Source:  News Release

Rainier Defends Title, Named Overall Grand Champion in 2014 Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship

For the eighth time in the Championship's two-phase history, the East Coast's Champion

Rainier (Susan Carter)

 Best Young Horse won the Overall Grand Champion title. Rainier (Eloquence x Countess Sabrina/Private Account), owned by Cismont Manor Farm, Meridian Partners, and Kenneth Wheeler, who also handled the horse, claimed top honors in the 2014 Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship, receiving the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy and successfully defending his 2013 title.

The three-year-old Warmblood gelding also won the Champion Best Young Horse - East title. As the breeder of the Overall Grand Champion, Amanda Taylor won the J. Arthur Reynolds Memorial Trophy. 

The Overall Reserve Grand Champion also went to an East Coast horse when Apua Point (Aloha x Saarlandisourland/Saarland), a yearling Oldenburg gelding, received the title. Owned by Chase Meadows Farm LLC and handled by Brandon Gibson, Apua Point also won the Reserve Champion Best Young Horse - East title and his Yearling class.

On the West Coast, Champion Best Young Horse - West honors went to Riverycity Blues (Redwine x Annie), owned by Autumn Hills Farm and handled by Sue Lightner. The one-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding won the Yearling Colts/Geldings class, as well as the Stud-Book sBs Belgian Sport Horse Society breed registry award. Just Dance (Just The Best x Mosegardens Carina/Carano), a one-year-old Dutch Warmblood filly owned by Tish Quirk and handled by Emily Esau Williams, won the Reserve Champion Best Young Horse - West title. In addition, Just Dance also won the Yearling Fillies class. 

Other top horses also received breed registry awards for the West Coast entrants. Good

Apua Point (Susan Carter)

Luck (More Than Luck x Molly Malone/Gragenit), a three-year-old Dutch Warmblood filly owned by Tish Quirk and handled by Carleton Brooks, received the KWPN of North America Award after winning the Three-Year-Old Fillies class. Rodeo (Ragtime x Misty View/Star Choice), a two-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Sue Lightner and handled by Marisa Metzger, received The Oldenburg Registry of North America Award after winning the Two-Year-Old Colts/Geldings class. 

On the East Coast, Rapscallion 18 (ROC USA x Natalya/Hermes Du Maurier), a two-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Rachel Kane and handled by Bucky Reynolds, won the Oldenburg Registry of North America award. The American Hanoverian Society award went to Viewpoint (Viva Voltaire x Bella Danja/Bordeaux) a yearling Hanoverian filly owned by Robin Stewart and handled by Dowell Johnson. Real Appeal (Rosenthal x Good Angel/Bionic Prospect), a two-year old Oldenburg gelding owned by Sue and Chuck Grossman and handled by Jay Golding, won The Oldenburg Horse Breeder's Society award. The American Warmblood Registry Award went to Femineste, (Beste Gold x Fiera MRF/Feiner Stern) a two-year-old American Warmblood filly owned and handled by Elizabeth Lubrano. Ta Dah (Popeye K x Grannies Magic Punch/Magical) a two-year-old Dutch Warmblood filly owned by Jane Witten and handled by Jane Witten, received the KWPN of North America Award. Joyful Hope (King De Coquerie x Brown Eyed Girl/Schoenfelder), a two-year-old Belgian Warmblood filly owned by Dr. Erica Feiste and handled by Dowell Johnson, took home the Stud-Book sBs Belgian Sport Horse Society Award. The Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International Award went to Impre 'Czario (Balta 'Czar x La Grande Cowgirl), a two-year-old RPSI gelding owned by Julianna Potteiger and handled by Chip Leonard.

The Foxwick Farm Perpetual Trophy, which is awarded to the leading Thoroughbred. On the East Coast, the award went to Steppintothealter (Runnintothealter x Dodana/Two Punch), a yearling Thoroughbred gelding owned by Cheryll Francella and handled by William Howland. Bella Nelle Colore (Risque Remarque x Ebony Gold Rose/Rock Point) took the honors for the West Coast, handled by Linda Winters.

These top young hunter horses would not be able display their winning attributes to the best of their abilities without the expertise of their handlers. The Leading Handler - West award went to Sue Lightner and the Leading Handler - East award went to Brandon Gibson. Each phase also had an Amateur Handler class. Barbara J. Dunning, with Rosebud, won the West Coast class, and Betsy Baker finished second with JC's Swaggy. On the East Coast, Adriana Gilberto won the class with Avonlea Way, and second went to Lyndsey Tipton with Rumor Mill. Leading Owner awards went to Kirsten Strain on the West Coast and Rachel A. Kane on the East Coast.

For more information on the Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship, click here.

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