USHJA Announces 2024 Golden Backstage Pass Winners

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 30, 2024—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce the 11 riders that earned the Outreach Golden Backstage Pass to compete in the 2024 USHJA Affiliate National Championships. Once again, this year's competition will be held during the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, over November 11-17.

Congratulations to the following athletes on being awarded the Golden Backstage Pass this year:

  • Zone 1: Emma Wallace of Dartmouth, Mass. 
  • Zone 2: Piper Wiest of Richland, Penn.
  • Zone 3: Annie Wise of Oilville, Va. 
  • Zone 4: Reese Tommey of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. 
  • Zone 5: Sofia Maria Barnett of Evanston, Ill. 
  • Zone 6: Madeline Johnson of Mequon, Wis. 
  • Zone 7: Nicole Tidwell of Dallas, Texas
  • Zone 8: Stacy Nelles of Las Vegas, Nev. 
  • Zone 9: Shelby Kremer of Idaho Falls, Idaho
  • Zone 10: Charlotte Soulie of Sherman Oaks, Calif. 
  • Zone 10: Ariana Rozenberg of Los Angels, Calif. 

"I was shocked to have the highest points for my Zone again," said Kremer. "It’s an honor to represent Zone 9, and I hope to make my parents and trainer, Sally, proud! I recently started competing in Jumpers with my horse, Dapples, so I'm excited to walk the Grand Prix course. I'm thrilled to compete and take in all of the excitement from this opportunity."

The Golden Backstage Pass is awarded to the highest cumulative pointed Gold level Outreach rider in each Zone. The honor awards each recipient a unique experience during the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships including the opportunity to compete in the Affiliate sections, present awards to the week's champions, walk a course with top riders, and attend educational sessions. 

"I'm thrilled to be the highest-pointed Gold Level rider in my Zone," said Zone 8 rider Nelles. "Attending the National Championships as the Golden Backstage Pass winner is an honor. I'm excited to compete with top riders and horses and to learn from educational sessions, especially sitting with a judge to understand their perspective."

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"It was a dream come true," said Barnett of the news. "I’m proud of my horses and myself because I've been working hard and I'm just so happy that all the hard work has paid off. I'm grateful that I have this opportunity and I’m excited to show my horse in the 2’6" since I competed in the 2' last year. It will be fun to come back and have even better rounds now that I've been there!"

To be eligible for Golden Backstage Pass, riders must be a free Outreach member or higher on or before the first day of competition to accrue rider points. Points will be given by USHJA Zone in each Outreach Hunter, Jumper, or Equitation section. To be a Gold Level rider, competitors must have earned a minimum of 100 points in Outreach Classes.

"I am thrilled to have won the Golden Backstage Pass," said Rozenberg. "This award surpasses my show goals for this year. I’m grateful to Judge with the Judge, attend Sports Psychology sessions, join course walks, and present a championship award with the USHJA President and Executive Director. I'm also excited to support my barn members and watch top riders in the Hunter and Jumper divisions!"

 Learn more about the USHJA Outreach program, including the Golden Backstage Pass, at ushja.org/outreach. 

Photo: Terisé Cole/USHJA