Riders Shine Across Jumper and Affiliate Divisions at 2025 Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships

Las Vegas, Nev.—Nov. 15, 2025—The 2025 Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships continued Friday with the spotlight on the USEF/USHJA Jumper National Championships and the USHJA Affiliate Jumper and Hunter Championships. Competitors from across the country returned to the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa to contest national titles in a full day of competition.

USEF/USHJA 1.40m Open Jumper National Championship

Jamie Sailor, of Moorpark, California, claimed her second champion tricolor of the week, this time in the USEF/USHJA 1.40m Open Jumper National Championship. Riding Magic Mike, owned by Elizabeth Kilham, Sailor won the $5,000 1.40m Speed and capped off Friday night with the $50,000 1.40m Grand Prix. 

"I am just thrilled with my horses. I cannot believe it, and I am ecstatic right now. Vegas has always been my show. I love it here. I want to keep coming back every year. I hope they continue it here, because it's always been such a fun show. I really enjoy the atmosphere. The crowd tonight was incredible. And I love how everyone gets really involved in it. And then, like I said, the horses, I think, feed off of it, and it's just so cool. I'm just so happy right now," said Sailor after her wins. 

"Magic Mike is a very large animal, but even a bigger heart. He does not question his size. He has a huge stride. But he's very fast-footed across the ground and very fast in the air. He covers a lot of ground," she continued. "His passion for the sport is just unbelievable. You have to tell him how good he is in the warm-up ring, and he just blossoms from that. You feel like you can just jump mountains on him."

In addition to the championship, Sailor earned the title of Leading Open Jumper Rider, was named Leading Lady Open Jumper Rider, and collected reserve with Farhad Afshari’s Lest Best.

USEF/USHJA 1.10/1.15m Junior Jumper National Championship

Hailing from Schriever, Louisiana, Patience Verdin jumped Kimberley Bullock’s Laramie P into first place in the $1,000 1.10m Junior Jumper Welcome and second place in the $1,000 1.10m Junior Jumper Speed. This resulted in Verdin winning the USEF/USHJA 1.10/1.15m Junior Jumper National Championship.  

“He has so much personality," Verdin said of Laramie P. "I've had him for three years now, and he's honestly probably one of the hardest horses I've ridden ever, but I've learned so much from him, and I appreciate him so much. Coming here, I wasn't sure what was going to happen, and he's just given me his all this week, and I'm so grateful for him. In the jump-off, I thought I had a great ride, and he just did everything that I asked him to. It's been so much fun in Vegas, and I really can't thank the Brombach's enough for all that they do for me.”

Claiming reserve honors from Santa Monica, California, was Ripley Ehrlich aboard Hermes, owned by Woodacres Stables, LLC. The pair took first place in the $1,000 1.10m Junior Jumper Speed. 

USEF/USHJA 1.10/1.15m Amateur Jumper National Championship

Berkley Chesen, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, led the USEF/USHJA 1.10/1.15m Junior Jumper National Championship victory gallop aboard her own Kissin’ Kate Barlow. The pair topped the $1,000 1.10m Amateur Jumper Welcome on the way to the championship title. 

Reserve honors went to Irene Elsie Powlick, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and her own Ce Roberto Z. The duo took second in the $1000 1.10m Amateur Jumper Speed. 

USEF/USHJA 1.20/1.25m Junior Jumper National Championship

Topping the $1000 1.20m Junior Jumper Welcome and $10,000 1.25m Junior Jumper Grand Prix, Anna Le Grix, of San Francisco, California, jumped her own Calygra to earn the USEF/USHJA 1.20/1.25m Junior Jumper National Championship title.

Honor Coulter, of Hailey, Idaho, piloted her own Clark to a second place finish in the $1,000 1.20m Junior Jumper Speed and $10,000 1.25m Junior Jumper Grand Prix, to earn overall reserve champion honors.

USEF/USHJA 1.20/1.25m Amateur Jumper National Championship

Alexandra Frohman, of Henderson, Nevada, rode her own Cecilia to produce the only fault-free round in the $1,000 1.20m Amateur Jumper Speed, securing the USEF/USHJA 1.20/1.25m Amateur Jumper National Championship.

“Cecilia is a spicy mare with a lot of heart, and she’s always down for whatever turns I throw at her,” remarked Frohman. “We live in Vegas, so this is her hometown show, and she felt really good in the ring today. It was a tough course, but she was very forward and really performed the way I know she can.”

Claiming reserve honors was Shannon Kelly, of Rolling Hills Estates, California, jumping Mad Money TW, owned by Hermosa Sport Horses. The pair topped the $10,000 1.25m Amateur Jumper Grand Prix.

USHJA Affiliate .70m Junior Jumper Championship

Riding in from Lakeville, Minnesota, and nominated by the Minnesota Hunter Jumper Association, Valerie Sherels topped the $500 .70m Junior Affiliate Jumper Welcome and $500 .70m Junior Affiliate Jumper Two Phase aboard Lauren Wood’s Nowhere to Hide. For their efforts, the duo claimed the USHJA Affiliate .70m Junior Jumper Championship title. 

