Ocala, FL – Hunter Derby Friday took over the CaptiveOne Advisors Arena 1 once again during the 2023 Ocala Summer Series. A slew of stunning hunters competed for the win in three derbies; $12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Peter Grant (CAN) set the inviting tracks where competitors reached scores into the 90s.
The $12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby hosted some of the nation’s best hunter athletes as they demonstrated their horses’ style and rideability. Daniel Geitner and Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC’s Coltrane (Casall x Carano) impressed the judges with two superb performances.
Geitner and the nine-year-old KWPN gelding received the highest first-round score of 91.
“Coltrane is usually a little bit better in an outdoor where you can let him open up and use his big stride, but I thought Peter built a great course. There were only two related lines and they were set nice and long where you could gallop. It made riding my horse around the track easy,” said Geitner about Grant’s hunter derby design.
The pair returned for handy sitting in first, “I moved up in the order because we had a few multiple rides. I knew with Maria [Rasmussen] coming behind me, I had to try to pull out all the stops. I wanted to start out with a good gallop that would carry me through the course and Coltrane was amazing as usual.”
The judges were impressed by Geitner and Coltrane and awarded the pair a score of 93 for an overall total of 184 for the win.
This marks Geitner’s first week back at World Equestrian Center – Ocala since the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series, “We did all the big derbies with him during the winter circuit. Since then, I think we’ve done two or three international derbies, and won one of them. He’s been placing very well, and we brought him down here specifically for these classes to gear up for Derby Finals.”
$12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club Hunter Results:
1 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Magnolia Lane Stables LLC: 91 | 93 | 184
2 Goodfella, Maria Rasmussen, Maya Grove: 88 | 91 | 179
3 MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 87 | 90 | 177
4 Czar Du Mesnil, Meredith Gallagher, Bobby Goodnough: 85 | 85 | 170
5 Chacco Ricco, Erika Moore, Noble Steeds LLC: 78 | 89.5 | 167.5
6 Cajulio, Cody Quintana, Evergate Stables LLC: 82 | 85 | 167
7 Worthy, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 90 | 58 | 148
8 SVF On My Own, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 49 | 88 | 137
9 Visconti, Olivia Pharr, Olivia Pharr: 64 | 72 | 136
10 Hollywood, Erika Moore, Moore Acres, LLC; 85 | 48 | 133
Maria Rasmussen & Hobbs Lane Prevail in the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Several hunters came out to the CaptiveOne Advisors Arena 1 early this morning to show off their brilliance in the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby. Maria Rasmussen and Sunset View Farm LLC’s Hobbs Lane (Last Man Standings x Votre Altesse) secured top honors with an overall score of 179.
Rasmussen her longtime partner Hobbs Lane navigated Peter Grant’s beautiful first round tracks with elegance to earn a high score of 90 from the judges.
“I really liked the course today. It was something a little different. It wasn’t just your normal bending lines and single jumps. I think it was built very well,” shared Rasmussen about the first-round track.
Coming back to the handy sitting on top, Rasmussen had a simple plan for the seasoned 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, “I wanted to be as handy as I could because he shines in the handy and loves doing it. I tried to take every inside turn available and just show him off.”
The pair floated around the winding track to receive another high score of 89 for a two-round total of 179 and the victory.
Hobbs Lane is owned by Sunset View Farm LLC and has become a part of their family. Owner of Sunset View Farm LLC, Kristen Hamel spoke about Hobbs Lane, “Hobbs was my first investment horse, but he’s now become a permanent fixture. We bought him at the age of three and it turns out I’m not so good at the investment part,” laughed Hamel. He’s such a lovable horse and became a part of the family. He has a little trademark kiss on his cheek and was too perfect to let go.”
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Hobbs Lane, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 90 | 89 | 179
2 Candy Crush, Jake Evans, Sally Reichert: 87 | 90 | 177
3 Julington, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 86 | 87.5 | 173.5
4 Laser Z, Daniel Geitner, Black Label Farm, LLC: 88 | 85 | 173
5 Pepita, Jessica Cross, Karen Kogon: 89 | 80 | 169
6 Auheim’s Cosmo Brown, Jenny Miller, Page Flournoy: 82 | 86 | 168
7 Modern, Kaley Pratt Jones, Julia Murray: 78 | 76 | 154
8 Havana, Jessica Cross, Lilyana Spafford: 79 | 72 | 151
9 Benevolent, Morgan Mickel, Morgan Mickel: 74 | 76 | 150
10 Debonair, Jennifer Tate, Barbara Kravetz: 84 | 62 | 146
Hayley Waters Wear & Genuine Top $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Twenty-nine Junior/Amateur athletes put forth their best efforts over Peter Grant’s (CAN) natural tracks in the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Hayley Waters Wear who piloted Dana Waters’ Genuine (Dorado x Kampari W) to two stellar rounds.
Waters Wear and the elegant eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding produced a foot-perfect first round for a high score of 90.
Waters Wear spoke about the stunning gelding, “I got him last winter and have been doing the 3’3′ Greens and derbies. He isn’t super experienced, but is very brave and has been so wonderful! I am so lucky to ride him.”
The pair were the last to return for the handy track ready to lay all the cards on the table. “There were a few scores close to mine in the first round that also had nice scores in the second, so I knew I didn’t have a ton of wiggle room. I just tried to be as handy as I could and stay out of his way,” said Waters Wear on her strategy for the handy.
The duo yielded another pristine round for a consistent score of 90 for a two-round total of 180.
$10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Genuine, Hayley Waters Wear, Dana Waters: 90 | 90 | 180
2 M Monroe, Faith Schuttemeyer, Stock ‘Emn LLC: 89 | 87 | 176
3 Fitz, Isabel Harbour, IMH Equine, LLC: 86 | 88 | 174
4 Malbec, Ella Bostwick, Christine Bostwick: 87.5 | 86 | 173.5
5 Best Of Me, Ashley Wallace, Ashley Wallace: 88 | 76.5 | 164.5
6 Santana Von Hary Z, Fath Schuttemeyer, Jesse Kruszynski: 84 | 80 | 164
7 Catan H, Adele Dewar, Ashland Farms: 79.5 | 84 | 163.5
8 High Life, Jennifer Speisman, Jennifier Speisman: 81 | 82 | 163
9 Callisto, Angela Gais, Stormfront Sales, LLC: 85.5 | 75 | 159.5
10 Atlaws, Ellie Blair, Ellie Blair: 81 | 76 | 157
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
The UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center
The UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center provides leading-edge patient care in a new 40,000-square-foot hospital facility located in Ocala, Florida. Veterinarians from the University of Florida offer world-class veterinary care and advanced diagnostics and treatment for horses, dogs and cats.
Hours of Operation:
Equine Animal Hospital Open Monday – Sunday, 8am-5pm
Small Animal Hospital, Open Monday – Saturday, 8am-5pm
Contact us at 352-414-3858.