Sarah Robertson & D’esparges Come Out on Top in the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby

Wilmington, Ohio – The $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby was the highlight event Friday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Winter Classic 9. Fifteen competitive horse-and-rider combinations met to vie for the win, but it was Sarah Robertson and Marlene Weber’s D’esparges (Diarado x B-elli Spirel) that came out on top.

Joe Carnicom designed the flowing track in the R+L Arena that allowed riders to show off their horses scope and stride.

“I thought it was a really nice track that gave us a lot of different options,” Roberston noted about Joe Carnicom’s track. “I had the plan of looking ahead and seeing what turns I could make. I haven’t done a derby on him in a while, so we were just getting back into the swing of things. He was right there with me the whole time and took every turn I asked for. He was fabulous.”

Robertson shared more about her partnership with D’esparges, “This is our fifth year together. We started din the 3’3″ Performance. I took him all the way to the 3’9″ Greens. He has been my derby partner for a while. I am super blessed because his rider went off to college and they have kept him in the barn. I am just incredibly lucky that they continue to let me show him!”

Robertson guided the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding to a first-round score of 88, putting them in second place returning for the handy.

The duo impressed the panel of judges to earn the highest score of Hunter Derby Friday of 91.

A 179 overall score soared into top spot.

“WEC has been huge for him. When he came to me, he got really up in the show ring. We made a big priority to get him here with me every time I showed and now he is a totally different. horse. He has really settled in and just goes in the ring, takes a breath and jumps his best every time,” Robertson discussed how D’esparges has developed at WEC – Wilmington.

Jessica Gulden & Rion Best the $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby

Jessica Gulden made her first trip to WEC – Wilmington one to remember as she bested the field in the $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby of Winter Classic 9.

Aboard Chris Wynne’s Rion (Viscount x Cecillia), Gulden found herself in the middle of the pack in the first round with a score of 84.

Gulden shared about the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, “Rion is such a special horse, he is so talented and it has been a great year riding him.”

Returning sitting in third place, Gulden made every handy available and opted for each high option, impressing the judges for a second-round score of 86.

“The course was different than a typical derby course,” she shared about Carnicom’s track. “I liked it and I tried to ride forward everywhere. I thought he stayed the same so nicely and carried a good rhythm. I just wanted to have a solid handy round and ride the best I could ride. I did all the high options, and it ended up being really smooth.”

A two-round total of 170 was enough to clinch the win.

“I love it here,” Gulden laughed. “It is so nice to be inside, and the show is run so well. The building is amazing, the rings are great and I am so happy to be here.”

Hunter Derby Friday Results

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. 

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