyond capable of this. He’s done it before with different riders, so he’s really the talent in the pair.”

Of the 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Ashland Farms, Sweetnam continued, “I’ve been riding Efendi for I’d say almost two years…This is my second finals season on him, my second year at Medal Finals. He means so much to me. I’m so thankful to be able to ride him. I remember when I was like 10 years old, and I watched him win this final with Brian Moggre. I was in awe. He’s amazing. I’m beyond lucky to be able to sit on him.”

With Sweetnam using Efendi’s large stride in her favor in round one, she found herself in second place heading into round two, and she held that position going into final testing of the top four. Sitting in first place going into the final test was Peacock, while Epstein held third place.

For the test, Caristo and Tokaruk asked riders to contest a shortened course that included two counter-cantered fences, a trot fence and the demonstration of a hand gallop. Sweetnam seamlessly landed both counter leads and nailed each aspect of the test to ultimately clinch the victory.

Peacock’s second-place honor came aboard Montverdi, owned by Ashland Farms, while Epstein’s third-place award was earned aboard her own Charlie Brown.

Charlie Brown was also presented with the Doris H. Clark Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Missy Clark, as the mount deemed by the judges to be the Best Equitation Horse.

Of the 2025 Hunter Seat Medal Final contestants as a whole, judge Tokaruk said, “I thought, all in all, the field was quite good, but certainly the top ones really separated themselves. I thought the first round did a great job of testing the skills of the riders without being overly harsh and punishing to the horses.”

Tokaruk continued, “All three of these girls had great days, and that’s why they’re sitting here. In the end, Olivia was the best, so she pulled it out and had three excellent rounds. Hats off to her and her horse and her team, and second and third, you guys also did a fantastic job. You should be really happy with how you’ve done.”

Fellow judge Caristo concluded, “This is the future of our sport. There’s nothing like it, and right now, I think our sport is the pinnacle of what it’s going to be for the future. I think it’s amazing.”

To view full results of the 2025 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, click here.