Czensation is Sensational at Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare

Lexington, Ky.—Nov. 3, 2023—Correction: This press release was corrected to reflect Dr. Erica Feiste as the correct recipient of the East Coast competition's Richard M. Taylor Perpetual Trophy as Leading Breeder. Dr. Feiste, of Norfolk, Virginia, bred 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding champion The Rainmaker (Con Capilot x Brown Eyed Girl); 3-Year-Old Filly champion Pascaline (Fibonacci x Bentinov); and Lovejoy (Morricone I x Dresden Hit), who finished third in the 2-Year-Old Filly class.

Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 25, 2023—Czensation (Balta’czar x Coriana) truly lived up to her name in the 2023 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare. At the conclusion of the East and Central competitions, judges Oliver Brown and Carlton Brooks named the filly Overall Grand Champion Best Young Horse.

"Honestly, it's surreal to have won this championship and quite the honor! I raise and train these babies and it's so fulfilling to be recognized for all the hard work," said owner and breeder Abby Jeter, of Hempstead, Texas. "I feel like Czensation's future is so bright with this big win combined with her older siblings' success. This was only her third show and she proved to handle the pressure with ease."

On September 14 at Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas, Jeter first led the 2022 warmblood filly to the top of the Yearling Filly class. Olivia Fiscus, of San Antonio, Texas, handled the filly in the Central Best Young Horse, collecting the prestigious honor. Then, to the surprise of Jeter, Czensation was presented with the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy for the overall win. 

"She's our third filly out of Coriana and I'm forever thankful to my business partner Barbara Bailey for allowing me to lease Cori for this cross. Her barn name is Sofia and I cried the day she was born because she was so beautiful," she continued. "She's a very confident, trusting young horse and my favorite things about her are her demeanor, heart-shaped star and moose lips." 

"I am just ecstatic and overjoyed to have been a part of such a special moment for Czensation and Abby Jeter," said Fiscus. "This is one of those moments all breeders and owners dream of and there was no one more deserving than Abby. This was only my first time participating at [the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships] and my first time in a Best Young Horse class, so I was overwhelmed with emotion. I cried for the both of them as soon as I heard them pick Sofia for the overall champion. It meant a lot to me that Abby trusted me to handle Sofia for such a big class and for it to have went so well says it all."

Overall Reserve Grand Champion went to the East Coast Best Young Horse, Charlotte RWC (Cabardino x Lovin Honor), owned by Robert and Jane Clark, handled by Hayley Raach, and bred by April Speyer. The 2022 KWPN filly took the blue ribbon in the Yearling Filly class at the East competition on August 25 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia.

The USHJA congratulates the following winners at the 2023 events:

East Coast

Best Young Horse

  • Champion – Charlotte RWC (Cabardino x Lovin Honor) a 2022 KWPN filly owned by Robert and Jane Clark, handled by Hayley Raach, and bred by April Speyer
  • Reserve – Ragnar (Ribaldi x Orchid SCF) a 2022 Oldenburg gelding owned by Sue Tice-Grossmann, handled by Drew Taylor and bred by Kendal Scharch

Class Champions

  • Yearling Colt/Gelding – Ragnar
  • Yearling Filly – Charlotte RWC
  • 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – The Rainmaker (Con Capilot x Brown Eyed Girl) a 2021 KWPN colt owned by Kathryn Meadows, handled by Emily Anne Belin McDonnell and bred by Dr. Erica Feiste 
  • 2-Year-Old Filly – Requested RWC (Popeye K x First Tri) a 2021 KWPN filly owned by Robert and Jane Clark, handled by Jay Raach, and bred by Elisha Massong 
  • 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – U’Van de Kalandero (Diktator van de Boslandhoeve x Expensive) a 2020 Belgian Warmblood colt owned and bred by Kerri Langhorne and handled by Chip Leonard
  • 3-Year-Old Filly - Pascaline (Fibonacci x Bentinov) a 2020 KWPN filly owned by Melissa Jo Hollingsworth, handled by Emily Anne Belin McDonnell and bred by Dr. Erica Feiste 
  • 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Escona Z (El Salvador x Quality Cona Z) a 2020 Zangersheide filly owned by Nicole Marin, ridden and handled by Alaina Brooks, and bred by Harry du Ruijter
  • 3-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Distance (Diatendro x Even Better) a 2020 Hanoverian gelding owned by Wismer Equestrian, ridden by Kasey McKissock and bred by Alisa Lask 
  • 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Layla (Liberty Gold x Magical Girl) a 2019 Hanoverian filly owned by Kerry Moody, ridden by Drew Taylor and bred by Ashley Holsinger
  • 4-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Curious George (C Quito x Tryonite) a 2019 warmblood gelding owned and bred by EMO Stables and ridden by Jackson Shurtz
  • 4-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – Curious George 
  • Amateur Handler – FHF Serendipity (Commissioner x Beginner’s Luck) a 2020 Thoroughbred gelding owned and handled by Elizabeth Grubbs
  • Junior Handler – Otteridge Coquette (Brookside Sweet Sebastian x FM Early Easter) a 2020 crossbred filly owned by Lindsay Whitted, handled by Eddyn Molden and bred by Randee Beckman

Special Awards

  • Leading East Owner – Robert Clark
  • Leading East Handler – Emily Anne Belin McDonnell
  • Leading East Breeder – Dr. Erica Feiste
  • Leading East Thoroughbred – FHF Serendipity
  • East Coast High Score Filly – Charlotte RWC
  • 3-Year-Old High Point Award – Escona Z 

