Olivia Sweetnam Claims Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final
Pennsylvania National
October 16, 2025 at 1:00 PMBy b.wehner
After years of coming close, Olivia Sweetnam finally captured her first Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final win. The 17-year-old from Wellington, Fla. topped a field of 157 entries at the 79th Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pa.
The competition began in the Harrisburg Coliseum, where the first-round course challenged riders across a large field. Judges Ralph Caristo and Michael Tokaruk selected the top 25 to advance, and Sweetnam, aboard Efendi, leveraged the horse’s long stride to move into second place heading into the second round. Peacock led, with Epstein in third.
The final test for the top four riders included a shortened course with counter-canter fences, a trot fence, and a demonstration of a hand gallop. Sweetnam executed flawlessly, landing both counter leads and completing each element with precision, ultimately clinching the championship.
Peacock earned second place aboard Montverdi, while Epstein secured third on her own Charlie Brown. That mount was also honored with the Doris H. Clark Memorial Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the horse deemed by the judges as the Best Equitation Horse.
With a combination of composure, technique, and partnership, Sweetnam’s victory marked a milestone in her equitation career and a standout moment for Ashland Farms.
Photo by Pexel
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