Rockwell FV Takes Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare

Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 30, 2025—Rockwell FV (Ribaldi x Replica) topped the 2025 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare. With top competition showcased from upcoming Hunters across the nation, judges Kathy Newman and Chris Wynne at the East Championship, and judges O. King Hackley and Newman at the Central Championship, awarded the gelding the Overall Grand Champion Best Young Horse title, highlighting his exceptional talent and conformation. 

"When we started showing Rockwell as a yearling, he wasn't sure he wanted to play this game," owner Sue Tice-Grossmann said. "There were times he wouldn't stand or he thought the jog was a really good excuse to jump around! That's a real baby thing. Fortunately, he figured it out and was Reserve Champion on the East Coast last year. He peaked at the right time this year and could not have shown himself any better. He walked into the ring and owned it."

On August 23 at the Virginia Young Horse Festival in Lexington, Virginia, handler

Drew Taylor, of Montpelier Station, Virginia, led the 2023 Oldenburg-GOV gelding owned by Tice-Grossmann, and bred by Forest View Sporthorses, back into the arena for the second year, after earning Reserve East Coast Best Young Horse in 2024. Rockwell FV won the 2-Year-Old Colts/Geldings division, was awarded Best Virginia Bred, and later was presented the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy, donated by Nokomis Farm for the overall championship win. 

"I feel so blessed to win this Championship," exclaimed Tice-Grossmann of her win. "When Chuck and I buy a foal, we have hopes that he will develop to be competitive. But there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Sometimes they don't mature the way I expected them to, or about the time you think you just might have the winner, they get hurt."

Rockwell FV's owner credits much of the success to expert handler Taylor, whose deep roots in the industry, and with their business, continue to shine.

"I also feel blessed to have Drew Taylor holding the reins," Tice-Grossmann reflected fondly. "Her dad, Richard, showed our horses before he passed, and I will say that the apple didn't fall far from the tree! Like her father, Drew is a great horse person. To most people who show in the breeding division, Devon and the Sallie B. Wheeler are the prize jewels of the game. If you can win there, with the cream of the crop, you have the best of the best." 

Taylor reflected on the win as a career highlight that she will never forget. "Winning the Championship is a huge honor and a career moment I will never forget. Rockwell FV is an exceptional young horse, and I am grateful to the Grossmann's and the team behind him for this opportunity."

"Rockwell FV has been special from day one," Taylor continued. "His sire, Ribaldi, is a full brother to Rotiyas, whom my father was the Champion with back in 2018 for the Grossmann's. His dam line was bred by W. Gary Baker, a huge supporter of the Hunter Breeding industry. There was no doubt Rockwell FV had the pedigree to be a champion from the start. He has become a wonderful show horse and could not have presented himself any better at this year's championship."

The breeder of Rockwell FV, Forest View Sport Horses, of Warrenton, Virginia was awarded the J. Arthur Reynolds Memorial Trophy, donated by the Reynolds Family. 

“We were thrilled with the news,” said Natalie Ortberg of Forest View Sport Horses. “With four generations of horsewomen behind Forest View Farm, Rockwell FV is especially meaningful as his legacy traces back to my mother’s mare, Obey, who was awarded AHSA National Hunter Breeding Grand Champion as well as winning Best Young Horse at Devon. We are so grateful to Sue and Chuck for giving him the best care and helping him reach his full potential, we can’t wait to follow his USHJA career!”

Overall Reserve Grand Champion went to the Reserve East Coast Best Young Horse, Monaco (Monterey x Fuerstin) a 2024 Oldenburg gelding owned, trained, and handled by Christopher Webb, of The Plains, Virginia, and bred by High Point Hanoverians. The gelding took top honors in the Yearling/Colts division. 

