Final Championship Honors Claimed at 2022 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships
Las Vegas, Nev.—Nov. 21, 2022—The 2022 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships at The Las Vegas National CSI4*-W culminated on Sunday, November 20 by crowning the final champions of the year.
USHJA Small Junior Hunter 3’3” Championship
Parker Cliff, of Folsom, California, and Joannette Korngold's Limelight took home the USHJA Small Junior Hunter 3'3'' Championship title. Cliff and Limelight won the $1,000 Small Junior Hunter 3'3'' Stake and the $2,500 Small Junior Hunter 3'3'' Classic. The pair took home second in the $500 Small Junior Hunter 3'3'' Under Saddle and the $500 Small Junior Hunter 3'3'' Welcome. Lillian Muzzy, of Coto De Caza, California, riding Baldeur, owned by MZ Farms LLC, took home reserve champion.
USHJA Large Junior Hunter 3’3” Championship
Emma Post, of Rollinghill, California, aboard her own Won Love was the division champion in the USHJA Large Junior Hunter 3’3” division after winning the $500 Large Junior Hunter 3'3" Handy and placing second in the $500 Large Junior Hunter 3'3" Under Saddle. Coming in reserve was Kyle King aboard See Jane Edit LLC's Four Point Oh. The duo from Cave Creek, Arizona, won the $500 Large Junior Hunter 3'3" Welcome and placed second in the $2500 Large Junior Hunter 3'3" and $1000 Large Junior Hunter 3'3" Stake.
USHJA Junior Hunter 3’6” Championship
Paige Walkenbach, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, rode Walkenbach Equestrian LLC's San Pedro 15 to the top earning the USHJA Junior Hunter 3'6'' Championship title and Large Junior Hunter Division Perpetual Trophy Donated by Balmoral Farm and Mr and Mrs. Carleton Brooks. Walkenbach and San Pedro 15 also took home the Grand Junior Hunter title. Coming in reserve from Bonsall, California, was Skylar Wireman riding Kaliman, owned by Morgan Wiebe. The pair also won the $1,000 Junior Hunter 3'6" Stake and Wireman was named High Score Junior Hunter Rider.
USHJA Children’s Hunter 14 and Under Championship
Taking the USHJA Children’s Hunter 14 and Under Championship and the Grand Children's Hunter title was Graphite, ridden by owned Adair Moses, of Dallas, Texas. The pair topped the $1,000 Children's Hunter 14 and Under Stake. Confession, owned and ridden by Emma Brand, of Carpinteria, California, took reserve and the High Score Children’s Hunter title after earning an 84 in the $500 Children’s Hunter 14 and Under Handy.
USHJA Children’s Hunter 15-17 Championship
The USHJA Children’s Hunter 15-17 Championship saw Maurah Burkholder, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and her own Josey Wales take the title after winning the $500 Children’s Hunter 15-17 Under Saddle. Quirin, owned and ridden by Isabella de Bernardo, of Aptos, California, took reserve.
USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Championship
Charisto, owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC, topped the USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Championship with Lanie Walkenbach, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, in the irons. The pair won the $500 Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Handy and took second in the $500 Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Under Saddle. For her efforts, Walkenbach was named High Score Adult Amateur Hunter Rider for her score of 88 in the Handy, Grand Champion Adult Amateur Hunter and awarded the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Riesling Perpetual Trophy. Emily Anderson, of Slinger, Wisconsin, and her own Falegro took reserve.
USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 Championship
Leslie Pinkerton Nelson's Catwoman and Aimee Lafayette, of Incline Villiage, Nevada, led the USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 Championship victory gallop. The pair won the $500 Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 Welcome and $500 Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 Under Saddle. Candice Hasenyager, of Ogden, Utah, rode Michael Knight's Escalante to reserve.
