Haness and Odette Create History in $92,650 3'6"/3'9" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 12, 2025—Held for the second time in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, 63 combinations contested the 3'6"/3'9" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship on Tuesday, August 12. The section wrapped up with $92,650 prize money awarded.

After two competitive rounds, history was made as Nick Haness and Odette became the first pair since the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships were established in 2013 to win the 3’/3’3” section one year and return to claim the 3’6”/3’9” title the following year, marking the first back-to-back victory for the same horse. For their efforts, the pair took home blue and a $9,265 check on a score of 274. Claiming reserve honors and $6,559.62 was Victoria Colvin riding John & Stephanie Ingram LLC’s Dicoblue PS to a 272. Rounding out the top three was Hunt Tosh on Navigator, owned by Ceil Wheeler, with a score of 269 and $3,798.65.

Competition kicked off on Tuesday morning with 63 combinations contesting Ken Krome’s and Meghan Rawlin’s Hunter First Round course where Haness and John $ Stephanie Ingram LLC’s Odette rose to the top on a 273.50. Coming up from Milton, Georgia, and sitting close behind in second was Hunt Tosh on Ceil Wheeler’s Navigator with a score of 272. In third, on a 269.50, was Little Brook LLC’s Kaiden GPH, ridden by John French.

Judges Abby Blankenship, Lynn Forgione, Jeanne Marie Dunford-Miller, Tammy Provost, Mike Rosser, and Scott Williamson, saw the top 30 horses return for the Championship Round on a clean slate. Already having won the 3’/3’3” with Odette last year and coming into the Championship Round in the 3’6”/3’9” in the top spot, Haness knew Odette was a natural and to stay out of her way to let her shine.

“Odette is a really special horse,” expressed the San Clemente, California, rider after his win. “She knows the special events here in Kentucky for these Finals and rises to the occasion. There is nothing tricky about riding her; she's a natural champion and a natural winner, so it’s just about staying out of her way and letting her go around the ring and do the best that she can.”

“It’s pretty special to be her rider last year and this year,” reflected Haness on his wins. This event is such a great event for the Hunter sport. It’s a great championship for the owners and young Hunters to climb the ranks and graduate from this class to go on to the Derby Championship one day. It’s a great program and an exciting time to be here for all of the prize money for owners and riders involved. It really takes a lot of teamwork to produce these moments and these championships. It’s always nice to have a fun time here in Kentucky.”

Colvin, of Loxahatchee, Florida, and Dicoblue PS created a 4.5 score improvement from the first round to the Championship Round to claim reserve champion honors on a score of 272. After only three shows together before this week, Tosh and Navigator ultimately claimed third place.

“He’s a very lovely horse,” Colvin said of Dicoblue PS. “I have been riding him for about two years now, mainly in the derbies, but he has been great to me and has an amazing jump.”

Each year, the Green Hunter Incentive Championships offer additional recognition to riders through the Rider Ranking System, which categorizes riders into tiers based on their prior competition year earnings within the program. New in 2025, the system expanded to include a third tier, creating even more opportunities for lower-earning riders. Tier I riders are those ranked 1-45 on the list, while Tier II riders are ranked 46-100, and the new Tier III riders are 100 and below.

Tier II riders vied for an additional 20% of the total prize money, which came to $18,530, while Tier III riders competed for an additional 10%, totaling $9,265, based on First Round scores. Chelsea Brittner of Allyn, Washington, made her mark as a Tier III rider by topping both prize pools, earning $5,559 from Tier II and $2,779.50 from Tier III. Riding Dana Le’s Harriett X, Brittner also placed fourth overall with a score of 263.

Between rounds, additional awards were presented to competitors.

Rider Style Award: Jef Lauwers
$5,000 High Score American-Bred Award in remembrance of Candie Owens, presented by Oakwell Farms and DS Holdings, LLC: Clear As Day owned by B R Farms LLC and ridden by Nick Haness
$500 High Score Mare Award: Odette, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC
2024 3'6"/3'9" Series Leading Rider: Nick Haness with $32,257.53

The USHJA thanks the sponsors who helped to make these championships possible, including Title Sponsor Platinum Performance and Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti International. Thanks also go to Official Broadcast Provider ClipMyHorse.TV; Championship Official Sponsor Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Pharmacy; Supporting Sponsors Essex Classics, RingSide Pro, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Human Touch, Horseflight, and Equidae Insurance; Award Sponsor Equine Equipment; Challenge Round Supporters Ken and Ceil Wheeler; Exhibitors’ Party Supporters John Ingram and Laura Karat; Rider Bonus Awards Supporters Ron Danta, Danny Robershaw, and Susan Schoellkopf/ SBS Farms; and Bonus Award Donors Oakwell Farms, DS Holdings, LLC, Colleen McQuay, and Patrick Rodes.

The USHJA also thanks Show Manager Hugh Kincannon and the entire Kentucky Horse Shows team for their assistance with the Platinum Performance/USHJA Hunter Championship Week.

Wall-to-wall live streaming coverage is available at no additional cost to members at ClipMyHorse.TV. Additional coverage will be available in the upcoming issue of In Stride.

For more information about the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships, visit ushja.org/GreenChampionship. For online results, visit ushja.org/competition/hunter-week-championships.

Photos: Winslow Photography

3'6"/3'9" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship Results

Rider | Horse | Owner | Score