AON/USHJA National Championships Conclude with Hunter and Equitation Titles Awarded

Las Vegas—Nov. 21, 2019—The final day of the 2019 AON/USHJA National Championships at The Las Vegas National Horse Show, CSI3*-W, featured USHJA National Hunter and Equitation Championships. Titles for Children's, Juniors, Adult Amateur and Pony Hunters, and Age Group Equitation were awarded as the second annual event came to a close in the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center on Sunday, Nov. 17.

Alison Stern and Grey Goose earned Grand Champion Adult Amateur Hunter. Photo: Tricia Booker/USHJA

USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter Championship, 18-35

Emily Goldberg, of Bell Canyon, California, and Sinatra took top honors in the younger section of the Adult Amateur division. Goldberg won both over fences classes in the division and took the win in the $2,500 Adult Amateur, 18-35 Classic. The Reserve Champion title went to Claire Sears, of Claremont, California, aboard Endeavor.

USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter Championship, 36-50

Sweeping the Adult Amateur Hunter, 36-50 age group, was Amy Bean, of Portland, Oregon, earning Champion and Reserve. Bean and her winning mount Duck Duck Goose finished first in the Welcome and Handy over fences classes. She captured the Reserve aboard her own Tic Tac Toe.

Katherine Williams, of Portland, Oregon, and her own Noted captured the win in the $2,500 Classic.

USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter Championship, 51 and over

Alison Stern, of Oakdale, California, capped off a successful weekend earning the Grand Champion Adult Amateur Hunter title, the division championship for the Adult Amateur Hunter 51 and over age group, finished first in the $2,500 Classic and tied for High Score Adult Amateur Rider with her score of 86 aboard Grey Goose. As the Grand Champion, Stern was also presented with the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Riesling Perpetual Trophy, donated by Michael and Cheryl Rubenstein.

Earning the division Reserve Championship was Amy Brubaker, of Salt Lake City, Utah, aboard Frascati.

Peyten Seltzer and Que Creme swept the Children's Hunter, 14 and Under division. Photo: Louise Taylor/USHJA

USHJA Children's Hunter Championship, 14 and Under

Coming off an individual gold medal win in last week's USHJA Zones 9 & 10 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, Peyten Seltzer capped off another stellar week in Vegas earning the Grand Champion Children's Hunter title. The 12-year-old, from Rancho Santa Fe, California, swept the division aboard Que Creme, winning the Welcome, Handy, Under Saddle and the $2,500 Children's Hunter Classic.

Reagan Amador, of Sanger, California, earned the Reserve Champion title.

USHJA Children's Hunter Championship, 15-17

Ashley Andersen, of Huntington Beach, California, and Hennessey B, earned the Children's Hunter Championship for the 15-17 age group. The duo placed first in the Welcome and Handy over fences classes and second in the under saddle. Reserve Champion went to Ashley Ferbas, of Malibu, California, and Norwegian Wood. Ferbas also took the win in the $2,500 Classic.

Marina Boudreau earned Grand Champion Junior Hunter title aboard Chantilly. Photo: Tricia Booker/USHJA

USHJA Small Junior Hunter 3'3" Championship

The Small Junior Hunter 3'3" Champion title went to Marina Boudreau, of Calabasas, California, after she and Chantilly placed in the top two in each of the division's classes. Boudreau also won the $2,500 Junior Hunter 3'3" Classic. Boudreau also earned the Grand Champion Junior Hunter title for the Junior Hunter divisions. Jordan Gibbs, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, kicked-off a successful day with a Reserve Champion finish in the division aboard Perseus YC.

USHJA Large Junior Hunter 3'3" Championship

Ariana Marnell, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and MTM Page 6 claimed the division Championship in the Large 3'3" Junior Hunters, after placing first in the Handy over fences class, second in the under saddle and placing second in the $2,500 Junior Hunter 3'3" Classic. Savannah Pike, of Encinitas, California, and Saphir captured the Reserve after top finishes in the over fences and under saddle.

USHJA Small Junior Hunter 3'6" Championship

Capturing the Small Junior Hunter 3'6" Championship was Emily Williams, of New Hall, California, riding Beach Boy. Williams also placed first in the $2,500 Small Junior Hunter 3'6" Classic, and earned the High Score Junior Hunter Rider title with a score of 87 in the first round. Taking the Reserve Champion title was Augusta Iwasaki, of Calabasas, California, riding Small Kingdom.

USHJA Large Junior Hunter 3'6" Championship

Sweeping the Large Junior Hunter 3'6" Championship, of Rossmor, California. Jenkins captured the Section A Champion and Reserve titles on Grateful and Queen's Darling, respectively. Jenkins also won the Section B Championship on Small Kiss, and placed first in the $2,500 Junior Hunter 3'6" Classic on Grateful, and was awarded the Large Junior Hunter Championship Perpetual Trophy, donated by Balmoral Farm and Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Brooks.

Section B Reserve Champion went to Cameron Brown, of West Linn, Oregon, and KT Lansini.

Shiloh Roseboom and Heavenly Patch of Blue earned the Grand Champion Pony Hunter title. Photo: Tori Bilas/USHJA

USHJA Small Pony Hunter Championship

Shiloh Roseboom, of Corona, California, captured the USHJA Small Pony Hunter Championship aboard Heavenly Patch of Blue. Roseboom swept the division, winning each class and earning one of the highest scores of the 2019 AON/USHJA National Championships with a 90 in the second round of the $2,500 Classic. The duo also earned the High Score Pony Hunter Rider and the Grand Champion Pony Hunter titles.

