Gladstone, N.J. - The stage is set for the 2026 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East, held at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, N.J. from October 2-5. Thirty-five athletes from across the country will contest the championship title over two days of competition, with Phase I (flatwork) and Phase II (gymnastics) hosted on Saturday, and Phases III and IV, the final jumping phases, on Sunday.
The Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Program is an important steppingstone in developing top jumping athletes who strive for future international success. The program addresses the principle that form follows function and the importance for an athlete to have a solid foundation and jumper seat position in order to become an effective jumper athlete. Athletes contest qualifying classes across the country, and the finals are held each fall on the East and West Coast. Many former Talent Search Finals winners have gone on to represent the US in international show jumping competition.
Olympic gold medalist Chris Kappler and Michael Tokaruk are the judges for the 2026 East Coast Finals.
The weekend will begin with a rider meeting at 10 a.m. ET on Friday, October 2, followed by the horse inspection at 12:00 p.m. ET, and the schooling class at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s competition will see athletes contest a combined Phase I and II format, where they will perform a series of flatwork movements before immediately continuing to the gymnastics phase. One score will be awarded for the flat, and another for the gymnastics phase, with the gymnastics phase receiving a 1.5 multiplier. Athletes will complete the preselected movements before proceeding to the gymnastics course. All athletes will return for Phase III and will compete in reverse order of their combined scores.
Phase III of the competition will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 4, and will consist of a jumper-style course designed by the judges. Athletes’ scores in this phase will be multiplied by 2 and added to their cumulative score, which will determine the top 10 combinations. In an updated format for 2026, Phase IV will feature the top 10 athlete-and-horse combinations in a modified winning round format held over a shortened course with fence heights at 1.15m. The finalist with the highest score from all four phases will be crowned champion. Athletes will be judged on their ability to combine speed with short turns, accuracy, efficient track selection, and control, while maintaining classical riding principles and showcasing the horse’s ability to jump clear. Each rail down will result in four points deducted from their final score. While the phase will be timed, time and faults are not the sole determining factors.
The sixth annual Hollow Brook Wealth Management Sportsmanship Award will be awarded on Sunday immediately following the final phase. This award recognizes a competing junior athlete who personifies the highest standards of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, kindness, and generosity during the event. Nominations for this award can be submitted here and will close no later than 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 3.
Watch the 2026 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals-East live and on demand on the USEF Network. The livestream is brought to you by Hollow Brook Wealth Management.
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The USEF International High Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.