Representing the Kansas Hunter Jumper Association, Emma Mabardy, of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, rode Amara Packwood’s Tally Ho Irish Empress to reserve champion honors. The pair also won the $500 .70m Junior Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix. 
USHJA Affiliate .70m Amateur Jumper Championship

Breanna Smith-Cadena, of Woodland Hills, California, and her own Trick ‘R Treat delivered a speedy, fault-free clean sweep across all three classes—the $500 .70m Amateur Affiliate Jumper Welcome, the $500 .70m Amateur Affiliate Jumper Two Phase, and the $500 .70m Amateur Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix. For their outstanding effort, the Southern California Horse Show Association nominee secured the USHJA Affiliate .70m Amateur Jumper Championship title.

Finishing second in both the $500 .70m Amateur Affiliate Jumper Two Phase and the $500 .70m Amateur Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix, Lanae Long, of Long Beach, California, piloted Dolley Captain, owned by Crystal Li. Nominated by the Pacific Coast Hunter Jumper Association, the pair claimed the overall reserve championship.

USHJA Affiliate .80m Junior Jumper Championship

Nominated by the Sweetwater Stables Educational Association, Annabelle Nusbaum, of Scottsdale, Arizona, jumped her own Flying Squirrel to a first place finish in the $500 .80m Junior Affiliate Jumper Two Phase, and a second place finish in both the $500 .80m Junior Affiliate Jumper Welcome and the $500 .80m Junior Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix. For their efforts, Nusbaum took home the USHJA Affiliate .80m Junior Jumper Championship title. 

Reserve honors went to Vivian Warner, of Lakeway, Texas, on her Shivago, after topping the $500 .80m Junior Affiliate Jumper Grand Prix. Warner was nominated by the Hill Country Hunter/Jumper Association.

USHJA Affiliate .80m Amateur Jumper Championship

Besting her reserve finish in 2024, Natalie Kennel, of San Diego, California, piloted her own Elvinue Rouet PS to the USHJA Affiliate .80m Amateur Jumper Championship. Nominees of the Pacific Coast Horse Show Association, the pair also topped the division’s $500 .80m Amateur Affiliate Jumper Welcome.

Caryn Scheidt, of Aspen, Colorado, and riding for the Colorado West Hunter Jumper Association, took the blue in the $500 .80m Amateur Affiliate Jumper Two Phase and the overall reserve with her own Lucky Boy.

USHJA Affiliate 2' Children's Hunter Championship

Riding in from Bozeman, Montana, and nominated by Yellowstone Hunter Jumper Association, Macy Smith claimed the USHJA Affiliate 2' Children’s Hunter Championship aboard Macaroni. The pair delivered top performances in the Over Fences classes.

Reserve honors went to Berkelee Booher, of Sonoma, California, riding Touche and representing NorCal Hunter Jumper Association.

USHJA Affiliate 2' Adult Hunter Championship

Kendra Alcock, of Scottsdale, Arizona, swept the USHJA Affiliate 2' Adult Hunter Championship, piloting her own Royal Warrant to champion and Geppetto to reserve. Nominated by the Arizona Hunter Jumper Association, she rode Royal Warrant to the top of an Over Fences and the Under Saddle, while Geppetto won an Over Fences class.

USHJA Affiliate 2'6" Children's Hunter Championship

Nominated by the Colorado Show Circuit, Brayden Graber, of Denver, Colorado, earned the USHJA Affiliate 2'6" Children’s Hunter Championship, including the USHJA 2'6" Children’s Affiliate Perpetual Trophy donated by Kevin Price, with his own D Lascivo. The pair’s consistency Over Fences secured their championship title.

Reserve honors went to Finley Phelps, of Rocklin, California, riding her own Eleven Eleven and representing the NorCal Hunter Jumper Association.

USHJA Affiliate 2'6" Adult Hunter Championship

Sara Knutson, of Broomfield, Colorado, rode her own Kaloyan to the USHJA Affiliate 2'6" Adult Hunter Championship. Nominees of the Colorado Show Circuit, the pair placed in the top two in all three Over Fences classes to secure the win and the USHJA 2'6" Adult Affiliate Perpetual Trophy donated by Kevin Price.

Also representing the Colorado Show Circuit, reserve honors were awarded to Jessica Brendlinger, of Elizabeth, Colorado, aboard Gandalf the Grey, after winning an Over Fences class.

Bling Award

Two Bling Awards, supported by Herm Sprenger and Exhibitor’s, were handed out during today's Championships, one for Juniors and one for Amateurs. Junior and Amateur Jumper riders were invited to dress themselves and their horses in their best blinged-out attire to be considered for the award. Mackenzie Poelking, of Greenbriar, Tennessee, blinged out with her own Binx to win the Junior award. Karen Mitchell, of Bozeman, Montana, dazzled aboard her own Donderado V/D Kromsteeg Z to take home the Amateur award.

The USHJA extends its thanks to the Desert International Horse Park team for hosting the Championships and to longtime Title Sponsor Marshall+Sterling. Special thanks also go to Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Parlanti, and Exhibitor’s; and Championship Sponsors Essex Classics, Human Touch, Prize Possessions, RingSide Pro, SmartEquine, Stridefull, and the US Equestrian.

Live streaming coverage of all classes is available on USEF Network, and complete results are available on ShowgroundsLive.

For more information about the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships.

Release: USHJA and Desert International Horse Park

Photos: Andrew Ryback Photography, Terisé Cole/USHJA, Julie Mercer/USHJA