The USHJA congratulates the following winners at the 2025 events:

East Coast

Best Young Horse

• Champion – Rockwell FV (Ribaldi x Replica), a 2023 Oldenburg-GOV gelding owned by Sue Tice-Grossmann, handled by Drew Taylor, and bred by Forest View Sporthorses
• Reserve – Monaco (Monterey x Fuerstin), a 2024 Oldenburg gelding owned and handled by Christopher Webb, and bred by High Point Hanoverians

Class Champions

• Yearling Colts/Geldings – Monaco
• Yearling Fillies – R Lavender Haze (RFF Golden Time x White Safari), a 2024 Thoroughbred filly owned and handled by Martha Rattner and bred by April Wayenberg 
• 2-Year-Old Colts/Geldings – Rockwell FV
• 2-Year-Old Fillies – La Ti Da (Furstenball x Quetee Rah RH), a 2023 Wesphalian filly owned and handled by Jay Raach and bred by Raehaven Farms Inc.
• 3-Year-Old Colts/Geldings – Harbor Square RWC (Segantini x Esta), a 2022 KWPN gelding owned by RWC Limited and Robert & Jane Clark, handled by Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell, and bred by B.H. Harms 
• 3-Year-Old Fillies – Chardoneigh RWC (Cabardino x Lovin Honor), a 2022 KWPN filly owned by RWC Limited and Robert & Jane Clark, handled by Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell, and bred by April Speyer 
• 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Centerfold (Conteros x Allegria), a 2022 Belgian Warmblood mare owned and ridden by Stacey Belcher and bred by Elizabeth Capor
• 3-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Centerfold
• 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – V Rationality (Rascalino x Clucysreflektion), a 2021 Belgian Warmblood filly owned by Payton Hardinge, ridden by Jessica Chappell, and bred by Elisha Massong
• 4-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Au Chocolat (Amazing x Sugar Coated), a 2021 Oldenburg gelding owned and bred by Mary Ellis and ridden by Kasey Evans 
• 4-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – Space Wrangler (Diarado x Aischa), a 2021 Oldenburg gelding owned by Marianna Wade and ridden by Maria Shannon
• Amateur Handler – Abigail Nesselroad handling Bardigans Royal Broadway Blues (Telynau Royal Charter x Jessie's Broadway Lizzo), a 2023 Welsh Pony Cross mare owned and bred by Caitlyn Barden 
• Junior Handler – Liam Hissong handling Girl Math (Furstenball x Quetee Rah RH), a 2021 Westphalian mare owned by Jill Reilley and bred by Raehaven Farms Inc.

Special Awards

• Leading East Owner – Robert Clark
• Leading East Handler and the Belcort Farm Perpetual Trophy, donated by Walter J. Lee – Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell
• Leading East Breeder and the Richard M. Taylor Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Harriet Schiele and Drew Taylor in memory of Richard M. Taylor – Forest View Sport Horses
• Leading East Thoroughbred and the Foxwick Farm Perpetual Trophy, donated by Marcia Heylin – R Lavender Haze
• East Coast High Score Filly and the Masquerade’s Cover Perpetual Trophy, donated by Kimberly Maloomian – La Ti Da
• 3-Year-Old High Point Award – Centerfold
• 4-Year-Old Section Champion – Space Wrangler

Breed Awards

• American Hanoverian Society – Riverside (Ribaldi x Mona Lisa), a 2022 Hanoverian gelding owned and handled by Hayley Raach and bred by Leanne Krick

• KWPN NA – Chardoneigh RWC

• Oldenburg OHBS – Ooh Balou (Balou du Rouet x Ooh Ah), a 2022 Oldenburg filly owned and bred by Hayley Elliot and handled by Christopher Webb

• USSHBA – Roanoke MFH (Amazing x Paget DB), a 2022 Westphalian gelding owned by Lauren Allen, handled by Charlie Brown, and bred by Christina Burke/My Fork Haven 

• Best Virginia Bred – Rockwell FV

Central

Best Young Horse

• Champion – Picture Bliss M (Bliss MF x Palladium MF), a 2022 Oldenburg Filly owned and handled by Olivia Fiscus and bred by Marabet Farm
• Reserve – A Vava Voom (Apiro x Coriana), a 2024 Warmblood filly owned, handled, and bred by Abby Jeter

