THERMAL, Calif. – From the start of the riders’ meeting for the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West, judges Lillie Keenan and Jimmy Torano emphasized the importance of not giving up and continuing to fight for the win, even if the first few phases did not play out quite as hoped.
Nicole McMillion took those words to heart and did just that. The 21-year-old from Huntington Beach, Calif. moved from seventh place to the top of the leaderboard to be crowned the new 2025 champion on November 8, during National Sunshine Series 2 at Desert International Horse Park.
“I’m over the moon right now!” said McMillion, who rode Change Up PS to the win. “It was my last year to do this final. I flew back from college [at Texas A&M] to do it. I think this is my fourth year now competing [in the Talent Search]. I’ve always loved it. It’s always been my favorite class to compete in, so it’s a true honor!”
The Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West kicked off on Friday morning, November 7, with the flat and gymnastics phases. This year, following a new format, each rider had to complete an individual flatwork pattern, followed immediately by a gymnastics test. Keenan and Torano designed the flat and gymnastics work to mimic what they themselves may do to warm-up their horses before a major competition, incorporating serpentines, shoulder-ins and trot and canter extensions, flying changes and other exercises.
Following the conclusion of Friday’s opening phases, Katalina Raiszadeh held the lead, and Shiloh Roseboom and Sophia Blake sat in second and third, respectively. McMillion held seventh place – but with the most heavily weighted phase still to come, it was still very much anybody’s game.
Saturday morning kicked off with the jumping phase, where McMillion moved into fourth place to secure her spot in the final work-off. There, she was joined by Roseboom, Blake and Raiszadeh, as the top four each took turns competing aboard one another’s horses.
“We said in the early meetings, ‘Don’t give up, keep fighting, keep digging,’” said Torano. “I think everyone started to understand that.”
Keenan added, “We really emphasize that this equitation final is meant to be looking toward team riding, and from our first meeting, we made it clear that when you make a mistake you need to stay on course, not give up. The [top] four we ended up with, they all stayed strong, as Jimmy said. If there was a mistake, they stayed on track. I think all four actually improved over the rounds.
“What stood out about Nicole was her riding of all four horses,” continued Keenan. “She continued to ride seamlessly, but she adjusted her ride per horse. That’s really what that test is about.”
For each horse that she swapped on to, McMillion earned the highest score of any of the four riders, ultimately securing her the prestigious victory. Second place went to Roseboom and Zazou; Blake and E-Up finished in third, and Raiszadeh and Cetello finished up in fourth.
“I knew that today was weighted the heaviest, and I think that this is probably the phase that the horse that I was on shines in,” said McMillion, who trains with James Hagman at Elvenstar. “I tried to just keep a level head and go into it thinking, ‘Alright, it’s a new game, anyone’s game. I just need to move up into the top four…I’ve been able to be in the top four one other time. So, I used that experience going into here, what I learned from there. That was quite a few years ago, but it’s always just so fun getting on and being able to learn new horses like that immediately and then go jump around.”
Of the four horses McMillion got to ride on Saturday however, there are none that she enjoyed quite as much as her own winning mount, Change Up PS, owned by Abigail Steller.
“He is incredible,” said McMillion of the 9-year-old Oldenburg stallion. “He actually won this final last year as well. I told Jim [Hagman] this summer; I said, ‘I’d really like to do the [Talent Search Finals] this year.’ We kind of put our feelers out throughout the year, and maybe three weeks ago, I was at school and Abby Stellar, the owner of the horse called me. She just said, ‘I heard you’re looking for a horse. Do you want to use Timmy?’ It was instant; of course you can’t say no to that! She’s so generous. She’s like, ‘I just want to be able to watch him, and I’ve watched you grow up.’ So she just, out of the kindness of her heart, let me ride the horse.”
McMillion continued, “I sat on him for the first time on Tuesday and immediately walked out of the ring and said, ‘That was so much fun. I haven’t had that much fun in a very long time! He’s just truly an incredible animal. He could jump the moon if you ask. He does all the things. He gives you the best feeling in the air. He’s easy to prep. I can’t say enough about him.”
For the win, McMillion was presented with the Denali Memorial Perpetual Trophy, and Hagman was presented with Leading Trainer Award. The Gulliver Trophy for the best equitation horse went to Photoshop, ridden by Emma Whidden and owned by Don Stewart.
Also awarded on Sunday, the Hollow Brook Wealth Management Sportsmanship Award went to Valentina Lehner. Lehner was recognized as an individual who personified the highest standard of integrity, sportsmanship and generosity throughout the competition.
For full results of the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West, click here.