Ocala, FL – Eighty-four horse-and-rider combinations rode into Hunter 1 for the sixth Hunter Derby Friday of the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series, vying for top honors in three feature classes: the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3′ Open Hunter Derby and the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Course designer Lynn Mullins set windy and exciting tracks that allowed room for riders to be creative as they planned their paths around the arena.
Adriana Forte rode a new partner, Heritage Farm’s six-year-old Oldenburg gelding Chadanos (Chacfly PS x Diana), to success in his hunter debut, scoring big to win the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby. The young rider is visiting Ocala for the WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship on Saturday night, but she made a detour to the hunter ring to try Chadanos’ luck in a derby first.
The gelding quickly found his stride in this new terrain, earning a score of 88 in the first course. “Down the bending line, I saw everyone doing nine or 10. I wasn’t sure that would work for my horse, since he’s so big, so he easily walked down the eight,” Forte shared how she navigated the first track. “The jumps were beautiful, and the course fit him really well.”
The pair sat in third place after the first round, but Forte knew that the handy would be where they could really shine. “I think the handy is almost easier for me, since I do the equitation so much, and Chadanos has done more equitation than hunter classes. I rode it like I would an equitation course: smooth and keeping the same rhythm around the ring. He walked around like a pro and made it look effortless.”
Their stunning performance earned the horse-and-rider team a commendable score of 95. The combined total score of 183 was good enough to move them into first place, marking a very successful day for Forte and Chadanos during the rider’s first trip to WEC – Ocala.
$20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results
Samantha Schaefer Pilots Iggy Pop to First in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
The foggy morning kicked off with 24 horse-and-rider combinations contesting for the blue in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby. Amidst the fierce competition, Samantha Schaefer and Mary Landin’s Iggy Pop stole the spotlight, earning the chance to lead the victory gallop.
The eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (I’m Special De Muze x Candice Bois Margot) is a borrowed ride for Schaefer, who is continuing to help develop the promising young horse alongside trainer Kim Hopkins this winter while Landin prepares for an exciting new chapter in her life. “I got to show him last year in the 3’3” Performance, and his mom was doing the adults and moving to the amateurs with him. Now, she’s expecting a baby. It’s been great that she’s allowed us to develop him and bring him down here to keep him going, so when she’s back, he’ll be ready to go.”
Schaefer and Iggy Pop stepped into the arena second in the order for the first round. Despite going early, the pair navigated the track with ease and were awarded a score of 91 from the judges, landing them in second place.
For the handy, Schaefer was able to get a feel for the course on her other mount, All Inklusive, who managed to jump from eleventh to fourth place after executing a tidy inside track in the handy. The experience gave her confidence in the course’s tighter turns, should Iggy Pop be ready for the challenge. “Actually, the plan Kim and I discussed didn’t include those last two inside turns, but he was going so well! On Thursday, Kim said, ‘We wanna win; we don’t wanna be second.’ We did this inside turn to the double, and I was thinking that as I was going to the straw.”
With her eye on the prize, Schaefer decided to take the risk, which paid off and earned an impressive score of 94 from the judges. Ending on a two-round total of 185, the pair was unbeatable and galloped home with the top prize.
$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results
Katalena Prusso and Viscolano Secure Sweet Victory in the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
In the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, it was Katalena Prusso and Falcon Ridge Stables’ Viscolano who bested the large field of 45 horse-and-rider combinations to take home the win on Friday afternoon.
Prusso and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding flowed around the first-round course effortlessly. “The last line ended by the in-gate, and he thought he was done,” Prusso laughed. “But he saw his next jump, and he jumped it amazing.” The judges awarded the pair a score of 91, earning them the top spot going into the handy round.
Coming back for the handy, “The course seemed technical but fun. I just wanted to have a consistent round, honestly. I wasn’t expecting or looking for anything. I wanted to have fun and ride my horse. This was his first win in this derby, so it’s awesome.” The pair navigated the inside track with ease, executing a bold turn from jump seven to jump eight that few attempted. A score of 92 in the handy secured their victory with a two-round total of 183.
Prusso and her family imported Viscolano as a green seven-year-old, and she has played a major role in bringing him up through the levels. Friday’s win marked his first derby victory and a meaningful milestone for their partnership. “I just think he’s stunning,” Prusso said. “He makes me feel so confident. He makes me feel powerful; his jump is so powerful.”
$15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results
Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
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