Class Champions

• Yearling Colts/Geldings – Shine On You OOM (Shine x Caramello), a 2024 Westfalen gelding owned and bred by Olde Oaks Farm Inc. and handled by Liza Richardson
• Yearling Fillies – A Vava Voom
• 2-Year-Old Colts/Geldings – Spit Shine OOM (Shine x Bristow De Balou), a 2023 Westfalen gelding owned by Olde Oaks Farm Inc., bred by Victoria Hunton, and handled by Liza Richardson
• 2-Year-Old Fillies – Corsage MJ (Corragio x Carrera PJ), a 2023 Hanoverian filly owned and bred by Melanie Jeanes and handled by Abby Jeter
• 3-Year-Old Colts/Geldings – Breaker One Nine (Bliss MF x Run Lucy Run), a 2022 Oldenburg gelding owned and bred by Ashley Martindale, DVM and handled by Robert Moyar
• 3-Year-Old Fillies – Picture Bliss M
• 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Candy Crush WH (Cabalito x Viva's Glory), a 2022 Oldenburg filly owned and ridden by Macy White and bred by Whitehedge Farm
• 3-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Breaker One Nine
• 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Chancellor WH (Cabalito x Belle Glos), a 2021 Oldenburg gelding owned and bred by Whitehedge Farm and ridden by Macy White 
• 4-Year-Old Hunter Hack – Starry Night (Ghost Z x Miss Perfect MT), a 2021 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Teri Bludworth and ridden by Linda Crothers
• 4-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – Starry Night
• Junior/Amateur Handler – Haylie Hass handling her own A Regal Rendition, a 2012 Quarter Horse gelding

Special Awards

• Leading Central Owner – Olde Oaks Farm Inc.
• Leading Central Handler and the Ted Fieger Memorial Trophy, donated by Ted Fieger's friends and family – Abby Jeter
• Leading Central 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 – Breaker One Nine
• 4-Year-Old Section Champion – Starry Night
• Champion Performance Horse  – Starry Night 

Breed Awards

• American Hanoverian Society – Corsage MJ

• Irish Draught Society of North America – CFF Night Breeze (Cerulean Nightlife x Dandelion Atlantic Breeze), a 2024 Irish Draught filly owned and handled by Laura Ruskoski and bred by Whitehedge Farm

• KWPN NA – Ultimae SPF (Small Social x Bentinov), a 2024 KWPN gelding owned by Barbara Bailey, handled by Abby Jeter, and bred by Tracy Geller/Six Pound Farm

• Oldenburg OHBS – Candy Crush WH

• USSHBA – Candy Crush WH

• Best Texas Bred – A Vava Voom

• Best 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. At the conclusion of both championships, an Overall Champion is named.

The USHJA extends a special thanks to the Virginia Horse Center Foundation, Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Keedy Leonard, and Lewis Pack for hosting the Championships and to Presenting Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare. We also recognize Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti; Supporting Sponsors Exhibitor's, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and SmartEquine; and Award Sponsors Olde Oaks Farm and Quillins Leather & Tack.

Sincere gratitude is extended to the following donors: Michelle Green, Abby Jeter, Exquisite Sport Horses, Charlotte Simmons, Croga Fox Farm, Simone Jeanes, Heartland Equestrian, Jessica Lang, Tyler Miller, Marin Farms, Shirley Murphy, Barbara Bailey, Claude Lee Johnson, Leighton-Oare Foundation, Susan and John Baker, Smallwood Farm, Susan Grossman, Walkin W Ponies, Ericka Walker, Robin Meckling, Maria Gubbiotti, Olivia Fiscus, Whitehedge Farm LLC, Ashley Martindale, Black Mare Bootery, Highland Manor Farm, RWC Farms, Robert and Jane Clark, Allison Wilkie, Caitlyn Mulligan-Barden, Oliver and Joan Brown, Olde Oaks Farm, and Quail Hollow 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: KMK Photos LLC, Jerry Mohme Photography