Katherine Addington & No Doubt Van Het Vlierhof Come Out on Top in the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby

Ocala, FL – A sunny Florida afternoon set the scene for Hunter Derby Friday during Week IV of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Course designer Lynn Mullins crafted winding tracks in Hunter 1 for three competitive derbies, including the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, and the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby. Nearly 80 horse-and-rider combinations competed throughout the day, with scores reaching well into the high 90s.

The $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby highlighted Friday’s competition as Katherine Addington claimed the victory aboard No Doubt Van Het Vlierhof. 

Addington has been developing the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding as a hunter for several years now. “I got him in November of 2024, and he was a jumper, so I kind of started his hunter career,” Addington said. “I’ve done my biggest classes ever on him, and we did Derby Finals this past year. He’s such a good boy.”

In the first round, Addington and No Doubt Van Het Vlierhof navigated an inviting yet technical track that required precision through the middle of the ring. The pair delivered a smooth trip to earn a score of 86, placing them third heading into the handy round. 

“A lot of the jumps were in the middle of the ring, so you really had to be on it with where you wanted to turn and make sure the horses were looking where they were going,” she explained.

Returning for the handy round, Addington focused on maintaining rhythm while showcasing the gelding’s rideability and handiness. Trusting her partner, she produced another polished effort, earning an 88 for a two-round total of 174 and the win.

“He’s such an easy, good horse, so I knew I could trust him,” Addington said. “The plan was just to have fun, stay in rhythm, and be as handy as I could.”

$20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results 

Samantha Schaefer & Stateside Succeed in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby

A competitive field of professionals gathered in Hunter 1 to contest the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby. In the end, Samantha Schaefer impressed the judges with a standout handy round aboard Stacy Sanderson’s Stateside (Van Gogh x Ambitious) to claim the win.

Schaefer and the coming nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding delivered a fluid first round to earn a score of 88. Schaefer reflected on the horse’s development, saying, “Stateside and I have been together for almost two years now. Stacy Sanderson purchased him for me to ride in May of 2024. He was previously a young jumper with Lauren Hough and the Beerbaums, so he has plenty of scope to do these derbies.”

She continued, “We took our time. I did a year and a half in the 3’ and 3’3” Greens, then showed him in the Incentive and Capital Challenge last year. Now he’s competing in the 3’6” Greens, and soon we’ll step into the 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derbies. For now, he’s just learning the handies and how to do the trot jumps.”

Sitting just off the lead heading into the handy, Schaefer embraced the pressure. “I think it’s great to win the first round, but I almost prefer being in the position I was in today,” she laughed. “If I’m forced to go for it in the handy, it normally pays off better for me.”

Schaefer delivered a textbook handy round, taking calculated risks and executing tidy turns to earn a high score of 98. Her two-round total of 186 secured the victory.

Looking ahead to the upcoming World Championship Hunter Rider week at WEC – Ocala, Schaefer shared her excitement. “The addition of the Hunter Spectacular is huge. WEC deserves it. Each year they grow and make new additions and improvements,” she explained. “Having the hunters in the Stadium is always so fun, and it really makes it feel like a championship all week long.”

$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results

Elizabeth de Meric & PS Call Me Claim the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby

The $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby saw Elizabeth de Meric rise to the top aboard PS Call Me (Casall x Charleen), delivering two confident rounds to earn the win.

De Meric has been partnered with the 12-year-old Holsteiner mare, known around the barn as Tina, for just three months, yet the pair has already established a strong rhythm together as they continue through the Junior Hunter ranks.

“She’s just been the best for me,” de Meric said. “I started her in the 2’6”. She’s brought me through the equitation and the Greens, and now I’m doing the Juniors. She’s always so levelheaded and easy to work with. She doesn’t even need to lunge in the morning.”

In the classic round, de Meric and PS Call Me impressed the judges over a straightforward track to earn a standout score of 91.

“I loved how the course was designed,” she said. “It was really simple with all the singles, and that worked out well for us.”

Returning for the handy round, de Meric focused on keeping the trip tidy and uncomplicated, trusting her mare to stay consistent throughout the course. Their calm effort earned an 89, securing the win with a two-round total of 180.

$15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes! 

This event is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors and marketing partners, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.