It was like déjà vu this year at the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship presented by Vita-Flex as Kenneth Wheeler, Sr., handled a colt that would become the overall champion. With last year’s win with Spanish Spear still in Wheeler’s memory, it was another of his two-year-olds that would capture the title again for his Cismont Manor Farm. This year's Best Young Horse in the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship-Eastern Phase and Overall Champion was Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill (Nob Hill x Pardon Me Mister, by Mr. Inspector) is an American Warmblood colt bred by Diana Dodge. This newly crowned USEF national champion also won the Hunter Breeding Two-Year-Old Colts/Geldings division. This year's Eastern Phase took place at the Warrenton Horse Show in Warrenton, VA, on September 2.

The Overall Reserve Champion was the Best Young Horse from the Western Phase. The Oldenburg gelding C'czar, owned by Helen McEvoy and handled by Hope Glynn, was also the winner in the Hunter Breeding Three-Year-Old Colts/Geldings division. C'czar (Alla' Czar x Bazalgreg, by Gregorian) was bred by South Point Farms. The Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship presented by Vita-Flex-Western Phase took place on August 29 at the Showpark All Seasons Summer Tournament in Del Mar, CA.

Reserve Best Young Horses were also named on each coast. On the East Coast, this included another Wheeler handled horse. Rio Rosita (Rio Grande x George Eliot, by Absolut), is a yearling Thoroughbred/Hanoverian-cross owned by Old Woodland Farms, Inc., and Harriot Faucette and bred by Mardie Faucette.

In the Western phase, the yearling Thoroughbred/Warmblood-cross filly WOW came in behind C’czar. WOW (Popeye K x Holy Cow, by Fire Jade) is owned and was bred by Leslie Nelson-Pinkerton, and was handled by Diane Yeager.

This was the third year that the officials judged the West Coast phase and then flew to Virginia to judge the East Coast phase. Categories judged include Yearling Colts/Geldings, Yearling Fillies, Two-year-old Colts/Geldings, Two-year-old Fillies, Three-year-old Colts/Geldings, and Three-year-old Fillies. Judges name a Best Young Horse and Reserve Best Young Horse in each of the two phases. At the conclusion of both events, judges selected the Overall Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Best Young Horse.

The Overall Grand Hunter Breeding Champion was awarded the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy, and the breeder was awarded the J. Arthur Reynolds Memorial Trophy.