Wilmington, Ohio – The final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series took place in the R+L Arena Friday evening, adopting a new Hunt and Go format to close out the circuit. In the final $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 18, it was Hillary Johnson and Copper Fox LLC’s Elliot that captured the win.
The Hunt and Go format combined the classic hunter round and the handy round, with horse-and-rider combinations transitioning directly from the final jump of the first round to the handy portion.
Johnson was excited to make her first Hunt and Go debut, “This was my very first Hunt and Go. I have heard of it quite often, but I have never gotten to do one. Honestly, it was so fun! As big as the show is, it was nice to make our day a little shorter,” Johnson laughed. “I was happy with it. I thought it was fun and a nice change.”
The 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding is coming off a successful winter circuit at WEC – Ocala, where he also earned top derby placings.
“He was third a couple times in the derby in Ocala this winter. He will do the Adult Hunters on the weekend with his owner Kendall [Meijer]. He is a seasoned horse, but he is one that needs one trip in the ring before the weekend. Our first trip is usually the derby, and on days like today, it pays off!”
The seasoned duo mastered Michael Pegg’s (CAN) tracks, taking each handy effort available to them, “There weren’t a ton of options in the handy portion. I knew I could make the inside turn after the in-and-out. He is better off the left lead than the right, so that was nice for us. The inside turn back to the last jump was not our easier lead, but he did it really well.”
With an overall score of 173, Johnson claimed the win.
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Elliot, Hillary Johnson, Copper Fox LLC | 173
2 D’esparges, Sarah Robertson, Grace Weber | 170
3 Rule in Favor, Laura Kessler, Elizabeth Sanders | 169.75
4 Fineas, Jessica Jurkowitz, Clover Hill Farm | 167.5
5 Kingston Blue, Richard Rinehart, Claire Rockacy |167
6 No Secret, Catherine Rinehart, Donald Stewart |166.5
7 Cinda, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 160
8 Catching Fire, Erica Zirkelbach, Erica Zirkelbach | 159
9 Daily News, Spencer Turnblacer, Spencer Turnblacer | 158
10 Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 157
Milagros De Jong & Grandslam ES Earn First $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Win
Twenty-five horse-and-rider combinations met to try their hand at the Hunt and Go format of the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby to begin the final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series. The day proved special for junior rider Milagros De Jong of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as she earned her first hunter derby win with her own Grandslam ES (Grand Slam VDL x Hauptstutbuch Loni).
Thrilled about her win, De Jong commented, “I am so excited. I cried happy tears! I am so proud of him. This has been a big dream of mine since I first started showing at WEC in the 2’6 a few years ago.”
De Jong spoke about her partnership with her young hunter, “Toad [Grandslam ES] is seven this year. He came from Epic Sporthorses. I got him a little over a year ago when he was six. We started in the Low Children’s together and we have been competing in the 3’3 Juniors for the past year and went to Harrisburg. I am planning to move up to the 3’6 this show!”
Having brought along the seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding with the team at Blackburn Farm, De Jong expressed her gratitude for her support behind-the-scenes.
“First, I want to thank my mom and sister for supporting me. I am beyond thankful for them,” De Jong continued. “Cindy [McCullough] and Kelly [Jones Dervis] have both been everything to us in his development. They both ride him at home and have helped me bring him along. He always takes care of me even when I make big mistakes. He is the best horse ever. At first, we were teaching him, but now he teaches me more.”
Executing the first half of the track as a classic hunter round and the second half as a handy phase, De Jong and her ‘Toad’ impressed the judges with their style and consistency to earn their first derby win together with an overall score of 173.
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Results:
1 Grandslam ES, Milagros De Jong, October LLC | 173
2 Certainty, Nicole Lyvere, Nicole Lyvere | 170
3 Fairplay De Fremis, Katie Finley, Emily Ainslie | 169
4 McLovin, Abbie Stordant, Abbie Stordant | 165
5 Lugatti, Nicole Lyvere, Nicole Lyvere | 163.5
6 A La Grino, Katelyn Ziggas, Katelyn Ziggas | 158.2
7 High Five, Stephanie Gould, Stephanie Gould | 158
8 Conrad, Katelyn Jasky, Katelyn Jasky | 157
9 Fortune Favors, Gillian O’Connor | 156
10 Quality Street, Katie Finely, Katie Finley |154.2
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.