Megan Wexler Pilots Rising Talent Gof Grey Goose to the Win in the $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Hunter Derby

Ocala, FL – Hunter Derby Friday returned to the WEC Stadium to kick off the first week of the 2025 November Show Series. Course designer Tom Hern set the flowing tracks for two highlight events: the $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Hunter Derby and the $7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby.

The $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Hunter Derby opened the day, welcoming 14 horse-and-rider combinations to compete in a hunt-and-go format. In this class type, competitors complete a classic round before seamlessly transitioning into the handy portion after fence six-a-b, where adjustability and precision are put to the test.

Megan Wexler impressed the judges aboard Golden Oaks Farm, LLC’s talented five-year-old Holsteiner gelding Gof Grey Goose (Crack x D’or), whose performance belied his age. The promising young horse delivered two stylish rounds to secure the win and gallop away with his second Derby victory.

Wexler enjoyed both the course and the format, sharing, “The course was so fun, I was excited it was a hunt and go. The hunt part was so smooth and open. It was nice to have an oxer-oxer combination, which was his first one, and he handled it like a pro.” After landing from the combination, the ‘go’ phase began, and Wexler kept it simple: “The jumps were a bit further apart, so I just fed him the reins and kept going to the next one.”

The judges awarded the pair an 87 in the ‘hunt’ portion and an 89 in the go portion for a combined score of 176, securing the top spot.

Gof Grey Goose is a relatively new partner for Wexler, but the pair has already found their rhythm in the Derby ring. “I imported ‘Goose’ in September. This is his third Derby. He was third in his first Derby and won his second in the indoor ring, which was actually his first time showing inside. He showed here in the Stadium on Wednesday, was first and third over fences, won the flat, and was champion. He just has the best brain and loves the hunters.”

$5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Hunter Derby Results

Alexandra Hird and Lord Carlino Emerge Victorious in the $7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby 

The $7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby concluded the day in the WEC Stadium, where Alexandra Hird rode Mad Maple Farm LLC’s Lord Carlino (Lord Z x R-Carlina) to his first hunter derby victory.

Hird reflected on her partnership with the 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding and the journey that led to this milestone. “I’ve had him for three years. My husband and I buy and sell horses, and we originally bought him when he was having some problems in the schooling ring. Luckily for me, he was one we couldn’t sell,” she laughed. “I originally bought him as a grand prix horse, and exactly this week last year, WEC only had the hunter derby going in the Stadium, and I love the Stadium, so I decided to try it with him. Our first derby was a little messy, but each time we do it, it gets better. We’ve been at it for a year now and finally got our first win today!”

Lord Carlino flowed effortlessly around the track, taking all four high options and navigating each line with ease. Scores of 80 in the first round and 81 in the ‘go’ portion gave the pair a combined total of 161 to secure the win.

Hird praised her talented partner, sharing, “He has a heart of gold. When I bought him, I didn’t have many expectations. He had been doing some big classes in Europe before coming to the States, and now he’s really found his stride in the hunters. We plan to go under the lights this winter. He likes what he does, and he’s truly becoming a great derby horse.”

She also spoke highly of the venue, adding, “I love WEC. Each ring has its own special charm. The staff and management are great; [Horse Show Manager] Jon Garner and [Director of Equine Operations] Tom Hern do such a fabulous job, and the course designers and judges are fantastic. It’s just a wonderful place to show, and we actually moved to Ocala so we could show here full time.”

$7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results