Interstellar QP Tops Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships - Central, Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare and Whitehedge Farm

Katy, Texas—Sept. 18, 2026—The 2026 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships - Central, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare and Whitehedge Farm, welcomed the top young Hunter prospects to the Main Indoor Arena at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, on Thursday, September 17, during the Southwest Showdown. At the conclusion of competition, Interstellar QP (Iconicus x Blazer G) earned Best Young Horse honors and was named Overall Grand Hunter Breeding Champion for Central, while Shine On You OOM (Alesi AKA Shine x Caramella) claimed reserve.

"I am thrilled," Cristie Palmer, owner and breeder of Interstellar QP, exclaimed about her win. "[As breeders], we always hope that they go on to do great things when you're foaling them out at 3 a.m., and here we are!"

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Judges Diane Carney and Phoebe Sheets awarded top honors in the 2-Year-Old Fillies division to Interstellar QP, a 2024 Westphalian filly owned and bred by Palmer, of Liberty, Texas, in Zone 7. Handled by Robin Rhodes, of New Caney, Texas, in Zone 7, the filly went on to earn the prestigious Best Young Horse title and the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy, donated by Nokomis Farm. In recognition of breeding the Central Overall Grand Hunter Breeding Champion, Palmer was also presented with the J. Arthur Reynolds Memorial Trophy, donated by the Reynolds Family.

Interstellar QP is a special filly who touches the heart of everyone she meets. “She’s very in your pocket," Palmer said. "She wants to be with her people and do whatever it is you’re asking her to do. She’s a smart girl, and she’s the barn favorite.”

Claiming Overall Grand Hunter Breeding Reserve Champion honors was Shine On You OOM, a 2024 Westphalian gelding owned and bred by Olde Oaks Farm, Inc., of Thompsons, Texas, and handled by Claire Burns, of Damon, Texas, both in Zone 7. The gelding also secured the 2-Year-Old Colts/Gelding Division title, the United States Sport Horse Breeders Association Award, and the Westfalen-Verband Breed Award. Shine On You OOM is no stranger to success at the championship, having earned a national title in 2025 when he topped the Yearling Colts/Geldings division.

“Winning a championship like this is a supreme honor,” said Palmer. “It goes back to years and years of people putting in effort and time. There’s a long history behind it, and a lot that goes into it.”

The accomplishment is made even more special by the unlikely path that brought her champion to the Hunter ring. “I breed Event horses,” Palmer laughed. “When I accidentally bred a Hunter, I called my good friend Ron and said, ‘I think I accidentally bred a Hunter.’”

Palmer credited the welcoming Hunter community for making the experience so rewarding. “Everybody has been so kind and so welcoming because obviously I breed for a different sport, but when you're breeding, you never quite know what you might get,” she said. “I bred a very nice Hunter, and so here we are.”

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The USHJA congratulates the following winners at the Central Coast Championship:

Central Overall Grand Hunter Breeding Champion/Best Young Horse 

  • Champion – Interstellar QP

  • Reserve – Shine On You OOM

Class Champions

  • Yearling Colts/Geldings –  Sanciano (Sanceo x Natural Color), a 2025 Oldenburg colt owned, bred, and handled by Chrissy Wilson
  • Yearling Fillies – Fendi WH (Fourteen WH x Crisby), a 2025 Oldenburg filly owned and bred by Rachel Resch, and handled by Anne Hedge 
  • 2-Year-Old Colts/Geldings – Shine On You OOM 
  • 2-Year-Old Fillies – Interstellar QP 
  • 3-Year-Old Colts/Geldings – Cocomo WH (Cabulous DSH x Bling OHF), a 2023 Oldenburg colt owned by Anne Hedge, bred by Whitehedge Farm, WH, and handled by Macy White
  • 3-Year-Old Fillies – Classical Shine OOM (Shine x Capella W), a 2023 Westphalian filly owned and bred by Olde Oaks Farm, Inc., and handled by Claire Burns 
  • 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle –  Cocomo WH 
  • 3-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Cocomo WH 
  • 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Candy Crush WH (Cabalito x Viva's Glory), a 2022 Oldenburg mare owned and bred by Whitehedge Farm, LLC, and ridden by Macy White 
  • 4-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Sidecar OOM (Bliss MF x Sip of Moonshine), a 2022 Westphalian mare owned and bred by Olde Oaks Farm, Inc., and ridden by Claire Burns 
  • 4-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – Candy Crush WH 
  • Junior/Amateur Handler – Susan Bradley, owner, breeder, and handler of Calavanta (Cabulous DSH x Alavanta), a 2025 Oldenburg filly

Special Awards

  • Leading Owner –  Olde Oaks Farm, Inc. 
  • Leading Handler and the Ted Fieger Perpetual Trophy, donated by friends and family of Ted Fieger –  Claire Burns 
  • Leading Breeder and the Richard M. Taylor Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Harriet Schiele and Drew Taylor in memory of Richard M. Taylor –  Olde Oaks Farm, Inc. 
  • 3-Year-Old High Point Award – Cocomo WH 
  • 4-Year-Old High Point Award – Candy Crush WH 

Breed Awards

  • ISR - Oldenburg Registry of North America – Sanciano 
  • KWPN of North America – Ultimae SPF (Livester x Bentinov), a 2024 KWPN gelding owned by Barbara Bailey, bred by Six Pound Farm, LLC, and handled by Abby Jeter 
  • Oldenburg Breeder's Society – Cocomo WH 
  • United Stated Sport Horse Breeders Association 
    • Champion: Shine On You OOM 
    • Reserve: Classical Shine OOM 
  • Westfalen-Verband – Shine On You OOM 
  • Highest Scoring Texas Bred – Fendi WH 
  • Highest Scoring Virginia Bred – Ultimae SPF 

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 and 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle, 3-Year-Old and 4-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. An East Coast and Central championship is held, and an Overall Grand Hunter Breeding Champion and Reserve Champions are named at the conclusion of each championship.

The USHJA extends a special thanks to the Southbound Show Management and Patrick Rodes for hosting the Championships, and to Presenting Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare, and Whitehedge Farm. We also recognize Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Parlanti, and Stridefull; and Supporting Sponsors Exhibitor's, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and GumBits.

Sincere gratitude is extended to the following donors: Barbara Bailey; Olde Oaks Farm, Inc., Victoria Hunton; Oliver and Joan Brown, Hunters Haven Farm; Shelia & Shirley Murphy, Tingwick Farm; Ashley Martindale; Erika Walker, Walkin W Ponies (NS); Jessie Lang; Marin Farms, Nicole Marin; Quail Hollow Tack; SH Equine Wellness & Performance; Liza Richardson; Rob Moyar; Power Track Eventing, QP Sporthorses; Kathy Walton; American Hanoverian Society; American Rhineland Studbook; Belgian Warmblood Breeding Association; Irish Draught Horse Society of North America IDHSNA; ISR-Oldenburg Registry of North America; KWPN of North America; Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society (GOV); SBS - Belgian Sporthorse; United States Sport Horse Breeders Association; Westfalen-Verband; Virginia Horse Breeders Association; and Zangersheide Studbook.  

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

Photos: Jerry Mohme Photography