Wilmington, Ohio – The final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2025 Winter in the Midwest series concluded with a field of 15 horse-and-rider combinations in the $15,000 Hagyard USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of Winter Classic 17. Michael Pegg designed the flowing track that Melissa Donnelly mastered to claim the win aboard West Lake.
Her win with West Lake marked her second derby win in a row, “It is definitely a bonus in life,” Donnelly laughed. “It made it a lot of fun and it was great to have this one step up and have his biggest derby day yet on the final week.”
Donnelly was complimentary of Pegg’s track that gave riders opportunities to show off their mounts, “The track was very different then what we have seen all winter. There were more bending lines to start. The jumps are in very different places, and it rode beautifully. It was a lot of fun and offered a lot of options and choices to let the horses shine and step out.”
The 20-year-old Holsteiner gelding earned the highest first round score of 88, holding the lead throughout the entirety of the class.
“We have had him in the barn for a while, but he has not gotten to do a lot in the past. I have gotten to campaign him more since December and he has really developed a lot from a horse I never thought would be a derby horse, to a horse that has really stepped up and gotten really brave. He is a ton of fun and has become very reliable,” Donnelly shared about West Lake.
Returning for the handy in the lead, the duo impressed for a 94 and a winning two round total of 182.
$15,000 Hagyard USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 West Lake, Melissa Donnelly, Fawn Lake Farm LLC | 88 | 94 | 182
2 Apache 286, Erika Heintschel-Githens, Naytraders LLC | 84.5 | 89 | 173.5
3 Newport, Christopher Coberley, Lindsay Lyden | 84 | 89 | 173
4 Virgo, Erica Zirkelbach, Gracie Guenthner | 85 | 79 | 164
5 Silenzio Bruno, Holly Kalso, Madison Pape | 79 | 75 | 154
6 Wanderlust, Spencer Turnblacer, Lindsey Wrigley | 78 | 68.5 | 146.5
7 Jailhouse Jumper Omhg, Erin Hughes, Erin Hughes | 74 | 72 | 146
8 Cash That Czech, Sarah Meier, Lillia Downey | 67 | 75 | 142
9 Corallo J, Amy Ochoa, Leah Sousa | 69.5 | 71 | 140.5
10 Atlas, Tyler Brigham, Holly Retzleff | 82 | 54 | 136
Sweet Victory for Vanessa McCaughley in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby
Wilmington, Ohio – Twenty-eight junior and amateur riders met at the R+L Arena for the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby this afternoon to kick off the final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2025 Winter in the Midwest Series. Vanessa McCaughley ultimately took the top spot with a pair of scores into the 90s aboard her own Capitol Hill.
Though the pair has secured numerous wins together, it “is always so special to win with him,” McCaughley said. “I feel great. It was really fun to come home from college and come horse show. He was awesome and I have had him for a long time!”
The duo jumped to a score of 90 in the first round sitting in second place as they returned for the handy phase.
Despite the added technicality to the track, McCaughley “really liked it and thought it was a fun course.” “It was definitely a lot more technical than what we have seen all winter. It was very rideable and gave you some spots to show off your horse.”
A near perfect second round and all four high options earned the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding a 94 and a two-round total of 184 to take the win.
“I just wanted to have a smooth round. He can get kind of nervous in the handy, so I just wanted to keep him happy and quiet. He was really good. I was so proud of him and it was a great day!”
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Results:
1 Capitol Hill, Vanessa McCaughley, Vanessa McCaughley | 90 | 94 | 184
2 Fitzgerald, Emilie Smith, Emilie Smith | 92 | 91 | 183
3 Quinziano, Catherine Eberly, Catherine Eberly | 89 | 90 | 179
4 Red Roc, Kiera Phlipot, Kiera Phlipot | 76 | 86 | 162
5 Kingston Blue, Lauryn Patterson, Claire Rockacy | 78.5 | 78 | 156.5
6 Castle, Caroline Sordoni, Caroline Sordoni | 77 | 72 | 149
7 Talk, Elizabeth Rinehart, Donald Stewart | 74 | 74 | 148.5
8 Latoulong Z, Isabelle Kaufman, Isabelle Kaufman | 75 | 66 | 141
9 High Five, Stephanie Gould, Stephanie Gould | 86 | 45 | 131
10 Cosworth, Abaigeal Musser, Front Row Sport Horses LLC | 80 | 50 | 130
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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.