THERMAL, Calif. – Twenty-one athletes from Zones 8, 9 and 10 took to Desert International Horse Park’s National Sunshine Series 1 for the Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships – West, held October 30–November 2. Riders contested a combined 1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m section for both team and individual honors.
Taking home the individual gold medal was Kelsey Maloney her own Diablue. Maloney and the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding were the only combination to jump clear through all three rounds of Platinum Jumper Championship competition.
“It’s a great class, and I’m happy we could all come out,” said Maloney. I like that it emulates those bigger championships where consistent, clear rounds every day is kind of the target. Having day one be a speed kind of sets the tone for everything and is definitely more challenging!”
In the team championship, the results were as follows:
1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m Team
GOLD: Bold Minstrel
Niki Macleod | Odin B 4 | Zone 10
Jamie Barge | La Biosthetique | Zone 10
Sierra Geisler | Hatari | Zone 10
SILVER: Sapphire
Jayme Omand | Gema de Caryan | Zone 10
Claire Archer | My Diamant PD Z | Zone 10
Maggie Kehring | Cerafina | Zone 10
BRONZE: Calypso
Julia Greenspan | Caruso Z | Zone 10
Ava Spinale | Chesterfield | Zone 10
Ashley Mozart Fey | PK Aluno | Zone 10
Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships Team Final
The Platinum Jumper Championships are part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program. The Program serves as the entry point for the Show Jumping Athlete Pathway, a joint USHJA-US Equestrian effort that identifies and nurtures jumping athletes as they advance through the sport to enhance future success for Olympic and international teams representing the United States.
The Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships are open to juniors, amateurs and professional riders at the 1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m levels. Participants are recognized as USHJA Platinum Jumper Riders, with individual medalists recognized as USHJA Show Jumping Platinum Athletes.
Individual medalists and their trainers will receive invitations to one USHJA Gold Star Clinic of their choice within two years, featuring four days of mounted and unmounted instruction from top clinicians and industry experts. The clinics rotate coasts annually, with the 2026 event to be held at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, from January 7-11 with instruction from Nicki Shahinian-Simpson.
For more information about the Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships Program, visit ushja.org/PlatinumJumper.