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.
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!”
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!”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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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.