"This is huge. I mean, I'm an Amateur and I'm a mom and my kids ride. So for a lot of my riding, it's about putting them first. Since I've been riding with Leslie for the last year, she has really supported me as an Amateur to put me in the ring," said Lafayette. "This is the opportunity that she gave me for this. So this is huge. There's nothing like it, so I'm I'm thrilled.
USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 51 and Over Championship
Amy Brukaber, of Salt Lake City, Utah, topped the USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 51 and Over Championship with her own Gatsby. Together, they won the $500 Adult Amateur Hunter 51 and Over class and the $1,000 Adult Amateur Hunter 51 and Over class. In reserve, Tonia Cook Looker rode Lexie Looker's Dot Com. The San Dimas, California, pair also placed first in the $500 Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Welcome.
USHJA Small Pony Hunter Championship
Kathryn Padilla, of Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, aboard ponies owned by Highland Farm LLC, took home both the champion and reserve champion in the USHJA Small Pony Hunter division. Padilla and Celebration took champion, winning the $500 Small Pony Hunter Welcome Confirmation and the $500 Small Pony Hunter Under Saddle. Heavenly Patch of Blue took home reserve and the win in the $1,000 Small Pony Hunter Stake and was second in the $500 Small Pony Hunter Under Saddle.
USHJA Medium Pony Hunter Championship
Piper Kullin with her own Best Summer took home the USHJA Medium Pony Hunter Championship title and The Oaks Medium Pony Champion Perpetual Trophy Sponsored by the Meadows/Smith Family. The pair from Montecito, California, won the $500 Medium Pony Hunter Welcome Confirmation, where their score of 86 earned them the title of High Score Pony Rider. Coming in reserve was Lauren Padilla, of Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, riding Smallwood Mystic, owned by Highland Farm LLC. The pair also won the $500 Medium Pony Hunter Under Saddle class.
USHJA Large Pony Hunter Championship
Kalea Iuliano, of Santa Cruz, California, and her own So Dapper took home the USHJA Large Pony Hunter Championship title and the Among the Stars Perpetual Trophy Donated by Knightsbridge Farm. The pair rose to the top to be named Grand Pony Hunter and were awarded the Grand Champion Pony Unforgettable Perpetual Trophy Sponsored by the Oaks for their efforts. Moses piloted her own M'Pire to claim the reserve champion title in the USHJA Large Pony Hunter Championship after winning the $500 Large Pony Hunter Under Saddle.
"Flick is 10 years old; I bought him from New York a couple of years ago. He has been amazing for me and has taught me so many things" said Iuliano. "It's very exciting [to win Grand Pony Hunter] because to have all of the hard work pay off and have such a good year with him, it was really nice to have that happen."
USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal
Lillian Muzzy, of Coto De Cazo, California, rode MZ Farms LLC’s Baldeur to victory in the USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal and the USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Perpetual Trophy Donated by Ledges Sporting Horses and Clay & Donna Struve. The pair also took home the USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal Perpetual Trophy Donated by Ledges Sporting Horses and Clay & Donna Struve for their efforts. In reserve, Iuliano piloted her own Unique De La Chesnee in the Medal class.
EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal and USHJA 3’3” Adult Jumping Seat Medal
Carmen Gonzalez, of Santa Cruz, California led the final victory gallop of the 2022 championships aboard her own Espoir. After two rounds of competition, the pair claimed the combined EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal and USHJA 3’3” Adult Jumping Seat Medal and the USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Perpetual Trophy Donated by Ledges Sporting Horses and Clay & Donna Struve. Muzzy rode to reserve with Baldeur.
At the conclusion of the medals, Wireman was named Leading Equitation Rider and was awarded the Showplace Productions Overall Top Equitation Donated by Patrick and Nicole Boyle.
USHJA Affiliate .90m Children’s Jumper Championship
Madeline Ang, nominated by Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association aboard her own Contigo, took home the USHJA Affiliate .90m Children's Jumper Championship title. The Arcadia, California, pair took home the win for the $500 .90m Children's Affiliate Jumper Welcome and placed second in the $500 .90m Children's Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix. Nominated by the Indiana Hunter Jumper Association, Samuelle Leerkamp, of Indianapolis, Indiana, took home reserve aboard her own Idol of Kings after winning the $500 .90m Children's Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix.
