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When the final ribbons were handed out at the 2025 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, the leaderboard told only part of the story. Behind every move up was a carefully considered card, a balance of execution and composure, and a judging philosophy that rewarded precision, risk, and true horsemanship.
For judge Michael Tokaruk, who sat alongside Ralph Caristo in Harrisburg, the goal was simple: identify the riders who could adapt under pressure and ride with intention.
A Smaller Field, Higher Standard
This year’s class marked one of the smallest in recent memory—just 157 starters compared to over 200 in years past. But what the field lacked in numbers, it made up for in quality.
“I do think we’re on the decline,” Tokaruk said, “but I think the biggest reason is the rise of the 3’3” medals. That section is doing what it was created to do: to give a stepping stone to riders who aren’t quite ready for the demanding 3’6” finals.”
For the judges, the smaller class size was a welcome change. “A hundred and fifty to a hundred seventy-five is a great number to judge,” Tokaruk explained. “It makes for a much nicer day. Everybody can get done at a decent hour. You don’t have kids showing until eight o’clock at night.”
That balance allowed the judging panel to focus more deeply on the performances that truly stood out. “We really didn’t have a whole lot that were just there to be there,” he added. “In the end, the cream was able to rise to the top.”
The Second Round Shakeup
After the first round, Adriana Forte and Olivia Sweetnam had pulled ahead of the pack, but the scores behind them were tight. So tight, in fact, that the second round saw one of the biggest leaderboard moves in Medal Finals history.
“Emmy Richard went from 24th to 4th,” Tokaruk said. “She nailed it. She went in and really rode like she had nothing to lose.”
Richard’s performance was so strong that it forced Tokaruk and Caristo to pause and double-check their math. “We talked about it before calling for the test,” he said. “We asked, ‘Are we okay with this move-up?’ And we both absolutely were. She earned it.”
The judges’ reasoning was clear: in a class where the top 25 were separated by only a few points, a standout round could change everything. “Just because you’re 24th doesn’t mean you’re 24 points behind,” Tokaruk said. “If you go in there and nail it, you can move up a lot, and that’s exactly what happened.”
The Test: Risk, Precision, and Pressure
Once the top four were called back it all came down to the test. For the judges, this final phase was less about trick riding and more about seeing how riders managed decision-making under pressure.
“You want them to be prepared,” Tokaruk explained. “When I train my own students, I tell them, if there’s even a one percent chance you’ll make the test, go learn your jump numbers. Make sure you know the course.”
That preparation mattered, because unlike some finals, trainers were asked to step out of the warm-up during the test phase. “We wanted them to have to think for themselves a little bit,” Tokaruk said. “We didn’t mind if they needed to walk up and look at the jumps, but once they were in, it was up to them.”
The test included counter-canter elements, a trot jump, and a hand gallop to finish—classic Medal Finals material that required poise and planning. “We wanted to give riders enough space to perform the counter-canter,” Tokaruk said. “No trick riding. Just good, thoughtful equitation.”
Each rider approached it differently. “With risk can come reward but also problems,” he explained. “If you’re sitting fourth, you might take more chances. If you’re on top, maybe you’re a little more conservative. Everybody’s different in how they answer the questions of the test.”
How the Win Was Decided
In the end, Sweetnam’s experience shone through. “Olivia took some risks and she wanted to win,” Tokaruk said. “She really used that experience of being in the test multiple times before and rode to the occasion.”
One critical moment came at the final hand gallop. “We didn’t have a set number there,” Tokaruk explained, “but we wanted to see them go forward. Parker didn’t really hand gallop, she slowed down to the last jump, and that was part of why she moved down.”
For the judges, it wasn’t about perfection but about intent. “We weren’t counting strides,” Tokaruk clarified. “We were watching for who rode with purpose and feel.”
Sweetnam’s balance of boldness and control earned her the championship, and the respect of everyone watching.
A Sport at Its Best
For Tokaruk, what stood out most wasn’t just the riding, but the atmosphere. “It was an honor to judge the class,” he said. “And to see Olivia win and have every equitation trainer walk up to her to congratulate her, that was amazing. That kind of sportsmanship is rare.”
In a discipline often defined by fine margins, the 2025 USEF Medal Final was a reminder of what good judging, good riding, and good spirit look like when they all come together.
Want more insight from Michael Tokaruk? Listen to episode 455 of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
