Stephens College Alumna Susan Swope ’81 Wins Prestigious Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship
Stephens College alumna Susan Swope ’81 has achieved one of the most prestigious honors in the equestrian world, winning the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship aboard Midd’s Delaney at the 2025 World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
Often referred to as the “Big Dog” of the show horse world, the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship is considered the pinnacle of American Saddlebred competition. Each August, the best riders and horses from around the globe converge at the Kentucky State Fair to vie for this coveted title—one that crowns the finest horse-and-rider partnership in the sport.
Swope’s victory is especially historic. In the 125-year history of the World’s Championship Horse Show, she is only the third amateur and among fewer than five women ever to claim the top honor.
A proud 1981 graduate of Stephens College, Swope has remained deeply connected to the College’s renowned equestrian program. Through her generosity, she has donated horses and supported countless student experiences, including the beloved Friesian Mario and funding for Saddle Seat students to participate in horse shows and clinics.
Swope began her riding career in Louisville and later relocated to North Carolina and Florida, where she continues to train and compete. She stables most of her horses at West Wind Stables in Statesville, North Carolina, and keeps three Western horses with Rick Gervazio Pleasure Horses in Ocala, Florida. In addition to competing, she operates Swope Equine Investments, combining her passion for business and horsemanship.
A lifelong competitor, Swope has been showing at the World’s Championship Horse Show since she was just 13 years old and has earned more than 30 championship titles. She entered the 2025 competition as the reigning World’s Champion of Champions in multiple divisions, including Amateur Fine Harness, Ladies Roadster to Bike, Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited, and Amateur Park. She also earned the Reserve World Champion title in Western Pleasure in 2024.
“Susan’s historic win reflects the same spirit of determination, skill, and grace that defines our equestrian legacy,” said Sara Linde-Patel, Associate Professor and Chair of Equestrian Studies at Stephens College. “We are incredibly proud of her achievement and the example she continues to set for our students and alumnae.”
The World’s Championship Horse Show, held annually in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair, is recognized as the premier global event for American Saddlebreds, Hackney Ponies, and Road Horses. The Five-Gaited division—featuring the walk, trot, canter, slow gait, and rack—is regarded as the ultimate test of athleticism, precision, and partnership between horse and rider.
For more than a century, Stephens College has shaped leaders in the equestrian world through rigorous academics and hands-on training. Swope’s remarkable accomplishment stands as a testament to that legacy—and to the power of a Stephens education to inspire excellence, resilience, and achievement in every arena.
