Stout Secures Grand Green Hunter Title at 2026 Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships

Las Vegas, Nev.—Nov. 12, 2026—Championship honors were awarded in the Green Hunter sections at the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships, hosted by the Desert International Horse Park and held November 9-15 at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. Stout, owned by Hilary Sosne and ridden by Nicole Bourgeois, emerged as the Grand Green Hunter after delivering strong performances throughout the 3'6"/3'9" Green Hunter division.

Grand Green Hunter
Following up a second-place finish in Tuesday's $25,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, Stout and Bourgeois rose to the top of the Green Hunter sections to earn the first Grand Champion honors of the week. The Wilsonville, Oregon, pair took the blue ribbon Over Fences and in the Under Saddle to secure the Grand Green Hunter title and the USHJA 3'6"/3'9" Green Hunter Championship tricolor.

“I actually just got a little photo on social media showing his first baby Green Hunter class was four years ago today,” said Bourgeois. “So, I have had him for four years and developed him all the way through his 3’9” Green year. He’s definitely taken some patience, but I have to say, this last year, he's really gotten it together. We've had a very successful 3’9” Green year, and I'm very happy with our win. It's kind of a grand finale of his Green years!”

Bourgeois continued, “This is his first indoors, actually, which is kind of why we wanted to come here. Unfortunately, most of the indoor shows happen on the East Coast. So we're very lucky to have Las Vegas as really our only big indoor competition on the West Coast. I thought it would be fun to bring him here and see what he thought of indoors—and obviously he loves it. He was also second last night in the Derby. So, he's an indoors boy.”

The Zone 9 combination also earned the High Score Green Hunter Award after receiving an 89 in the 3'6"/3'9" USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Stake. As Stout's owner, Sosne was presented with the Leading 3'6"/3'9" Green Hunter Owner Award.

The day’s additional champions and award winners include:

USHJA 3' Green Hunter Championship and the Green Hunter 3' Championship Perpetual Trophy, donated by Tapestry Farm and The Struve Family
Outspoken, owned by Stacy Nelles and ridden by Kari Swainston

USHJA 3'3" Green Hunter Championship and the Green Hunter 3'3" Division Puissance R' Trophy, donated by Steve and Lisa Hankin
Poseidon, owned by K & L Phillips and ridden by Hope Glynn

Leading 3'/3'3" Green Hunter Owner
K & L Phillips, owner of Poseidon, ridden by Hope Glynn

USHJA 3'6"/3'9" Green Hunter Championship and Leading 3'6”/3'9" Green Hunter Owner
Stout, owned by Hilary Sosne and ridden by Nicole Bourgeois

High Score Green Hunter
Stout, owned by Hilary Sosne and ridden by Nicole Bourgeois, with a score of 89

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

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

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

Press Release: Desert International Horse Park and USHJA
Photos: Desert International Horse Park, Terisé Cole/USHJA