The 2024 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final—East wrapped up on Sunday at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey, crowning Taylor Cawley as the winner after Phases III and IV. During Phase III, athletes tackled a jumper-style course under the supervisions of judges Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Ellen Raidt, with scores doubled for the overall competition tally. Taylor Cawley, Amira Kettaneh, Olivia Sweetnam and JJ Torano advanced to the decisive Phase IV, the ride-off. 

In Phase IV, the competitors began with a clean slate, riding a shortened version of the course on their own horse before swapping mounts and repeating the course on each of the other top horses. Cawley emerged victorious, claiming the coveted French Leave Trophy while Oki D’Eclipse (Catoki—Eluna D’Eclipse, Calato), owned by Sea Horse Investments, took home The Grappa Trophy after being awarded best horse of the competition.

“It’s honestly surreal,” said Cawley. “I have always wanted to win this final; I can’t believe it!”

Cawley, Wellington, Florida, rode through the first three phases with precision and went on to clinch the top spot in Phase IV with a collective score of 379, while her trainer, Stacia Klein Madden, received the Leading Trainer Award.

“This final is used as a steppingstone, and it gets you ready for the jumper ring, which is where I eventually want to be,” said Cawley. “I think with the flat phase, the gymnastics phase and the jumping phase, I tried to be as consistent as I could. Then, in the final four, again, I just tried to keep everything consistent.” 

Cawley started riding Oki D’Eclipse, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood at Devon (Pennsylvania) in 2023. This year they won the WEF Equitation Championship (Florida).

“I just love him so much,” she said. “I am the only one who has ever rode him in the equitation, and I’ve had him for almost two years now. He’s been a joy to watch grow, and I love working with him.” 

Watch Cawley’s Phase III round, courtesy of USEF Network:

Second place honors went to Kettaneh (Hollis, New Hampshire), who rode Mark 19 (Stakkato Gold—H-Coriana BB) owned by Leigh Kettaneh to a final score of 369. Sweetnam (Wellington, Florida) secured third place aboard Class Act (Vigaro—Leonalda), owned by Ashland Farms, with a score of 366, while Torano (Wellington, Florida) finished in fourth with Favorite Edition Z (Favorit Ask—Sunny Girl), owned by The Lucky Four Group, on a final total of 344.5.

The Hollow Brook Wealth Management Sportsmanship Award was presented to Skyler Gurtis (Oviedo, Florida), recognizing her exemplary integrity and sportsmanship throughout the competition. Gurtis rode Cliff Affair, a Holsteiner gelding owned by Halley Barrett Sporthorses, over the weekend in her first USEF Talent Search Final—East appearance. 

View the full results here.