Wilmington, Ohio – The $12,500 WEC 3’6” Hunter Derby was the main event Friday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Summer II. Exhibitors crowded the Main Hunter Ring to watch as Ava Barnes captured the win with Rivers Edge’s Valentino (Viscount x Raphael’s Girl).
The seasoned group of riders was no match for Barnes as she claimed the blue ribbon with a lead of 11 points.
Barnes spoke highly of her winning 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, “I have had him since October of 2023. He is an amazing horse. It took us a minute to click, but now that we have bonded, he is so easy. He is the sweetest horse in the stall. He loves cuddles, treats, and he loves his job. He is my equitation horse that just does some derbies on the side. He is the best.”
Barnes laughed, “I have the best team,” as she was celebrated at the ingate by the team at New Hope LLC.
“I have been with New Hope for six years now and they are like a second family to me. I love them so much. They give everything that they can to make sure I go into the ring confidently.”
The junior rider earned a score of 82 in the first round to return for the handy sitting in second place. Impressing with their second round, the duo earned an 89 for a winning overall score of 171.
“He was a little fresh today, so I wanted to be careful going to jump one. I thought about going inside but I thought it was best to play it safe and go around. I was still tidy everywhere and overall, I thought it was a really nice track,” she noted.
Barnes commented on her experience at WEC – Wilmington, “I have been showing here since before I can remember. I have been riding for eight years, and I started showing here on some ponies. It is so nice to always be able to come back here because I live so close. It is a really nice atmosphere here, I love it.”
$12,500 WEC 3’6” Hunter Derby Results
Catherine Rinehart & Story Hour Emerge Victorious in the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby
Catherine Rinehart had a victorious return to the show ring early Friday evening, claiming the win aboard Donald Stewart’s Story Hour (Casalico x Antonia).
“I haven’t shown for quite a while and Luke [Rinehart] and Lizzie [Rinehart] are up in Michigan, so I decided to show a couple of the hunters so that they can keep going and stay fit. It was super fun,” Rinehart smiled as she entered the winner’s circle.
The nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding made easy work of the track, jumping to a near perfect first round for a score of 91.
“Story [Hour] is nine. He has been doing the Junior Hunters with Lizzie and the derbies with Hunter Holloway. So, this was light work for him today,” Rinehart shared.
The duo was flawless in the handy round for a 90, emerging victorious with a two-round total of 181.
“I liked the track today. It was challenging enough. The first jump was impressive. The trot jump in the handy was hard. It was coming right back to the gate in a line and the hunters aren’t used to that. But overall, I thought it was really nice.”
$10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results
Sophia Welniak & Romy-K Van’T Kattenheye Top the $10,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby
Twenty-five horse-and-rider combinations began Hunter Derby Friday at Summer II in the $10,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby where Sophia Welniak and her Romy-K Van’T Kattenheye (Bisquet Balou Van De Mispelaere x Jasmijn Van De Donkhoeve) topped the leaderboard.
Welniak and her eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare are no strangers to the winner’s circle having won the class before.
“She is just wonderful. We have come a long way together,” Welniak shared. “I got her when she was a baby, and we have really put up with each other! She has really come together these past couple months. She has gotten so much stronger and confident and is just amazing.”
Just before entering the derby, Welniak came from a double clear in the jumper ring, “I am just glad that I have horses that I can count on. I can hop from one to the next and they always give me 100%. Even though I was all over the place today, I never get stressed because I know my horses and they try so hard.”
The class suited Welniak and her mare, jumping to a first-round score of 89 to return in the lead for the handy.
“I loved the first round. It was super simple, so it was nice to just be able to stay on one canter. I love to do the handy on her because she is the handiest horse ever. It really tested her, and she was great,” she stated.
A second-round score of 92 and a two-round total of 181 went to the top.