USPA Alumna Parker Peacock Wins 2026 USEF/Valencia Saddlery Hunter Seat Medal Final

Parker Peacock returned to the USEF/Valencia Saddlery Hunter Seat Medal Final with a clear goal: go one place higher than last year. She and Montverdi did just that, leading the competition at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show from the opening round through the final test to claim the 2026 title.

The pair scored 98 in round one, 96 in round two and 96 in the final test, earning a 96.5 average in a field of 155 combinations. Montverdi was also named Best Equitation Horse and received the Doris H. Clark Memorial Perpetual Trophy.

Peacock’s riding schedule is only part of a full senior year. As a student at US Performance Academy (USPA), she completes high school online while making time for horses, schoolwork and other activities. USPA’s flexible learning model is designed for student-athletes whose training and competition schedules don’t always fit a traditional school day.

In Laura Scaletti’s Sidelines Magazine article, Peacock describes the planning it takes to balance those commitments: “I try to stay organized by keeping a schedule and prioritizing what needs to get done each day.” She adds, “Balancing everything can be challenging, but I think it has taught me responsibility and is helping set me up for the future.”

That kind of organization is a skill students can keep building. At USPA, Learning Coaches partner with students to strengthen habits like time management and self-advocacy, helping them plan their work and take greater ownership of their learning. For students managing academics alongside performance goals, this personalized support works hand in hand with the flexibility of online school.

Peacock’s championship belongs to her and Montverdi, and to the team that prepared them for the ring. After last year’s reserve-champion finish, they returned, stayed consistent through three phases and earned the top spot.

We are so proud of Parker and all she has accomplished, both in the classroom and in the ring, and proud to support student-athletes as they pursue their goals with the flexibility and personalized guidance to keep growing.