USHJA Announces 2026 Outreach Backstage Pass Winners

Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 30, 2026—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce the 11 riders that earned the Outreach Backstage Pass to compete in the 2026 USHJA Affiliate National Championships. Once again, this year's competition will be held during the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, over November 9-15.

Congratulations to the following athletes on being awarded the Backstage Pass this year:

  • Zone 1: Ellie Colonese, of West Hartford, Conn.
  • Zone 2: Holly Scheier, of Milford, N.J.
  • Zone 3: Delaney Bissett, of Cordova, Md.
  • Zone 4: Ashleigh Plattner, of Pinellas Park, Fla.
  • Zone 5: Lillie Laskowski, of Fenton, Mich.
  • Zone 6: Jen McDonald, of Port Washington, Wis.
  • Zone 7: Kylie Guarnera, of McKinney, Texas
  • Zone 8: Stacy Nelles, of Bluffdale, Utah
  • Zone 9: Finley Riggs, of Vancouver, Wash.
  • Zone 10: Ames Chang, of Los Angeles, Calif.
  • Zone 12: Elizabeth Morgan, of Anchorage, Ala.

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The Outreach Backstage Pass is awarded to the highest cumulative-pointed Outreach rider in each Zone. The honor awards each recipient a unique experience during the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships, including the opportunity to compete in the Affiliate sections, course walks, and additional educational sessions.

"I am feeling extremely grateful for being a recipient of the backstage pass," remarked McDonald. "This year is my first full year coming back to showing after a knee injury left me unable to ride for six months last year. After taking this break [from showing], I feel like I came back to the sport better than ever. It gave me time to miss the sport in a way I never have before."

To be eligible for the Backstage Pass, riders must be a free Outreach member or higher on or before the first day of competition to accrue rider points. Points will be given by USHJA Zone in each Outreach Hunter, Jumper, or Equitation section.

Learn more about the USHJA Outreach program, including the Backstage Pass, at ushja.org/outreach.

Photos: Terisé Cole/USHJA