"[Contigo] gives you a really great feeling when you ride him. He goes to the jumps and he will go when you ask him; he is very brave and honest," said Ang. "It feels amazing to have won. It's my first year here in Las Vegas and it’s a great start to hopefully a great career."
USHJA Affiliate 1.00m Child/Adult Jumper Championship
Faith Rea, of Filer, Idaho, piloted her own Felix to take home the USHJA Affiliate 1.00m Child/Adult Jumper Championship. The Montana Hunter Jumper Association pair was also first in the $500 1.00m Child/Adult Affiliate Jumper Welcome and placed second in the $500 1.00m Child/Adult Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix. Ashlyn Friedland, nominated by Orange County Horse Show Association, took home reserve champion with Maestro d'Ive Z, owned by Noteworthy Horses. The Huntington Beach, California, pair took home first in the $500 1.00m Child/Adult Affiliate Jumper Speed and second in the $500 1.00m Child/Adult Affiliate Jumper Welcome.
USHJA Affiliate .90m Adult Jumper Championship
Susan Kruse, of Scottsdale, Arizona, piloted her own The Cardo to take the USHJA Affiliate .90m Adult Jumper Championship title. The Arizona Hunter Jumper Association nominees took home the win in the $500 .90m Adult Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix and came second in the $500 .90m Adult Affiliate Jumper Speed. Reserve champion went to Whitney Hormuth, nominated by Boise Saddle & Jump Club, and her own RHS Temptation 50, of Star, Idaho.
USEF/USHJA 1.00m Low Children’s Jumper Championship
Isabella Uhrig, of Greenwood Village, Colorado, rode her own Call Me Saint Clair to earn the USHJA 1.00m Low Children’s Jumper Championship title. The pair also took home the win in the $5,000 1.00m Low Child Jumper Grand Prix and the $1,000 1.00m Low Child Jumper Welcome. Coming tied for reserve were Emma Yager, of Henderson, Nevada, with her own Future and Chloe Watts aboard her own Diatol WP Z, riding in from Manhattan Beach, California.
USEF/USHJA 1.00m Low Adult Jumper Championship
For the second consecutive year, Kym Smith, of Middleburg, Virginia, rode her own Konnichiwa to top the USEF/USHJA 1.00m Low Adult Jumper Championship. The pair won the $1,000 1.00m Low Adult Jumper Welcome and the $5,000 1.00m Low Adult Jumper Grand Prix on their way to the tricolor. Emily Straw, of Overland Park, Kansa, and Manor Bridge Farm's Cigale de la Vie Z took reserve.
The USHJA extends its thanks to Blenheim EquiSports and The Las Vegas National team, Title Sponsor Marshall & Sterling Insurance, and to current supporting and division sponsors of the USHJA National Championships. The USHJA also wishes to thank Official Sponsors CWD, Exhibitor's, Nutrena, Parlanti, and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Pharmacy; and USHJA Championship Sponsors Boy O Boy Bridleworks, Charles Owen, Essex Classics, FITS, Helite, Human Touch, Prize Possessions, RingsidePro, Redingote Equestrian, SmartPak and State Line Tack.
A special thanks also goes to the following division trophy sponsors: The Oaks, The Smith Family, The Meadows Family, Knightsbridge Farm, Kevin and Elisabeth Price, Ledges Sporting Horses, Bridgeport Farms, Blenheim EquiSports, The Las Vegas National Horse Show, Balmoral Farm, Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Brooks, Tapestry Farm, The Struve Family, Steve and Lisa Hankin, Cheryl and Michael Rubenstein, Showplace Productions, and Patrick and Nicole Boyle.
For more information about the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships.
Photos: Andrew Ryback Photography and Terisé Cole/USHJA (bottom)
