The Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships, hosted by Desert International Horse Park in Las Vegas, NV, from November 9-15, continued on Thursday with national titles awarded across Equitation and Jumper divisions. Young Canadian rider Dane Anson led the day’s top performances, earning Overall Leading Equitation Rider honors after capturing the USHJA Equitation 15-17 Championship.
Overall Leading Equitation Rider
Returning to the Equitation at the National Championships in a new age group, Dane Anson of Nanaimo, British Columbia, made an impressive mark in the 15-17 section, capturing the USHJA Equitation 15-17 Championship title aboard his own Celestino. The Canadian topped the Flat and one Over Fences class, while also earning second in another Over Fences class. For his efforts, Anson was named the Overall Leading Equitation Rider and presented with the Overall Top Equitation Rider Perpetual Trophy, donated by Showplace Productions and Patrick and Nicole Boyle.
“I’m really excited about that,” Anson said of his win. “This is the perfect way to end the long eight weeks of indoors, and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Riding with Catherine Cruger of Hobe Sound, Florida, Anson entered the competition following a successful 2025 season, during which the pair won the USHJA Gladstone Equitation Cup Classic – West and earned reserve champion honors in the USHJA Equitation 14 and Under Championship in Las Vegas. This year’s championship marked yet another milestone in Anson’s partnership with Celestino, affectionately known as “Tino” in the barn. Now eight years old, Celestino has been Anson’s partner for nearly two years, during which the pair have developed together through many of Anson’s first major Equitation accomplishments.
“I basically started the Equitation on him, so all my first Equitation achievements and accomplishments so far have been with him, and it’s also been his first time doing all that,” Anson said. “It’s been a special two years together. I’m very proud of all the hard work we’ve put in with him, how much he’s excelled, and how far he’s come.”
He added, “I’ve ridden a lot of different types of horses, and I think I’ve gotten pretty good at adapting to whatever horse I’m on and making sure that I can give them a confident and correct ride,” Anson continued of his success. “No matter what horse I’m on, I have the background and the skill set to produce good rounds that are great for the horse, and I think that’s what makes me a good Equitation rider.”
~ with files from USHJA
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