LAS VEGAS – Three new green hunter champions were crowned on November 12, 2025, at the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships, held at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. Fresh off Tuesday’s $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby win, John French and Valentino BF captured the Grand Green Hunter title as riders across all green hunter classes competed for a total of $17,000 in prize money.
Sarah Moberg and Trouvaille claimed the title of champion of the 3’ Green Hunters, and they were awarded the 3’ Green Hunter Division Perpetual Trophy. Together, Moberg and Trouvaille placed first in the $500 3’ Green Hunter Welcome and second in the $1,000 3’ Green Hunter Stake.
John French and Valentino BF. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Owned by Isabel Dyckerhoff, Trouvaille has been learning the ropes in the 3’ division since he came under Moberg’s purview last year. “We imported him about a year ago, and he has just been learning how to do the 3’ classes. He’s really grown this year,” Moberg said. “We’re super proud of him, and he stepped up to the 3’3” Juniors with [Dyckerhoff], too. He’s doing a really great job.”
Moberg describes the 7-year-old Belgian Warmblood as a trustworthy partner at the atmospheric South Point Arena. “He is so brave,” she said. “A lot of horses are spooky in indoor venues, and he’s just so brave. I know I can always trust him to take me to the other side.”
Kari Swainston and Outspoken, owned by Outreach Backstage Pass recipient Stacy Nelles, went home with the reserve champion ribbon.
It was no surprise when John French and Branscomb Farms LLC’s Valentino BF were crowned champions in the USHJA 3’3″ Green Hunters, earning them the Green Hunter 3’3″ Division Puissance R’ Trophy, donated by Steve and Lisa Hankin. The pair earned two wins and two second-place finishes in the division to ultimately also clinch the Grand Green Hunter title. A score of 90 in the stake class also earned them the co-High Score Green Hunter award.
John French and Valentino BF. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
“I’ve never ridden the horse before [Monday],” French said. “KC Branscomb called me. Jill Humphrey—who normally rides Valentino— had an injury and asked if I would come. I was a little bit skeptical because he is 5 years old, and he is a stallion. I used to do a lot of catch riding before I moved back to the East Coast. So, I have a lot of experience with that, but lately, I’ve just been riding the horses that I know. So it’s a little bit new again for me to just hop on something and go to a big event, a championship show like this.”
Lynn Olson’s In The End collected the reserve champion ribbon for the division with Mia Campf in the irons.
Molly Graham piloted Olivia Aul’s Cheers! to the USHJA 3’6”/3’9” Green Hunter Championship after earning two wins and a second place over fences in the division. Cheers! and Graham also tied with French for the High Score Green Hunter award with a 90 in the handy.
“I couldn’t be happier,” said Graham. “It’s everything I could have wished for and more. Norm is my heart horse. I’ve worked really hard, and I’m just so proud of how far he’s come. He’ll have a break now, and then he’ll do the junior hunters with his owner, Olivia Aul, and this is actually her last horse show as a junior too. It’s his last green year and her last junior year, so it’s a really special moment for all of us.”
Bailey Fuller took home the title of reserve champion with Steve Weder’s SWS Cora—the pair also won the $1,000 Green Hunter Incentive 3’6″/3’9″ Stake.
Live streaming coverage of all 2025 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championship classes is available on USEF Network, and complete results and schedules are available on ShowGroundsLive.
For more information about the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships, and to learn more about all competitions hosted by Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.