Harrisburg, Pa. – Aug. 12, 2026 – The countdown is on for the 80th Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS), as many of the nation’s top horses and riders prepare to arrive in Harrisburg, Pa., to compete October 8–18, 2026.
As the show welcomes some of the sport’s most accomplished competitors, it will also rely on an equally distinguished panel of judges and officials. Charged with evaluating performances across each class and division, the judges play one of the most critical roles throughout the competition. To ensure the highest standard of officiating, PNHS management assembles a nationally recognized panel with some of the most respected and highly rated judges each year, and 2026 is no exception.
This year, scoring the hunters, will be Rob Bielefeld, Mark Bone, James Waldman and Chris Wynne.
Flora Baptiston, Michael Howell and Donald Latsha will oversee all jumper divisions.
The USEF/National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East judges are set as Britt McCormick and Lyman Whitehead.
For the highly anticipated USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, Jennifer Bauersachs and Geoff Teall have been selected to serve as judges.
In addition, course designers throughout the competition will include: Kevin Holowack (hunters and jumpers), Skip Bailey (hunters) and Bernardo Costa Cabral (jumpers).
To see the full list of judges/officials for 2026, access the prize list here.
NEW for 2026:
- Increased trainer bonuses – Trainer bonuses have been doubled from $20,000 to $40,000! This now includes the $20,000 Leading Trainer Awards, $10,000 Leading Green 3′ Trainer Awards and the $10,000 Leading Green 3’3″ Trainer Awards
- Expanded grooms’ bonuses – $200 cash bonuses to the grooms of all division champions, thanks to Marshall+Sterling
- The PNHS Children’s Medal Final and the PNHS Adult Medal Final
- More than $100,000 in additional prize money across all hunter divisions, including:
- $140,000 Junior Hunters
- $95,000 Pro Hunters
- $50,000 Green 3’–3’3″ Hunter Divisions
- $80,000 Amateur-Owner Hunters
- $56,000 Pony Hunters
- $40,000 Adult Amateurs
- $30,000 Children’s Hunters
- $25,000 Professional Division 3’6″–4′ Winners Stake
Returning favorites and prestigious championships:
- $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National
- USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final
- Turnham Green/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships
- $30,000 Commonwealth Classic (featuring Team Night!)
- USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East
- Penn National hunter/jumper championships and so much more!
Entries will close as follows, and qualifying lists will be made available as soon as possible after the final close of all equitation and side saddle entries:
- Hunter and jumper divisions – Tuesday, Sept. 1
- Equitation and side saddle classes – Tuesday, Sept. 15
Hunt Night entries will be accepted by way of a nomination form or a letter from the Master of the Hunt stating the individual’s or Hunt’s intention to compete. Hunt Night nominations are due by Sept. 2.
To learn more about the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the PNHS Foundation, visit PAnational.org.
About the Pennsylvania National Horse Show:
For 80 years, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show has hosted top horses and riders from across the country and around the world for high-caliber hunter, jumper and equitation competition at the historic Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. As one of the longest-standing indoor horse shows in the United States, US Equestrian has honored the championship event with the prestigious Heritage Competition classification. The horse show serves as the largest source of funding for the PNHS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to “Enriching Lives Through Equestrian Sport.” Learn more at www.PAnational.org.
