Ocala, FL – Indoor Arena 1 at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) once again played host to Hunter Derby Friday, featuring three exciting classes: the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, and the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Course designer Dean Rheinheimer laid out beautifully flowing tracks, featuring natural obstacles including a long hedge wall, and log trot jump.
Daniel Geitner captured the win in the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby aboard his longtime partner Walk The Moon, owned by Lynn Seithel, after delivering two impressive rounds.
Geitner has been partnered with the 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding for seven years, and their experience showed in the ring, earning an initial score of 88. “He was great in the first round,” said Geitner. “I had a little rub jumping out of the line away from the gate. I think he just stared at the end of the ring a little, but other than that, the rest of the course was nice and flowing.”
The handy round proved to be a challenge, and Geitner knew he had to be efficient. “The handy was tricky. Those inside turns were tough,” he explained. “Dean was nice and gutted out the middle of one of them, so we had the option to take an easier turn, but Maria [Rasmussen] laid it on and I knew I had to go for it and do all the turns if I wanted to try and win.”
The pair delivered a tidy, confident, handy round to earn a score of 91 for a two-round total of 179.
Geitner shared what he enjoys most about the stylish gelding: “I really like to ride fast, and he’s quiet, so I get to ride him quickly. It’s fun for me to just gallop at the jumps, and he’s got so much extra scope. He’s always there for the inside turns and makes everything a lot of fun.”
$12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results
Camille Maynard and Dutton Emerge Victorious in the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open
The $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby kicked off early Friday morning in Indoor Arena 1, where a competitive field of professionals vied for the top spot. Camille Maynard ultimately piloted the stylish Dutton to a well-earned victory.
Maynard and the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Anne Hormel and Susan Ross, delivered a seamless first round, earning the top score of 90.
“He has really just gotten better and better,” said Maynard. “He came to me in the winter of 2024. He won one of the derbies in the spring and then jumped out in the Stadium twice this summer. It was a big learning and growing experience for him. I’m super proud that he was able to jump out there and then come back inside. It’s a very different venue, and that kind of stuff he really thinks about, so I couldn’t be more proud of how well he came back in here and performed.”
Coming back on top for the handy round, Maynard knew she still needed a strong performance to stay ahead. “You always have to watch and see who you have to beat, and it seemed like I had to go inside the hedge,” she explained. “He jumped the gray oxer great and went inside to the hedge perfectly. I decided not to go inside to the other fence because I didn’t think he was quite ready, but we stayed tidy, and he met the oxer really well. I could feel his brain getting faster as we did those turns, but he handled it all perfectly.”
The pair earned another impressive score of 92, bringing their total to 182 for the win.
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results
Schuyler Dayner and Pierino Dominate the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations competed in the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Schuyler Dayner and her own Pierino (Marschal Fields 111 x Modeste ‘T’) who emerged at the top of the leaderboard.
Dayner and the six-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding impressed the judges with a textbook first round, earning a score of 92.
“This is still very new for him,” Dayner shared. “He was imported in February and just started doing the hunters. This was actually his first show indoors and his second time doing a derby. I’m thrilled with how well he went.”
Returning for the handy round with a comfortable lead, Dayner opted for a conservative approach. “I was a little more conservative than my original plan. I let him go around since he’s still a little green. I just wanted to have another smooth round, and he did great.”
A consistent second-round score of 87 gave the pair a total of 179 and secured the win with a commanding 23-point lead.
Dayner is optimistic about Pierino’s future in the hunter ring. “He’ll keep showing in the amateurs and keep doing the derbies. Hopefully, we’ll have continued success. He’s always willing to perform and wants to win. I’m excited to see him grow.”
$10,000 USHJA National 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.
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