Amateur Owner Hunter and Equitation Tricolors Awarded at 2022 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships

Las Vegas, Nev.—Nov. 20, 2022—Amateur Owner Hunters and Equitation riders took center stage at the 2022 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships on Saturday, November 19.

USHJA Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” Championship

The Antwerp Amateur Owner 3'6" Champion Perpetual Trophy Sponsored by the Meadows Family and the win in the USHJA Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” Championship went to Emma Townsend, of Car Michael, California, and Fanciful. The pair won the $500 Amateur Owner Hunter Handy 3'6" on their way to topping the division. Gavroche, owned and ridden by Abigail Stellar, took reserve. 

"Yesterday we won the Handy and that is our bread and butter. He loves to do that, and today he was just so happy to be out there in that big ring," said Townsend of her mount. "He just loves it here; it’s his show for sure. I love that this opportunity is here, and we get to come to an indoor setting that is not too far from home and we don’t have to go to the East coast. The prize money is amazing, the hospitality is great and it’s a really fun show."

USHJA Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” Championship

Topping the USHJA Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” Championship and earning the Soon To Be Amateur Owner 3'3" Champion Perpetual Trophy Sponsored by the Smith Family was Karin Binz, of Lomita, California, and her own Meant To Be. Binz and the gelding won the $500 Amateur Owner Hunter Handy 3'3". For their efforts, the Meant to Be was named Grand Champion Amateur Owner Hunter and Binz was named High Score Amateur Owner Hunter Rider after earning an 87 in the Handy. Monaco and owner Glenda Monkarsh, of Las Vegas, Nevada, took reserve, as well as the win in the $2,500 3'3" Amateur Owner Hunter Classic.

USHJA Equitation 18 and Over Championship

Amy Brubaker, of Salt Lake City, Utah, rode her own Gatsby to earn the USHJA Equitation 18 and Over Championship and Leading Rider title after taking first in one and second in two Over Fences classes. Tied for reserve champion were Rollin Sykes, of Pacific Palisades, California, aboard R & R Stables LLC’s Canavarro and Kassy Perry, of Elk Grove, California, with Kendal Banks’s Dreamboy M.

“This is a new horse for me; we have only been partners for about a couple of months. Gatsby is just amazing; I am honestly so stunned. I have tried to have a good Vegas for so long with my other horse but he does not like indoor venues. We figured I would bring this new horse and see what will happen. This will be my last Vegas because it just does not get any better than this experience and win today,” said Brubaker of her win today.

USHJA Equitation 15-17 Championship

Skylar Wireman, of Bonsall, California, continued her winning ways in the Equitation ring, topping the USHJA Equitation 15-17 Championship and collecting the Equitation 15-17 Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy Donated by Showplace Productions, Patrick and Nicole Boyle. Wireman and Famous, owned by MKT Investments LLC,  took a clean sweep of the division to secure the championship. Lillian Muzzy, of Coto de Caza, California, took reserve MZ Farms LLC's Baldeur. 

USHJA Equitation 14 and Under Championship

Paige Walkenbach, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, and her own Clooney 62 were crowned USHJA Equitation 14 and Under Champions and awarded the Equitation 14 and Under Leading Rider Perpetual Trophy Donated by Showplace Productions, Patrick and Nicole Boyle. The duo won two Over Fences classes on their way to collecting the tricolor. Kalea Iuliano, of Santa Cruz, California, and her own Unique de la Chesnee took reserve.

Bling Award

Awarded to the Jumper rider who showed off the most bling and sparkles in the spirit of Las Vegas, the Bling Award was presented to Aaralyn Emerick, of Fallon, Nevada. Nominated by the Sierra Nevada Horse Show Association, Emerick competed in the .90m and .80m Affiliate Children's Jumpers. 

The 2022 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships continue through November 20 with live streaming coverage of all classes on USEF Network. Live results are available on ShowgroundsLive.

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 (bottom)