Lexington, KY – August 12, 2025 – The 2025 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship kicked off on Tuesday in the Rolex Stadium during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. The 3’6″/3’9″ Championships took center stage as 63 horses vied for the winning honors. After two rounds of competition, it was Nick Hanass and Odette who came out on top after earning three scores in the 90s during the championship round. Victoria Colvin followed in second place with Dicoblue PS, while Hunt Tosh and Navigator rounded out the top three.
“Odette is a really special horse,” expressed Haness after his win. “She knows the special events here in Kentucky for these Finals and rises to the occasion. There is nothing tricky about riding her; she’s a natural champion and a natural winner, so it’s just about staying out of her way and letting her go around the ring and do the best that she can.”
Competition kicked off on Tuesday morning with 63 combinations contesting Ken Krome’s and Meghan Rawlin’s Hunter First Round course where Haness and John and Stephanie Ingram LLC’s Odette rose to the top on a 273.50. Coming up from Milton, Georgia, and sitting close behind in second was Hunt Tosh on Ceil Wheeler’s Navigator with a score of 272. In third, on a 269.50, was Little Brook LLC’s Kaiden GPH, ridden by John French.
Hunt Tosh and Navigator
Judges Abby Blankenship, Lynn Forgione, Tammy Provost, Bobbie Reber, Mike Rosser, and Scott Williamson, saw the top 30 horses return for the Championship Round on a clean slate. Already having won the 3’/3’3” with Odette last year and coming into the Championship Round in the 3’6”/3’9” in the top spot, Haness knew Odette was a natural and to stay out of her way to let her shine.
“It’s pretty special to be her rider last year and this year,” reflected Haness on his wins. “This event is such a great event for the Hunter sport. It’s a great championship for the owners and young Hunters to climb the ranks and graduate from this class to go on to the Derby Championship one day. It’s a great program and an exciting time to be here for all of the prize money for owners and riders involved. It really takes a lot of teamwork to produce these moments and these championships. It’s always nice to have a fun time here in Kentucky.”
Colvin, of Loxahatchee, Florida, and Dicoblue PS created a 4.5 score improvement from the first round to the Championship Round to claim reserve champion honors on a score of 272. After only three shows together before this week, Tosh and Navigator ultimately claimed third place.
Victoria Colvin & Dicoblue PS
“He’s a very lovely horse,” Colvin said of Dicoblue PS. “I have been riding him for about two years now mainly in the derbies, but he has been great to me and has an amazing jump. It was a really nice course that flowed well. I really liked the second round, it was lovely.”
Tosh was also pleased with how the day turned out noting, “I’ve only shown Naviagtor three times, so he’s new to me. He was great in Michigan, and to come here and have a day like today – I was ecstatic with him. He jumped beautifully.”
Each year, the Green Hunter Incentive Championships offer additional recognition to riders through the Rider Ranking System, which categorizes riders into tiers based on their prior competition year earnings within the program. New in 2025, the system expanded to include a third tier, creating even more opportunities for lower-earning riders. Tier I riders are those ranked 1-45 on the list, while Tier II riders are ranked 46-100, and the new Tier III riders are 100 and below.
Tier II riders vied for an additional 20% of the total prize money, which came to $18,530, while Tier III riders competed for an additional 10%, totaling $9,265, based on First Round scores. Chelsea Brittner of Allyn, Washington, made her mark as a Tier III rider by topping both prize pools, earning $5,559 from Tier II and $2,779.50 from Tier III. Riding Dana Le’s Harriett X, Brittner also placed fourth overall with a score of 263.
Between rounds, additional awards were presented to competitors.
- Rider Style Award: Jef Lauwers
- $500 High Score Mare Award: Odette
- 2024 3’6″/3’9″ Series Leading Rider: Nick Haness with $32,257.53
The 2025 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship will continue on Wednesday with the 3’/3’3” Championship, where 170 horses are set to compete. The week continues with the 2025 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, which will get underway on Friday in the Rolex Stadium.
For more information about the Kentucky Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.