Last Updated on February 14, 2026 by adminahb
Nick Haness & Styled. Photo ©Sportfot
Wellington, Fla. – February 12, 2026 — A champion ribbon for Nick Haness of Temecula, CA and Styled highlighted Thursday of World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week during the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). In a California split Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’6” Green Hunter division, Haness and Styled were joined by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL and Cadet to accept division tricolors.
WCHR Week at Wellington International comes to a peak during Saturday Night Lights for the $150,000 Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular in the International Arena.
Styled, a 10-year-old gelding by Dutch Capitol, was first and second over fences to take the Section B top honor. Stewart and Cadet, a 7-year-old Untouchable gelding owned by Stephanie Danhakl, were champions of Section A with scores over fences of 88, 87.5 and 85.
Less than a year ago, Styled — owned by junior rider Caroline Freeman — made his debut in the show ring with Nick Haness and has been climbing the ladder ever since, proving that the hunter ring is where he belongs.
“We always knew that bigger was better for this horse, and now he’s a first-year horse doing the 3’6” greens,” said Haness, who posted the high score of the day with a 91 on Styled. The duo was also champion of the 3’6” Green Hunter division while gaining momentum for WCHR Week during WEF 5.
Geoffrey Hesslink and Paisley Park Pocket 3’6″ Performance Hunter Championship
Geoffrey Hesslink of Shelbourne, VT and Paisley Park swept opening day of the 3’6” Performance Hunter division with scores of 87 and 92 to take champion in the California-split division on Thursday of WCHR Week.
Sharing the top tricolor over two sections, Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL also accepted champion honors riding 11-year-old Diarado’s Boy son Dicoblue PS, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram. They won twice and finished second over fences with the high score of the division on a 95.
“We shape our whole show plan specifically around this week,” said Hesslink, who is now focused on Saturday night’s $150,000 Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular with Paisley Park. “I’ve been building my horses up to peak this week — we don’t get that many rounds in a setting like this, so it’s really amazing and a great experience to get out there.”
Of Wednesday’s winning rounds with his 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Tracy Treace, Hesslink said, “He was amazing — he always thrives in the handy round, and it was pretty technical, but he rose to the occasion and was rewarded for it with a 92.
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