West Coast Riders Shine at Inaugural USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships – West

Thermal, Calif.—Oct. 31, 2025—West Coast riders competed in the inaugural USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships - West on October 31 at Desert International Horse Park’s National Sunshine Series 1. Four overall champions were crowned, along with 10 age-group titles, recognizing Amateur riders from 2’6” to 3’6”.

As part of the West Coast USHJA Amateur Festival, the day also featured the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs, with the weekend set to conclude with the USHJA 3’3” Adult Jumping Seat Medal Final.

Low Adult Amateur Hunter 2’6”​ Championship

Sixteen horse-and-rider combinations vied for top honors in the Low Adult Amateur Hunter 2’6” Championship, where Ann Deren-Lewis, of Bradbury, California, and her own Playing Country claimed the first tricolor of the day. The pair impressed the judges with an 83 to win the Under Saddle before securing both the Overall and 50+ Champion titles on a three-round score of 77.81.

“We found Cupid when he was 6 years old, and he has a big attitude and a big personality. He shows his emotions, and he knows what it’s like to go in the ring. You just point him at those fences, those little ears go up, and he says, ‘Mom, hang on.’ He's an amazing creature. I'm so lucky to have him,” Deren-Lewis said of her mount. “This morning I was nervous, but I went in there and said, ‘Calm your mind, just get over the fences carefully, be consistent. Good things happen when you're consistent and just believe. Keep my hands out front, look at the fences, and when he says go, let's just go.’”

“I think [this Championships] is important as folks are moving up or coming down with age. To offer things for everyone at the highest level—it's so exciting to be recognized. No matter what height fence you're going over, it's still you and your partner out there doing the best you can, and by offering us this opportunity at 2’6”, we get to go show that like anybody else,” she continued.

Claire Sears, of Claremont, California, guided Mary Gatti’s Catira to the Overall Reserve Champion and 18–35 Champion titles after earning a round-winning 77.5 in the Classic Round.

The 36–49 Champion honors went to Martha Price, of Nampa, Idaho, who rode her own Oktoberfest to a tenth-place overall finish with a 70.22.

Adult Amateur Hunter 3’​ Championship

Joann Niffenegger piloted her own Syncopation to the top of the Adult Amateur Hunter 3’ Championship, besting a field of 28 exhibitors. Posting a three-round score of 84.34, the Corona, California, rider rode consistently to also secure the 50+ Champion title.

“It feels a little unbelievable. I’ve only had Syncopation for two and a half months, so we're just really getting to know each other, and he's just been amazing,” said Niffenegger. “We got him, and we were like, ‘You only have 2 shows to get qualified before the end of the year.’ That was our goal, and we did it on our second show, and then came here. So it's a little unbelievable that we're actually the overall winner.”

Overall Reserve Champion and 18–35 Champion honors went to Zoe Ryder, of Medina, Washington, aboard Zinnia Ryder’s Cafe Noir, finishing on a score of 83.

The 36–49 Champion, placing fifth overall with a score of 80.82, was Melissa Brandley, of Rocklin, California, riding her own Reminiscent.

Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3”​ Championship

Hilary Sosne, of Portland, Oregon, topped a field of 21 to claim the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3”​ Overall Champion title aboard her own Vino Bianco. Posting a three-round score of 83.39, Sosne also took the 18-35 Champion honors. 

“It’s really exciting! It’s just a lovely icing on the cake to end a really great year. We’ve had such a good show here, and it’s fun to come back to the Horse Park and have even more success,” said Sosne of her win. “It’s fun for the Amateurs to have a chance to get back into that groove. It’s also nice for those of us who stay on the West Coast during indoors to have our own piece of excitement over here.”

“I got [Vino Bianco] about a year and a half ago, and she’s just a really lovely horse. I can count on one hand the number of times she’s done something I didn’t ask her to do. If you keep yourself together and ask her the right way, she’ll always deliver. She’s a very ‘yes ma’am’ kind of horse, and it’s been really lovely to develop that partnership over the last year and a half,” she continued of her mount.

Taking Overall Reserve, as well as the 36+ Champion title, was Lauren Kay, of Los Angeles, California, and her own Newsflash. The pair finished on a three-round score of 83.17.

Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6”​ Championship

Finishing off the day, Caroline Ingalls, of Rancho Santa Fe, California, bested a field of eight to claim the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” Championship aboard her own Concerto. The pair topped the Handy Round with a score of 84.67 before finishing on a three-round total of 84.53 to earn both the Overall and 18–35 Champion titles.

"When I heard that the USHJA was putting on this event, and especially at the Desert Horse Park, it was just so exciting to hear! I rode in the Junior Hunter Final as a Junior, and we've always been wanting something of that caliber for the Amateurs,  so to see it happen and to have this be the inaugural year, I really see a bright future for this event. It's just really, really special to have such success with my horse this first year," said Ingalls. 

Julie Henderson, of Los Angeles, California, piloted her own Beatrise to Overall Reserve Champion and 36+ Champion honors, finishing on an 83.13.

The new USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships give Amateur Hunter riders a national final across four divisions: 2’6” Low Adult Amateur, 3’ Adult Amateur, 3’3” Amateur Owner, and 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters. Each Championship features three phases depending on the height. Riders qualify by earning champion or reserve at a USEF-licensed Channel I or Channel II competition, or if their horse ranks in the top 10 of their Zone Horse of the Year standings. 

The USHJA sends special thanks to the entire Desert International Horse Park team for hosting the Championships; to Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti; and Supporting Sponsor Essex Classics.

For more information about the USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships, visit ushja.org/AmateurChampionships .

Photos: High Desert Sport Photo