By Kathleen Landwehr

Lexington, KY – The top young horses from across the country displayed their qualities in hopes of claiming a title at the 2013 Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship. Judges Sharon Stewart-Wells of Ruidoso, NM and Deborah Sands of Encinitas, CA traveled to both coasts to assess the entrants. The Championship began on August 28 at the Showpark All Seasons Summer Tournament in Del Mar, CA, then moved east on August 31 to the historic Warrenton Horse Show in Warrenton, VA.

For the sixth time in the Championship’s two-phase history, the East Coast’s Champion Best Young Horse won the Overall Grand Champion title. Rainier (Eloquence x Countess Sabrina/Private Account), owned by Cismont Manor Farm and Meridian Partners and handled by Richard M. Taylor, claimed top honors in the 2013 Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship, receiving the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy.

On the West Coast, the fillies dominated in competition for the regional young horse titles. The Champion Best Young Horse – West honors went to Good Luck (More Than Luck x Molly Malone/Gragenit), owned by Tish Quirk and handled by Carleton Brooks. The two-year-old Dutch Warmblood filly won her Two-Year-Old Filly as well as the KWPN of North America breed registry award.

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