Crete, Ill.—July 20, 2019—Hunter competitors enjoyed team comradery and sport as the jog and initial events for the USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, got underway at Balmoral Park during HITS Chicago Summertime III series. 

The first day of team competition consists of three phases: an under saddle and two classic hunter-style rounds. Each team had an assigned color, signified by a colored armband. Each phase was placed and awarded individually, and the teams with the highest overall scores were crowned Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists. Special thanks to Zone 5 Chef d'Equipe Ryan Sassmannshausen and Zone 6 Chef d'Equipe Janine Weatherby for leading the 2019 teams.

Olivia Barkell/ Plymouth, Mich. / Skyfall / Zone 5

Natalie Bertoglio / South Barrington, Ill. / Cracker Jack Z / Zone 5

Elizabeth Klein / Simpsonville, Ky. / Exclusive / Zone 5

Brooke Tegtmeyer / Bartlett, Ill. / Blue / Zone 5

Lily Forney / Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Atlas Peak / Zone 5

Carly Haimerl / Powell, Ohio / Euphoric / Zone 5

Dayna Pochron / Westland, Mich. / O’Rion / Zone 5

Grace Griffin / Wayzata, Minn. / Forest / Zone 6

Chloe Rogers / Omaha, Neb. / Miss Magoo / Zone 6

Hannah Reed / Pleasant Valley, Iowa / Fischer / Zone 6

Elizabeth Klein on the team competition: It was so much fun having a team and getting to know people because in the hunters you’re always against each other and now we got to come together and have so much fun.

 

Natalie Bertoglio shared feelings on winning with her team: I thought it was such an amazing experience, especially to be with a team, and I love the fact that they do this with the hunters and that we get to cheer each other on.

Sierra Osborne / Lincoln, Neb. / Double Clear’s Flat Sexy / Zone 6

Lindsay Vail / White Bear Lake, Minn. / Gatsby / Zone 6

Dr. Sharon Golden / Plymouth, Minn. / Cordiarado / Zone 6

Ashley Abruzzi / Novi, Mich. / Finesse / Zone 5

Maeve O’Sullivan / Chicago, Ill. / Rigoletto / Zone 5

Jessica Bertoglio / South Barrington, Ill. / Ivan / Zone 5

Leea Bridgeman / Prospect, Ky. / Carlotta / Zone 5

Donna Struve / Lake Bluff, Ill/ / Sabrina / Zone 5

Jessica Ianello Brosche / Lake Forest, Ill. / Astaire / Zone 5

Dr. Sharon Golden expresses thoughts on the day riding Cordiarado: Today was challenging. This was a long course, so I was worried about a couple of things. I just had to really be sure I was supporting him the entire time I was riding him. He was brave out there and it was really fun.

 

Lindsay Vail enjoyed the team spirit: For the hunters, we never get the opportunity to do team events, so it’s really fun. It was awesome, despite the heat. We rallied with each other to bring each other up. The team atmosphere is amazing when you have people cheering you on. It’s great to see more and more people doing this each year. Showplace and HITS does an excellent job of making it special and fun.

 

Chef d’Equipe Janine Weatherby beamed about her teams: I’m so glad the teams worked for each other and they rooted each other on. The scores were really even, there were great courses and it was really fun.

For the mother-daughter duo of Jessica and Natalie Bertoglio, showing together is a regular pasttime, but today, the competition had a fresh feel for the pair. Last year, Jessica won the adult hunter individual overall championship aboard Anne Donovan’s Holsteiner, Cullen. This year, her daughter is joining in on the team action for the first time.

“I don’t get nervous riding, but I get nervous watching her,” Jessica said, giggling with her daughter.  

“This is the first time we’ve done it together,” Natalie declared. “We’re not directly competing against each other or on the same team, but it is cool that we’re doing the same type of classes and it is cool to ride with my mom.” 

By the end of the day, Natalie’s team took the gold in the Children’s Hunter and her mother’s team earned the silver. 

All riders received polo shirts and tote bags from the Championships' presenting sponsor SmartPak. Medals and ribbons were awarded to the top three teams and the gold medal team receiving embroidered coolers.

The horse-and-rider combinations will go on to compete in the Individual Championship Sunday. The Individual Championship also consists of three phases, including an under saddle, a classic hunter derby-style course and a handy hunter course. Each phase will be placed and awarded individually and the horse-and-rider combination with the highest overall score from all three phases will be crowned Individual Champion.

The USHJA extends special thanks to Patrick Boyle and the HITS Chicago team. Boyle has been an advocate of the USHJA Zone Hunter and Jumper Team and Individual Championships since its inception. The USHJA also thanks presenting sponsor SmartPak for their generosity and support of the sport.

Presenting sponsor of the Championships SmartPak Equine was founded by riders and horse owners for riders and horse owners in 1999 with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements to horses. Their patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. In addition to the SmartPak supplement system, they offer a broad line of horse health, show apparel, tack, and canine supplies sold online and through their catalogs. More information is available at www.smartpakequine.com.