First Overall Champions Crowned at USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships
The first two overall champions of the 2026 USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships – West, presented by Frank & Eileen, were crowned on Thursday, October 29, during National Sunshine Series 1 at Desert International Horse Park.
By the conclusion of the championships on Friday, four new overall champions will have been named across the 2’6”, 3’, 3’3” and 3’6” divisions. Taking home the first of those overall titles were Melissa Sklenar and Poptart in the 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters and Maya Varga and Watermark in the 3’ Adult Amateur Hunters.
“This went way better than I thought it was going to, to be honest with you! This I could not have imagined in a million years,” said Sklenar.
Before earning the overall 3’6” championship, Sklenar piloted Poptart to two second-place finishes, and ultimately the division championship, in the 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters 36 & Over.
“I did my first round and thought it went pretty well. I was second; I was obviously thrilled with that,” said Sklenar, who hails from Stevenson Ranch, California. “I did my handy round and got some of the best scores I’ve ever had and literally burst into tears. That was super, super exciting. He was perfect for the under saddle, and when I heard that I’d won the overall 36 and over, I was floored. Then, for the overall, again, the tears started streaming. I am over the moon now, and it was so unexpected.”
Sklenar, who trains with Michelle Morris, just purchased Poptart earlier this year, but she and the 8-year-old Selle Français gelding meshed quickly, moving up to the 3’6” just a few months ago.
