Caberneigh Crowned Overall Best Young Horse at the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships
Lexington, Ky.—October 1, 2020—Returning to the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare, after claiming the Overall Reserve Grand Champion in 2019, Kelsey Calabro’s Caberneigh (Cabardino N x Special Consideration) topped the 2020 competition to be crowned Overall Grand Champion. The 2017 NAS filly bred by Linda Mancini and handled by Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell wowed the judge Tony Sgarlata and Mike Rosser in the Three-Year-Old Filly class at the East Coast event on August 22 at the Virginia Young Horse Festival. She stayed at the front of their minds through the West Coast competition, judged again by Sgarlata along with Sue Lightner, at Blenheim Equisports' International Jumping Festival on September 18 to earn the coveted overall title after the conclusion of both events. FIF Bondalu (Bliss MF x Footloose), a 2017 Oldenburg stallion bred, owned, and handled by Rachel Benson was shown in the Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding class and named this year's Overall Reserve Grand Champion.
2020 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding Overall Grand Champion Caberneigh.
Photo: SAS Photography
Now coordinated by the USHJA, the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships aim to increase awareness of the Hunter Breeding sport and provide an arena for handlers, owners and breeders to showcase their talented young horses.
"I absolutely love the Sallie B. Wheeler Hunter Breeding Championships! I have followed the classes in previous years, though this was my first year coming to the championships. I think it is an incredible program for those who want to get their young horses exposure and get experience in the ring. It also is a testament to U.S. breeding programs and keeping the sport horse alive here in America," said Benson.
The Championships were open to yearlings up to 4-year-olds of any breed. Classes included an Amateur/Junior Handler class, 3- and 4-Year-Old Under Saddle classes, a 3-Year-Old Hunter Hack class and a 4-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences class, in addition to in-hand classes for yearling to 3-year-old fillies and colts or geldings. Classes were judged on athleticism, conformation, way of moving, quality, substance and suitability to become hunters.
2020 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding Overall Reserve Grand Champion FIF Bondalu.
Photo: McCool Photography
The USHJA would like to thank the many donors and supporters that helped make these Championships possible, including Presenting Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare; Program Sponsors Harriet Schiele and Sheila and Shirley Murphy; and Class Supporters Jennifer Porter Conteros, Timeless Sport Horses – Heather McInerney, Sheila and Shirley Murphy, Hickory Manor- Kimmy Risser, Anne Hedge, MDM Equestrian Group, Whitney Brooks, Hunters Haven – Oliver and Joan Brown, Bobbi Elliot, Joe Norick, Olde Oaks Farm – Vicki Hunton, Wild Turkey Farm – Barb Ellison, Doug Snell, VHSA, USHJA Zone 2, USHJA Zone 3, USHJA Zone 4, USHJA Zone 10. USHJA also thanks Ribbon and Trophy Supporters The Exchange Hunter Jumper, Chuck and Sue Grossman, Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell, Susan D. Miles, Hunters Haven – Oliver and Joan Brown, Jessie Lang, Dagny Aslin, Catherine Parke, and Olde Oaks Farm - Vicki Hunton; Groom Tote Supporters Kellen Brady, Harriet Schiele, Julianna Hennessy, Nicole Marin, Rachel Galambos, Carol Cockcroft, Jaclynn Brooks, Roseanne Land, Desteny Sperry, Donna Ward, and Jane Weingardner; and Award Donors Quillin’s Leather & Tack, State Line Tack, Parlanti, SmartPak, DaMoor’s Tack, Shapley’s, The Clothes Horse, Timeless Sport Horses, Hickory Manor, Olde Oaks Farm, and A Bar Above.
Special thank you to the competition and facility management teams at the Virginia Horse Center and Blenheim Equisports for hosting the Championships.
