Ocala, FL – Over 50 stunning hunters took to Hunter 1 to compete for the top prize in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Pat Muskus designed the tracks for today’s derbies that showcased beautifully decorated fences.
Grace Debney and Attendu De Lannois Z (Arko III x Caletina V/D Bremboshoeve) found the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby victory after securing two scores in the 90s.
Debney and the gorgeous nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding delivered an effortless first round to earn the highest score of the day, a 92.
Debney shared her appreciation, “This was my first-time riding [Attendu De Lannois Z]. Augusta Iwasaki and Liz Reilly were kind enough to let me ride him and we were hoping to get a good win today, so I am happy that was accomplished.”
The pair returned for the handy, “My plan was to not out handy myself. I spoke with Liz before I went in and she told me to focus on consistency because it was my first time riding him,” said Debney. “I ended up doing a few inside turns, but nothing too crazy because we were ahead, and didn’t want to risk anything.”
The pair floated around the track to earn a score of 90.5 for a two-round total of 182.5.
Debney spoke about her experience at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “I love showing here. All the arenas are so beautiful. I am going to show tonight in the Futures Prix and tomorrow night in the Grand Prix. The atmosphere here is amazing and it’s always so much fun,” expressed Debney.
$12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Attendu De Lannois Z, Grace Debney, Ashland Farms: 92 | 90.5 | 182.5
2 MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 90 | 89.5 | 179.5
3 Self Care, Ilana Halpern, Mariah Durand: 89 | 90 | 179
4 Dutchess, Francesca Guidi, Francesca Guidi: 85 | 82 | 167
5 No Secret De La Pomme, Matt Cyhert, Beth Von Brecht: 78 | 83 | 161
6 Due North, Amanda Flint, Silver Springs Farm: 74 | 78 | 152
7 Snowed In, Kristina Claffee, Silver Springs Farm: 79 | 70 | 149
8 Hollywood, Erika Moore, Erika Moore: 68 | 73 | 141
9 Casimir Ice, Isaac Leffkowitz, Isaac Leffkowitz: 73 | 63 | 136
10 MTM Nabilli, Jenny Miller, Erica Prockow: 43 | 91 | 134
Dorothy Douglas & MTM Exceptional Are Excellent in $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Twenty professionals gathered at Hunter 1 early this morning to vie for the top prize in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby, but none could best Dorothy Douglas and Abigail Davenport’s MTM Exceptional (Casall Ask x Rheinsberg).
Douglas and the seasoned 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding navigated a lovely first round opting to jump all three high options for a score of 86.
MTM Exceptional has been with Douglas for numerous years, “I have been riding ‘Moose’ for five years now. This is his only job. He shows up, does the derby then is back outside within the hour. He knows his job and he does it very well.”
The pair returned for handy, “I knew Christina [Kelly] was beating me, so I had to do something fancy to show him off, so I did a tight inside turn to the last fence and he was perfect.”
Douglas and MTM Exceptional jumped the final fence in perfect form to earn a high score of 90 for a two-round total of 176 for the victory.
“It is great to be showing outdoors again. WEC is amazing and we love showing in all the arenas, but Moose loves this arena and the Stadium the most. He had to win today for his mom’s birthday. It was Abigail [Davenport’s] birthday yesterday and Abby and Michelle are on their way here, so I know he won just for her today.”
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 MTM Exceptional, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 86 | 90 | 176
2 Captivated, Christina Kelly, Donna Struve: 88 | 87 | 175
3 Finn’s Pride, Jenny Miller, Nelle Dressler: 85 | 86 | 171
4 Pepita, Jessica Cross, Karen Kogon: 84 | 85.5 | 169.5
5 Clear Ice, Isaac Leffkowitz, Isaac Leffkowitz: 83 | 85 | 168
6 Inspiration, Clair Kellner, Mindy Carreja: 79.5 | 88 | 167.5
7 Caspian, Lauren Patterson, Stefanie Collier: 79 | 84 | 163
8 Daruka’s Treasure, Clair Kellner, Angela Devlen: 80 | 82 | 162
9 Aladdin, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 81 | 79 | 160
10 Cohiba MD, Ilana Halpernm MD Stables: 78 | 69 | 147
Hayley Waters & Victor Are Victorious in $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
The $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby saw an impressive field of twenty horse-and-rider combinations, but it was Hayley Waters and Carelyn Monroe’s Victor (PR.H.Valeron x Chocolate Dream) that secured the highest overall score from the judges.
Waters and the ten-year-old Westphalian gelding produced a foot-by-foot perfect first round to receive a high score of 91.
Waters is frequently seen in the jumper ring, but today she dabbled in the derbies, “I enjoy riding the hunters. It’s nice to have a change of pace and scenery once in a while. Victor was perfect, he made the courses so much fun to ride and he does his job well.”
Waters and Victor were the last combination to return for the handy, “I wasn’t able to walk the course earlier today, so I didn’t have a definitive plan in mind. My goal was to be smooth, and he is so talented, I tried to show him off as best as possible.”
The pair floated around the handy track finding each fence right out of stride to secure a score of 82 for an overall score of 173 for the blue ribbon.
Waters spoke about today’s derby tracks, “I enjoyed the options that were offered. I was able to ride the striding that best suited him rather than focusing on a number. Victor is so adjustable and jumps so cute, that I was able to focus on finding the jumps and I let him show off the rest.”
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Victor, Hayley Waters, Carelyn Monroe: 91 | 82 | 173
2 Yung Gravy, Isabelle Ehman, Donald Stewart: 71.5 | 90 | 161.5
3 Gigi Gorgeous, Sidney Couch, Sidney Couch: 73 | 84 | 157
4 Kenobi, Gabriella Savettiere, AYR Fars LLC: 78 | 78 | 156
5 I.M. Gold, Bailey Benner, Benner Family Farm: 77 | 78 | 155
6 Expresso, Kaitlyn Christopherson, Kaitlyn Christopherson: 72 | 82.5 |154.5
7 SLF First Prince, Sidney Couch, Madison Lake: 83 | 71 | 154
8 Mister Fahrenheit, Anna Ermlich, Anna Ermlich: 76.5 | 75 |151.5
9 Hanko, Lyndsey Keen, Stephanie Keen: 75 | 70 | 145
10 Gladstone, Madison Berger, Berger Equine, LLC: 74 | 66 | 140
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
Visit Show Management System for the daily class schedule, estimated start times, orders of go, counts, live scoring and results.