2024 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships Kick Off with Postel on Top
Las Vegas, Nev.—Nov. 13, 2024—The 2024 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships kicked off a sixth year of top-tier competition amid The Las Vegas National Horse Show at the South Point Hotel, Casino, & Spa. From November 11-17, 575 exhibitors from across the country will vie for their share of $262,000 in prize money. Riders will compete in a range of sections with 44 division championships to be awarded, celebrating the skill of Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation athletes at all levels.
$25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby - Open
Karli Postel and Full Moon Fever took the first tricolor of the week in Tuesday's highlight, the $25,000 USHJA National Derby, open to all competitors. Postel and the gelding, owned by Jack Strang, were one of 46 entries to contest the Skip Bailey-designed course in the first of two National Hunt & Go Derbies offered at the Championships.
When the pair entered the ring as one of the final entries to jump, the score to beat had been set at 181 by Katie Taylor-Davidson and Simply Spectacular, owned by Kate Parker. Early on in the order, judges Mike Rosser and Steve Wall had awarded Taylor-Davidson scores of 88 and 89, plus all four high-option bonus points. Those scores would ultimately hold up for second place for Taylor-Davidson, of Tarzana, California, with only Postel and Full Moon Fever breaking through to top the leaderboard.
With the 12-year-old Westphalian jumping in top form, Postel, of Westlake Village, California, earned scores of 92 and 88, plus all four high-option bonus points, for a 184 total and the win. Finishing in third place behind Postel and Taylor-Davidson was Kendall Bourgeois, of Wilsonville, Oregon, who rode Tic Tac Toe to a total score of 177.75.
“Oh my gosh, it was so much fun!” said Postel of her Hunt & Go ride. “The course was awesome. [Full Moon Fever] came around, he took a breath on the way to [fence] one, and I kind of settled in. He just cruised around the whole thing and gave me some really nice jumps.”
Postel continued, “At the end of the day, I was just thrilled for him to jump like that under this kind of setting. We haven't done that with him yet, so that was a win for me!”
Postel just began working with Full Moon Fever this summer, and prior to that time the gelding was a Jumper known as Balounito.
“His owners are big believers in the animal communicator,” explained Postel. “Last week, they did a session, and he said he wanted to let go of his Jumper past and wanted a new name. So just last week, they decided to change his name from Balounito to Full Moon Fever, and I guess he appreciated it!”
The week's remaining Hunter competition will feature a total of $134,000 in prize money, with individual championships across 16 divisions and another USHJA National Hunter Derby for Juniors and Amateurs. The USEF/USHJA National Jumper Championships will offer $108,000 in prize money across nine sections, ranging from 1.00m to 1.30m, for Junior, Amateur, and Open Jumper competitors. Finally, the Championships will include age-group Equitation for Juniors and Amateurs, as well as the IHSA/USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Final - West.
This year, 35 USHJA Affiliate Organizations have selected riders to represent them in the USHJA Affiliate Championships, along with 11 competitors that earned the esteemed Outreach Backstage Pass. More than 198 affiliate riders and 6 Backstage Pass winners will compete across 16 Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation sections throughout the week for $20,000 in prize money.
Alongside the competition, the Championships will offer free educational opportunities for exhibitors and spectators. Highlights include a Judge with the Judge session led by Otis Brown, sport psychology seminars hosted by Dr. Jennifer Speisman, and course walks with top trainers James Hagman and Emily Esau Williams.
Live streaming coverage of all 2024 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championship classes is available on USEF Network. Complete results are available on ShowgroundsLive.
The USHJA extends its thanks to the Desert International Horse Park team for hosting the Championships and to longtime Title Sponsor Marshall+Sterling Insurance. Special thanks also go to Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena, Parlanti, and Exhibitor’s; and Championship Sponsors Boy O Boy Bridleworks, Charles Owen, Essex Classics, Human Touch, Prize Possessions, RingSide Pro, SmartPak, and the US Equestrian Foundation.
Additionally, USHJA extends its gratitude to division supporters Balmoral Farm, Ledges Sporting Horses, The Struve Family, Showplace Productions, Tapestry Farm, Patrick and Nicole Boyle, Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Brooks, Steve and Lisa Hankin, and Cheryl and Michael Rubenstein.
For more information about the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships.
Photos: Andrew Ryback Photography, Terisé Cole/USHJA