East Coast Champions
Yearling Colt/Gelding – Renaldi (Rosenthal x Fuerstin), a 2019 Oldenburg stallion bred and owned by Chuck and Sue Tice-Grossman and handled by Matthew Davis
Yearling Filly – Bewitched (Bliss MF x Run Lucy Run), a 2019 Oldenburg bred by Ashley Martindale, owned by Audry Giles-Gates, and handled by Christopher Webb
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – Strawberry Hill (Nob Hill x Sincerely Yours), a 2018 Belgian Warmblood stallion bred and owned by Diana Dodge and handled by Ethan Maye
Two-Year-Old Filly – Reality Star NHF (Rosenthal x Feiner Dance), a 2018 Oldenburg filly bred and owned by North Hill Farm and handled by Samantha Kulp
Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Cabalero (Cabalito x Allegria), a 2017 Belgian Warmblood gelding bred and owned by Elizabeth Capor, and handled by Charlie Brown
Three-Year-Old Filly – Caberneigh (Cabardino N x Special Consideration), a 2017 NAS filly bred by Linda Mancini, owned by Kelsey Calabro, and handled by Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell
Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Cabalero (Cabalito x Allegria), a 2017 Belgian Warmblood gelding bred and owned by Elizabeth Capor and ridden by Jennifer Rogala
Four-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Will Pleaze (Willemoes x Malibu Barbie), a 2016 Oldenburg stallion bred and owned by Christy Sciaretta and ridden by Derek Fox
Four-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – Verbatim HM (Viscount 22 x Milwaukee’s Finest XX), a 2016 Belgian Warmblood mare bred by Hickory Manor/Kimmy Risser and owned and ridden by Whitney Brunner
Amateur/Junior Handler – Samantha Kulp handling Quite A Star (Qredit Hilltop x Feiner Dance), 2017 Oldenburg filly bred and owned by North Hill Farm
East Coast Breed Awards
KWPN (Dutch Warmblood), donated by the KWPN of North America: Ngagement (Diamond Hit x Uwho), a 2018 filly bred and owned by Debby Sterling and handled by Charlie Brown
Westfalen, donated by Westfalen North American: Raleigh (Razmataz x Gilda FCF), a 2018 filly bred by Hans Lenger, owned by Sheila and Shirley Murphy, and handled by Shirley Murphy
Oldenburg-RPSI, donated by the Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society: Royalsport (Westporte x Baltic Royalty), a 2018 gelding bred and owned by Nicole Uchrin and handled by Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell
NAS, donated by the North American Studbook: Caberneigh (Cabardino N x Special Consideration), a 2017 filly bred by Linda Mancini, owned by Kelsey Calabro, and handled by Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell
Oldenburg, donated by the Oldenburg Registry of North America: Paramour (Popeye K x Ryka), a 2017 filly bred by Elisha Massong, owned by Elizabeth Capor, and handled by Charlie Brown
Belgian Warmblood, donated by the Belgian Warmblood Breeding Association: Cabalero (Cabalito x Allegria), a 2017 gelding bred and owned by Elizabeth Capor and handled by Charlie Brown
West Coast Champions
Yearling Colt/Gelding – Cazador WH (Cabalito x N Athletica), a 2019 Oldenburg gelding bred by Anne Hedge, owned by Cyndi Fletcher, and handled by Paige Perla
Yearling Filly – Lucente (Shine x Clara K), a 2019 Oldenburg filly bred by Vicki Hunton/Olde Oaks Farm, owned by Kristina Novak, and handled by Kira Plymire
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – Teleme (Toronto x Coast to Coast), a 2018 Westfalen stallion bred by Genevieve Ghilotte, owned by Kirsten Strain, and handled by Donelle Laughlin
Two-Year-Old Filly – Phoenix (Parcival x Bellisima), a 2018 KWPN filly bred by Robbi Scott, owned by Carol Schwanz, and handled by Valerie Williams
Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – FIF Bondalu (Bliss MF x Footloose), a 2017 Oldenburg stallion bred, owned, and handled by Rachel Benson
Three-Year-Old Filly – Cambria (Riverman x Capella), a 2017 Holsteiner filly bred and owned by Amy Chondra and handled by Carleton Brooks
Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Luminous (Shine x Clara K), a 2017 Oldenburg filly bred by Vicki Hunton/Olde Oaks Farm, owned by Kristina Novak, and handled by Kira Plymire
Three-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Coraberry (Cunningham x Paulie), a 2017 Holsteiner filly bred and owned by Breanna Lombardo-Jacklin and ridden by Kathy Spano
Four-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Viatorius (Vitalis x Stutbuch 1 Paula), a 2016 Oldenburg gelding bred by Wilhelm Meiners, owned by Nancy Mynott, and ridden by Lara Ware Reed
Four-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – High Society (Coronet D'Honneur x Airway FMB), a 2016 Deutches Sportpferd mare bred by Melanie Boucher, owned by Rachel Hohmeyer, and ridden by Robert Leckie
Amateur/Junior Handler – Cyndi Fletcher handling Cazador WH (Cabalito x N Athletica), a 2019 Oldenburg gelding bred by Anne Hedge and owned by Cyndi Fletcher
West Coast Breed Awards
KWPN (Dutch Warmblood), donated by the KWPN of North America: Phoenix (Parcival x Bellisima), a 2018 filly bred by Robbi Scott, owned by Carol Schwanz, and handled by Valerie Williams
Westfalen, donated by Westfalen North American: Teleme (Toronto x Coast to Coast), a 2018 stallion bred by Genevieve Ghilotte, owned by Kirsten Strain, and handled by Donelle Laughlin
RPSI (Deutches Sportpferd): Lucente (Shine x Clara K), a 2019 Oldenburg filly bred by Vicki Hunton/Olde Oaks Farm, owned by Kristina Novak, and handled by Kira Plymire
Oldenburg, donated by the Oldenburg Registry of North America: Luminous (Shine x Clara K), a 2017 Oldenburg filly bred by Vicki Hunton/Olde Oaks Farm, owned by Kristina Novak, and handled by Kira Plymire