Breed Awards

  • American Hanoverian Society – Riverside (Ribaldi x Monalisa) a 2022 Hanoverian gelding owned and handled by Hayley Raach and bred by Leann Krick 
  • AQHA – A Just My Crown (Just Expect It x The Princess) a 2020 Quarter Horse filly owned by Alex Johnson, handled by Kyle Davies and bred by Kelly Woodleif
  • Belgian Warmblood (BWP-NAD) – U’Van de Kalandero
  • Cleveland Bay Horse Society of America – Bellavista Highland Park (Arena Maestro x Venus BV) a 2019 Cleveland Bay stallion owned, handled and bred by Sarah Kirk 
  • ISR-Oldenburg NA – Au Chocolat (Amazing x Sugar Coated) a 2021 Oldenburg gelding owned and bred by Mary Ellis and handled by Dowell “Junior” Johnson 
  • KWPN – Charlotte RWC
  • Oldenburg OHBS – Ragnar
  • USSHBA – champion: Lumiere TBF (Lord Ferragamo x Laola) a 2022 Oldenburg gelding owned, handled and bred by Alaina Brooks; reserve: Chantilly Lace TBF (Conto van de Helle x Laola) a 2021 Westfalen filly owned, handled and bred by Alaina Brooks
  • Westfalen Verband – champion: Alls Faire (Apiro x Veuve Cliquot) a 2020 Westfalen filly owned, handled and bred by Jamie Sullivan; reserve: Carrazana (Carrico x Paramour) a 2022 Westfalen filly owned and bred by Elizabeth Capor and handled by Billy Howland
  • Zangersheide – Escona Z 
  • $1,000 Best Virginia Bred – Carrazana

Central

Best Young Horse

  • Champion – Czensation (Balta’czar x Coriana) a 2022 warmblood mare owned and bred by Abby Jeter and handled by Olivia Fiscus
  • Reserve – Really Fiona (Fabriano VDL x Coriana) a 2021 KWPN mare owned and bred by Barbara Bailey and handled by Abby Jeter

Class Champions

  • Yearling Colt/Gelding – Chic Magnet OBR (Chicardo x Due Time) a 2022 Oldenburg gelding owned, bred and handled by Karolina Vieser
  • Yearling Filly – Czensation handled by Abby Jeter
  • 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – Caparo (Caberdino x Obora’s Giselle) a 2021 Hanoverian gelding owned and bred by CHCR Equine LLC and handled by Rob Moyar 
  • 2-Year-Old Filly – Really Fiona
  • 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – Cosmo OBR (Con Capilot x Due Time) a 2020 Oldenburg gelding owned by Jessica Prior, handled by Rob Moya and bred by Karolina Vieser
  • 3-Year-Old Filly – Crème de Lune AE (Crème de la Creme x Arabella) a 2020 Oldenburg mare owned and bred by Arroyo Escondido LLC and handled by Rob Moyar 
  • 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Cosmo OBR
  • 3-Year-Old Hunter Hack – One Wish MK (Crème de la Crème x Corrine R) a 2020 Belgian Sport Horse mare owned by Archer Adams, ridden by Catherine Adams and bred by Kristina Photakis
  • 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Cordelia (Westporte x Coriana) a 2019 Oldenburg mare owned and bred by Barbara Bailey and ridden by Livi Bachman
  • 4-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Cordelia 
  • 4-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – Adorabella AE (Cumthago C x S-Arabella) a 2019 Holsteiner mare owned and bred by Arroyo Escondido LLC and ridden by Phillippe Creuzot 
  • Amateur/Junior Handler – Crème de Lune AE handled by Xia Tabanou

Special Awards

  • Leading Central Owner – Abby Jeter
  • Leading Central Handler – Rob Moyar
  • Leading Central Breeder – Karolina Vieser
  • Leading Central Thoroughbred – Southern Treasure (Collected x Zooming By) a 2021 Thoroughbred gelding owned by Chelsey Russo, handled by Rob Moyar and bred by John Ropes
  • 3-Year-Old High Point Award – Crème de Lune AE

Breed Awards

  • American Hanoverian Society – Caparo
  • Irish Draught Society of North America – CrogaFox Irish Whisky Ginger (Cappa Irish Charmer x Lola Bird) a 2021 Irish Draught Sport Horse mare owned, bred and handled by Laura Rukowski 
  • ISR-Oldenburg NA – Chic Magnet OBR 
  • KWPN – Really Fiona
  • OHBS – Picture Bliss OOM (Bliss MF x Palladium MF) a 2022 Oldenburg mare owned and handled by Olivia Fiscus and bred by Olde Oaks Farm
  • Westfalen Verband – champion: Sidecar OOM (Bliss MF x Sip of Moonshine) a 2022 Westfalen mare owned and bred by Olde Oaks Farm and handled by Andi Snapp; reserve: HGS Seek Up (I-Carry On MF x Chimera) a 2022 Westfalen stallion owned, bred and handled by Nicole Tidwell
  • $1,000 Best Texas Bred – Czensation

Coordinated by the USHJA since 2019, 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.

The Championships are open to yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds of any breed that have a current USEF Horse Recording and are registered with the USHJA. In addition to in-hand classes, other offerings include an Amateur/Junior Handler class, 3-Year-Old or 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle, 3-Year-Old Hunter Hack Classes and 4-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences classes. Horses are judged on athleticism, conformation, way of moving, quality, substance and suitability to become hunters. The same panel of judges officiate at two Championships, then an Overall Champion is named following the final event.

The USHJA extends a special thanks to the Virginia Horse Center Foundation and Texas Rose Horse Park for hosting the Championships and to Presenting Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare. The USHJA also thanks Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena and Parlanti; supporting sponsors Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and SmartPak; and award sponsors Essex Classics, Olde Oaks Farm and Quillins Leather & Tack.

For more information about the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare, visit ushja.org/SallieB.

Photos: Jerry Mohme Photography, SDH Photography, Avery Fletcher Photography