Ocala, FL – Hunter Derby Friday took over the WEC Stadium once again during the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. A large field of impeccable horse-and-athlete combinations vied for the top prize in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Keith Bollotte set the beautifully decorated tracks for all three derbies that allowed riders to show off their horses’ adjustability and brilliance.
Amanda Steege piloted Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte De Muze to a second $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby victory after laying down two impressive rounds that scored in the 90s.
Steege and the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding’s first round performance topped the leaderboard with a score of 96.
Steege thought that the handy track was a bit more challenging than she had predicted, “The handy was a bit harder than it seemed. The turn right after the trot was pretty tight. The birch fence was right there when you landed, and then it was a bit tough to get your horse’s eye on the red vertical. Luckily, Lafitte has some experience with that sort of approach and knows what’s coming.”
Steege and Lafitte De Muze returned to the handy on top and laid down another brilliant round for a score of 93, and a two-round total of 189.
“It’s funny to look back and think about how much he has developed in two years. He feels so mature, and our partnership has really jelled. We have come so far in the handies, especially with our turns,” shared Steege. “I am just very grateful to have these classes each week to hone our skills and get prepared for the rest of the year.”
$20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Lafitte De Muze, Amanda Steege, Cheryl Olsen: 96 | 93 | 189
2 In The Know, Samantha Schaefer, Madeline Schaefer: 89 | 97 | 186
3 Candid Traveler, Timothy Maddrix, Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach: 85 | 94 | 179
4 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC: 90 | 88.5 | 178.5
5 MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 88 | 90 | 178
6 Attendu De Lannois Z, Kate Conover, Ashland Farms: 80 | 92 | 172
7 Oswald Van De Leeuwerk, Calogera Borrello, Calogera Borrello: 83 | 88 | 171
8 Hendricks, Ehrin Rittmueller, Bitsy Woods: 79 | 84 | 163
9 St Tropez, Daniel Geitner, Laura Cramer: 82.5 | 79 | 161.5
10 Folklore, Alexandra Ansteth, Amberlea Tribble: 78 | 80 | 158
Hillary Johnson & Suede Top $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Thirty-one beautiful hunters competed for the blue ribbon in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby, but none could best Hillary Johnson and Copper Fox LLC’s Suede (Los Angeles x Petite Fleur) with two impressive scores.
Johnson the nine-year-old Westphalian gelding floated around the first track to secure of score of 91. Johnson also received the second highest score of a 89 aboard her other mount Blue Monday owned by Stephanie Battershall.
Johnson tweaked her plan with Suede after she rode Blue Monday in the handy. “The inside turn after jump four came up much quicker than I expected on Blue Monday and Suede has a lot more loft to his jump, so I opted to go around. The judges didn’t seem to mind, and I think that was the smoother option. It was a bit of a last-minute decision but worked out nicely.”
The pair found an effortless round in the handy to earn a score of 90 for an overall score of 181 for the win.
“I don’t think there is a ring that ‘Pumpkin’ doesn’t like, but he loves this one,” said Johnson. “He has always loved his job. Last year we did the first-year greens and decided to not step him up to the second years. He enjoys the derbies and that’s his only job. He hacks around during the week and comes out on Fridays to derby. It’s a pretty nice life,” joked Johnson.
$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Suede, Hillary Johnson, Copper Fox LLC: 91 | 90 | 181
2 Norderney, Belynda Bond, Gesture LLC: 87.5 | 91 | 178.5
3 Play That Song, Daniel Geitner, Anna Wells-Sharp: 88 | 89 | 177
4 Driftwood, Lauren Schweppe, Sheila Slack: 88.5 | 88 | 176.5
5 Blue Monday, Hillary Johnson, Stephanie Battershall: 89 | 86 | 175
6 Small Friendship, Kate Conover, Chris Iwasaki & Liz Reilly: 85 | 87 | 172
7 Caligua, Clair Kellner, Suzanne Cayatte: 85.5 | 82 | 167.5
8 Ziggy Stardust, Jake Evans, Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC: 87 | 79 | 166
9 River Walk, Alexandra Ansteth, Keri Kampsen: 86 | 78 | 164
10 MTM Ahoy, Dorothy Douglas, Nina Koloseike: 87.75 | 74 | 161.75
Katalena Prusso & Prado Prevail in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
The $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby saw an impressive field of junior and amateur athletes compete for the ultimate prize, but it was 15-year-old Katalena Prusso of Woodstock, Georgia and Falcon Ridge Stable’s Prado (Perpignon x Romantica) that captured the win with the highest overall score of 176.
Prusso and the nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding put forth a stellar first round, jumping all four high options in perfect form for a score of 89.
Prusso and Prado returned for the handy leading. The pair swiftly navigated each inside turn available while finding each fence right out of stride to receive a score of 87 from the judges for a two-round total of 176.
$15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Prado, Katalena Prusso, Falcon Ridge Stables: 89 | 87 | 176
2 Waterfall Z, Luke Sassi, Dominque Damico: 86 | 89 | 175
3 Jagerbomb, Isabelle Ehman, Donald Stewart: 84 | 85 | 169
4 Jaguar, Tori Leitman, Tori Leitman: 73.5 | 86 | 159.5
5 Diacara, Ashley Wilson, Ashley Wilson: 79 | 80 | 159
6 Leonidas PR, Tory Van Uithoven, Tory Van Uithoven: 73 | 80 | 153
7 Manhattan, Taylor Duerr, Taylor Duerr: 78 | 74 | 152
8 Worth The Wait, McKinley Engenhofer, Barbara Egenhofer: 71 | 79| 150
9 Worth Quoting, Audrey Quinn, Audrey Quinn: 75 | 74 | 149
10 Debonair, Kathleen Feeley, Kathleen Feeley: 72 | 76 | 148
‘The Style of Riding Award’
Before the start of the handy round in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Derby, Will Baker, standing in for Bill Rube, presented the prestigious Style of Riding Award to Luke Sassi for his classic style and sportsmanship. The recipient serves as a role model for preserving the integrity and tradition of equestrian sport. “This award is very special to me because the recipient of this award pays it forward both in and out of the show ring,” says Rube. Sassi received an elegant duffel bag and wore a white rose corsage on his lapel throughout the handy round to signify his achievement.