Madison Stewart and Lantos Dominate in the $2,500 ClipMyHorse.TV Classic Qualifier
The second World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week of the 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit delivered top-tier hunter competition from start to finish. Featuring some of the best in the sport, the week gave riders the opportunity to earn valuable points toward national WCHR standings. Saturday’s action-packed schedule on March 14 included the highly anticipated $2,500 ClipMyHorse.tv Classic Qualifier, where junior rider Madison Stewart and Lantos delivered a standout performance to take the win, securing their spot in the 2026 $300,000 ClipMyHorse.tv 3’6” Open Classic Final at HITS Hudson Valley in September.
Ten competitors entered the Main Hunter Ring, all aiming to impress in a single classic hunter round, but only the top three finishers would punch their ticket to the Final. The beautifully designed course, crafted by Tim Hott, Tom Urban, and Kerry Kocher demanded elegance and precision, making every jump count. Stewart and Lantos, her 10-year-old KWPN gelding (Vigo D’Arosouilles x Cantos), earned the high score of 89 from judges Robin Swinderman Mitchell and Dee Walker, claiming the lion’s share of the prize money.
“I’ve had Lantos for about three years now,” shared Stewart. “He’s grown so much, and I’ve learned so much from him. He really shines in the bigger classes like this one.”
With only one round to impress the judges, Stewart approached the class with a clear plan.
“This is actually my third attempt at qualifying for this class,” she laughed. “I know the drill now. I just wanted to be as smooth and consistent as possible since I didn’t have another horse to fall back on. My horse jumps so slow and high, so I wanted to make sure I could really let him shine.”
Stewart will join the NCEA Division I equestrian team at Southern Methodist University this fall, but she has already set her sights on making the trip to Saugerties, New York, to compete in the Final.
Read more:
