2025 Saddle Seat Invitational Application
There will be two International Saddle Seat Invitationals scheduled for this year:
Competition One
United States
June 25-28, 2025
Cascade Stables
(700 East Drive, New Orleans, LA 70118)
Competition Two
South Africa
Dec. 10-13, 2025
(Location TBD)
We are excited to offer two International Saddle Seat Competitions in 2025. US Saddle Seat Association will field a team of twelve (12), comprised of six three-gaited riders and six five-gaited riders for each of the Invitationals.
Applications will be accepted until March 25, 2025. Selectors will review the applications and notice will be provided to all applicants by March 31, 2025.
Welcome
We are excited to welcome riders, coaches, managers and supporters from South Africa and the United States to the 2024 United States Saddle Seat Association Invitational, presented by the International Saddle Seat Equitation Association (ISSEA) and the United States Saddle Seat Association (USSSA).
We have a competitive week ahead of us with the top riders in the Saddle Seat industry vying for the titles in Three-Gaited and Five-Gaited competition. This competition is an exciting part of equestrian sport, showcasing the skills and talents of riders who compete on unfamiliar horses after limited practice. This competition is unlike any other in equestrian sport.
This competition brings together like-minded and passionate enthusiasts from around the globe and offers a venue to create international friendships and memories to last a lifetime. We hope that you will all take the time to enjoy the camaraderie the competition affords and that you will ride every step knowing you are miaking history for the discipline of Saddle Seat riding.
This year's event is only made possible through the generous donors of horses, volunteer hours and significant donations and sponsorships. We are thankful and could not do this event without these contributions. We wish all of you an enjoyable, safe and successful week. Have fun, ride hard and take pride and know that you are making a difference in the history of International Saddle Seat Competition.
—The Assembly of ISSEA and the Directors of United States Saddle Seat Association
Meet the 2024 Teams
UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
SOUTH AFRICA
Three-Gaited
Three-Gaited
Three-Gaited
Five-Gaited
Three-Gaited
Five-Gaited
Three-Gaited
Three-Gaited
Five-Gaited
2024 Invitational Officials
Judges
Mary Lou Carrick
John Whalen
Sharon Bender
Paddock
Duncan Molony
Ringmaster
Bret Samples
Barn Managers
Avery Scheurich
Lissy Kane
Management Team
Barbe Smith
Lori Nelson
Cindy Mugnier
2024 Invitational Schedule
Monday, October 14 — Team Practices
Tuesday, October 15 — Team Practices
Wednesday, October 16 — Competition
Thursday, October 17 — Competition
Thanks to Our Sponsors
Julie Needham
Daisy Kids Therapy, LLC
Cinclaire Sessums
The Breaux Family
Terry & Diana Vonderheide
The Bernstein Family
Cascade Stables
The Duplantier/Coates Family
Jessica Schippert
The Molony Family
Stephanie Hackney
AND SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE PROVIDED HORSES FOR OUR COMPETITION!