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Wilmington, Ohio – Winter Classic 4 of the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series kicked off the new year at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington from Wednesday, January 4 to Sunday, January 7. Nicole Loochtan had a banner week, winning both the $10,000 Welcome Stake and the $30,000 Grand Prix. Jessica Lobmiller captured the victory in the $10,000 Futures Prix. Anna Schierholz impressed in the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby, while Alisa Berry won the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby.
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Loochtan returned to her winning ways on Saturday evening with It’s Me Du Bosquetiau (Dayton Sitte x Mirette Du Bosquetiau) for the $30,000 Grand Prix as the only double clear effort.
“The track was a little bit windy today. Usually, my horse drifts hard to the right, but today he stayed really straight. I thought it was a super course with just the right amount of technicality,” said Loochtan. “I wanted to play it safe in the jump-off. My horse is super careful, so chances are if I ride him correctly, he will give me a clear round. I thought it was better to be safe than sorry this time around!”
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In their first $10,000 Futures Prix together, Jessica Lobmiller and her own Frere D’arme (Quick Star x Quamtchatka) rode to the top of the podium.
“This is my first futures win ever! I had another horse that I have done this class on, but it is my first time with ‘Frere.’ We did really well here in December and were champion in Low Amateur Jumpers. I said my next goal was to win the Futures Prix, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon!”
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Schierholz headlined derby Friday as she took the win in the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby aboard Sloane Silberman’s Star Struck (Bisquet Balou VD Mispelaere x Espoir D’api).
The first-round track suited Schierholz’s style, “I really liked that there were a lot of options and some places to go forward. I love to gallop so I was happy to see an indoor course that had so many options to open up. It is always great here at WEC. The jumps are always amazing.”
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Berry returned to WEC – Wilmington right where she left off with her own On Point (Cola Zero x Lolita) to claim their second win of the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby sponsored by Premier Equestrian.
“This course was different today, but it rode really nicely. I thought he was great. He was a little bit star struck with the first jump going away, but he stayed with me and was really good. A year ago, I don’t know that he would have handled that quite as well, but he is really growing up. The turn from three to four was surprisingly tight, so I held him out to get the lead change and got straight for the two-stride and it was all good.”
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Loochtan began the week with a win in the $10,000 Welcome Stake aboard her 10-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion.
“The last couple of months have looked very different for me! I fractured my shoulder in October in a fall,” said Loochtan. “I had to take 10 weeks off and I have only been riding for about two weeks now. I sent my horses to Florida so that they could stay fit. They came back, I rode for two weeks and jumped two 1.30m jumps at home and decided I was ready! My horses are just amazing.”
Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!
Results can be found at wec.net.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.