Caroline Alexander, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Clovermeade My Boyfriends Back earned the Small Pony Hunter Reserve Championship.

USHJA Medium Pony Hunter Championship

Ella Delgado, of Bend, Oregon, and C.E. Providence rode to the USHJA Medium Pony Hunter division championship and first place in the $2,500 Medium Pony Hunter Classic. Earning the Reserve Champion title was Caroline Alexander, of Kansas City, Missouri, and All Inclusive.

USHJA Large Pony Hunter Championship

Wrapping up the Pony Hunters at the AON/USHJA National Championships was the Large Pony Hunter division. After earning the division championship in last year's inaugural event, Jackie Stary, of Oswego, Illinois, and Blue James Blue had a repeat win, earning the division championship, a win in the $2,500 Large Pony Hunter Classic, and were awarded the Large Pony Hunter Championship Among the Stars Perpetual Trophy, donated by Knightsbridge Farm.

Earning the Reserve Champion title was Grace Miller, of Rancho Santa Fe, California and Chiccobello.

Grace McReynolds was presented with the Overall Leading Equitation Rider Challenge Perpetual Trophy, donated by Showplace Productions and Patrick and Nicole Boyle. Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

USHJA Equitation Championship, 14 and Under

After a third place finish in the $25,000 Junior/Amateur USHJA National Hunter Derby earlier in the week, Bella Primavera, of Aptos, California, piloted Carrico Sun to the Equitation 14 and Under Championship and as such was awarded the Equitation 14 and Under Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy, donated by Showplace Productions and Patrick and Nicole Boyle. Last year's division champion, Elisa Broz, of Freedom, California, and Clooney 62 earned the Reserve Championship.

USHJA Equitation Championship, 15-17

Grace McReynolds, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, took home the USHJA Equitation Championship for the 15-17 age group, and was presented with the Equitation 15-17 Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy, donated by Showplace Productions and Patrick and Nicole Boyle. Grace Belmont, of Watsonville, California, rode to the Reserve Championship win.

McReynolds also earned the Overall Leading Equitation Rider Challenge Perpetual Trophy, donated by Showplace Productions and Patrick and Nicole Boyle.

USHJA Equitation Championship, 18 and Over

Just after earning the Grand Champion Adult Amateur title and the division title for the Adult Amateur, 51 and over age group, Allison Stern claimed the inaugural USHJA Equitation Championship, 18 and Over.

Lisa Wu, of Piedmont, California, and her own Ravenswood, who won the $25,000 Professional USHJA National Hunter Derby on Monday night with Jenny Karazissis, earned the Reserve Champion title.

USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal

Earning a win in the first USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal class at the AON/USHJA National Championships was Jordan Gibbs, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. For her win, Gibbs was presented with the USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Perpetual Trophy, donated by Ledges Sporting Horses and Clay and Donna Struve.

The Overall Leading Equitation Rider Challenge Perpetual Trophy, donated by Showplace Productions and Patrick and Nicole Boyle, was awarded to Grace McReynolds for earning the most points from the Equitation division, EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal class and the USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Class.

The second annual event included riders from 11 of 12 USHJA Zone, 30 states and Canada who descended on the beautifully decorated South Point Arena & Equestrian Center. National Championship titles were earned across Hunter, Jumper and Equitation sections, where more than than 1,700 ribbons, 400 USHJA and sponsor gifts, 50 keeper trophies and seven perpetual trophies, 106 sponsor awards, 57 horse coolers and 42 medals were distributed over the course of the next six days.

Exhibitors also enjoyed the electric atmosphere of Las Vegas and the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, which also houses the Equestrian Center, a casino, spa, movie theaters, restaurants and two bowling alleys. A variety of vendors and shopping, The Las Vegas National CSI3* Longines FEI World Cup Qualifying class, as well as exhibitor hospitality added to the overall National Championship experience. 

The 2020 AON/USHJA National Championships will return to to the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, November 16-22, pending US Equestrian approval.

The USHJA extends special thanks to presenting sponsor AON with Great American Insurance Group; USHJA official sponsors Charles Owen, CWD, Parlanti and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital; award sponsors Essex Classics, FITS, Prize Possessions, Schneider’s, Shapley’s, SmartPak and State Line Tack; Championship competition manager Pat Boyle, and Stephanie Lightner and the entire Las Vegas National and Blenheim EquiSports team. 

Thank you also to AON/USHJA National Championship division supporters and perpetual trophy sponsors: Balmoral Farm and Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Brooks (Large Junior Hunter Championship Perpetual Trophy), Tapestry Farm and the Struve Family (Green Hunter 3' Championship Perpetual Trophy), Steve and Lisa Hankin (Green Hunter 3'3" Championship Perpetual Trophy), Cheryl and Michael Rubenstein (Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Riesling Perpetual Trophy), Showplace Productions and Patrick and Nicole Boyle (Equitation 14 & Under Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy, Equitation 15-17 Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy and Overall Leading Equitation Rider Challenge Perpetual Trophy), USHJA Executive Director (USHJA Affiliate Hunter 2'6" Championship Perpetual Trophy), and Ledges Sporting Horses and Clay and Donna Struve (USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Perpetual Trophy and USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Perpetual Trophy), and Knightsbridge Farm (Large Pony Hunter Championship Among the Stars Perpetual Trophy).

For more information about the AON/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships.

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