Wellington, FL – December 1, 2025 – The Junior Hunter and Amateur-Owner Hunter division championships were awarded today after the third jumping round and under saddle competitions. The highlight of the National Horse Show hunter division is the $120,000 National Horse Show Hunter Championship, which is divided into two divisions, Open and Junior/Amateur-Owner. Invitations to compete are based on division champions and standings in the USEF National Points Award program from this year. All competitors this week have been vying for a place in this class, and their scores created the list of invites to compete for the large prize.
The Small and Large Junior Working Hunters (small and large based on the height of the horse) were split into two age groups, 15 & Under and 16-17. The Large Junior Hunters 15 and Under were the first to compete in the International Arena. Saloon, ridden by Jennifer Waxman and owned by Whitney Roper, placed second over fences and under saddle today and won both jumping classes yesterday, assuring her of the tricolor ribbon. Reserve champion was Revelation, owned and ridden by Hannah Goodson Cutt. “He was fantastic, and he loves being on the field,” Emily Smith, the trainer of Waxman, said with a smile. “Jennifer rode great, and he jumped extra high today.”
The Large Junior 16-17 Hunters had a competitive field of ten top entries from around the country. Hardin Towell rode Miracle to the championship and Whitecap to the reserve championship. Towell got the ride on Miracle from Christy Russo at the National Horse Show in 2005. Russo was temporarily out of the competitive arena with an injury. “This is her first show since Washington,” Towell said. “She is really athletic and can really jump when she is loose,” he added. “I am so lucky to have the Russos and Far Niente Equine, LLC (the owner of Whitecap) let me ride these fabulous horses.”
Tobasco, ridden by Alexandra Thornton and owned by Dunwalke LLC, took home the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunter championship and the Follow Me Challenge Trophy. “It was my first time in the big field,” Thornton proclaimed. “It was a lot of fun just galloping around. I tried to keep my horses on their hocks and directed, so that they would not get long and low,” she added. Paige Bellissimo rode By The Way, owned by Far Niente Equine LLC, to the reserve championship.
The second group of Small Hunters, which were for ages 16 to 17, was dominated by Megan Massaro riding Lyle. Mrs. Randolph Rinehart owns this champion who won all three over fences classes in the division. “I was lucky enough to get to ride Lyle this year,” Massaro said. “It was fun riding on the field. You have to break up the round so that you do not get lost out there.” Alexandra Stathis was reserve champion of the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters on Cool Blue.
Saloon and Tobasco tied for the Grand Junior Hunter Champion, as they both scored 32 points. The common thread between the two top mounts was Susie Humes, who trained Saloon when Whitney Roper rode him and now trains Tobasco with Alexandra Thornton. “My great-great grandfathers, William C. Whitney and Reginald Vanderbilt, started the National Horse Show,” Humes explained. “I attended the horse show as a child with my mother who drove ponies there, and I showed myself at the National as an amateur with Victor Hugo-Vidal. I have been here as a trainer and a judge,” she added. “It is my favorite horse show of the year. There is nothing like winning the famous black and orange championship coolers.”
Championships were handed out in the Amateur-Owner divisions 18 to 35 and 35 and Over. The champion of the Amateur-Owner 18 to 35 Hunters was Tribute, ridden by Krista Weisman and owned by Krista and Alexa Weisman. Reserve champion was Federal Hill, owned and shown by Tracy Scheriff. The older amateur champion was Pienvotti, ridden by Katie Robinson and owned by Deeridge Farm. Reserve honors went to Estrella, ridden by Betty Oare and owned by Betty and her husband Ernest M. Oare.
The top professional, junior, and amateur-owner hunters will compete tomorrow in the final rounds of the National Horse Show Hunter Championships at 2:00 pm in the Internationale Arena. The Ladies’ Hunter Side Saddle over fences and Ladies Side Saddle under saddle hack follow the championship.
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