Ocala, FL – The final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2023 show season took over Hunter 1 with nearly 70 entries in the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Dean Rheinheimer built the natural tracks that allowed riders to show off their horse’s scope and brilliance.
Josh Dolan earned superior scores with Meg Robinson’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Something Blue (Carambole x Special BP) in the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby.
This was the first show back for Something Blue after a very successful Derby Finals in August. “This is his first show back since Derby Finals. I was really happy with him. Our original plan was to save him for circuit, but it was a light week, so we decided to pull him out and it was a great decision.”
The pair received a high score of 90 in the first round and returned to the handy sitting on top. “I asked my team before I went in if I should jump the high options because I had a good lead, and they were like, ‘what’s wrong with you, of course jump the high options,’ laughed Dolan.
“So, my plan was to be smooth and not mess anything up. I wanted to show him off over the third jump, and then reel him back for the hedge wall. My plan to the last double was to land right after the combination and cruise up the bending in an eight to leave out a stride. He did it easily.”
The judges were wowed by the pair’s stellar handy performance and rewarded them with a score of 94 for an overall score of 184.
Dolan is looking forward to a spectacular winter circuit ahead and all the exciting developments to come in the future, “It’s the best venue in the world. I am really looking forward to the new Event Center with some new restaurants. I live right across the street, so to have this place right next door is unbelievable.”
$12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Something Blue, Josh Dolan, Meg Robinson: 90 | 94 | 184
2 Gangster, Kenna Labeau, Beth Lebeau: 87 | 89 | 176
3 Story Hour, Hunter Holloway, Double E, LLC: 79 | 85.5 | 164.5
4 Small Safari, Augusta Iwasaki, Iwasaki & Reilly: 78 | 82 | 160
5 Diatendro, Kelley Corrigan, Kelley Corrigan: 67 | 85 | 152
6 Oh Hello, Jake Evans, Make A Splash, LLC: 80 | 71 | 151
7 Comme CA MCM Z, Elizabeth Siadous, Kristin Murphy: 72 | 72 | 144
8 Igor, Brooke Cudmore, Brooke Cudmore: 67.5 | 75.5 | 143
9 Jagerbomb, Kendall Dean, Double E, LLC: 50 | 86 | 136
10 Radioland, Sara Sprague, Judith Sprague: 68 | 66 | 134
Jennifer Jones and Lincoln Capture the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Win
In the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, Jennifer Jones and Lincoln (Navajo V’ant Vianahof x Cartagena Indias Ecaussinnes) set themselves at the top of the leaderboard early in the competition.
Jones navigated a beautiful first round jumping all four high options, earning a score of 93. Jones was thrilled with the six-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Elle Gibbs, “Lincoln walked into the arena for the first time and did not even bat an eye. He is a really fun horse to ride; he is brave, quiet, and has a lot of jump.”
Jones and Lincoln were the last pair to return for the handy. The duo delivered a beautiful, rhythmic round and opted to jump all four high options to secure a score of 94 for an overall score of 187.
Jones believed the handy track suited Lincoln’s talents, “I thought Lincoln jumped amazing over the first three jumps. After that, I felt like all I needed to do was jump a nice, consistent round and he did exactly that.”
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Lincoln, Jennifer Jones, Elle Gibbs: 93 | 94 | 187
2 Aladdin, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller, LLC: 88 | 82 | 170
3 Cupido ZG Z, Megan Wexler, Catherine Merrill: 80 | 88 | 168
4 Evelien, Brooke Cudmore, Kathleen Rose: 82 | 85.50 | 167.5
5 Casino Beau, Stacey Reser, Claudia Sarnoff: 89 | 76 | 165
6 Debonair, Jennifer Tate, Barbara Kravetz: 77 | 86 | 163
7 Mr.Wonderful, Nashea Powell, Janice Pauley: 79 | 81 | 160
8 Mr. Untouchable, Hunter Holloway, Cane Creek LLC: 79.5 | 79 | 158.5
9 Montana, Carolyn Bell, Beluga LLC: 69 | 88 | 155
10 Mai Star, Megan Young, Jane Baysore: 64 | 80 | 144
Augusta Iwasaki and Small Love Take Top Honors in the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
The crowd saw a total of thirty-two riders try their hand at securing the blue ribbon in the last Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby of the year. After many elegant trips, it was Augusta Iwasaki and Small Love (Chacco Blue x Wisilvia) that took home the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby victory.
Small Love, owned by Chris Iwasaki and Liz Reilly, emerged as the winner with high scores of 92 in the first round and a 90 in the second for an overall total of 182.
Iwasaki and the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare have been partners for quite some time, “I have been riding ‘Honey’ [Small Love] for about two years, and she is so special. Whenever we step into the ring, she continues to amaze me and really enjoys her job which I love.”
The courses set today allowed Iwasaki to show off her horse’s natural talent, “The open ring and a course like this really suits her. It gives me the opportunity to show off her spectacular jump. It is really nice to have the opportunity to gallop around and enjoy the course.”
$10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Small Love, Augusta Iwasaki, Iwaski and Reilly: 92 | 90 | 182
2 Remember Romance, Taylor Matalon, Matalon Equestrian LLC: 90 | 91 | 181
3 Forget Me Not, Veronica Feeley, Veronica Feeley: 88 | 86.5 | 174.5
4 Semi-Automatic C, Taylor Matalon, Matalon Equestrian LLC: 84 | 89 | 173
5 Debonair, Veronica Feeley, Kathleen Feeley: 85 | 86 | 171
6 Camelot, Katalena Prusso, Judy Kerr: 86 | 83 | 169
7 Stakko Air Zwei, Fiona Sutton, Fiona Sutton: 78 | 87 |165
8 Talk, Schuyler Dayner, Donald Stewart: 80 | 84 |164
9 Gandalf, Grace McReynolds, Crooked Willow Farms: 78.5 | 85 | 163.5
10 Definitely, Ella Hudson, Ella Hudson: 81 | 80 | 161
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
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