Ocala, FL – The penultimate week of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series welcomed a slew of top-level hunters to compete in the $12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Tucker Williams (USA) built the natural tracks that allowed athletes to reach scores into the 90s.
The $12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby showcased some of the best hunter combinations in the nation, but it was Erika Moore that snagged the win aboard her new partner Chacco Ricco (Chacco Blue x Carilane) owned by Noble Steeds LLC.
Moore and the 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion earned a first-round score of 88 to return for the handy sitting in first place.
“Going back with the top score, it’s better to play it a little conservative, be handy, be tidy, but don’t be overzealous. I rode exactly what I planned on, and I was lucky to ride my other horse before him. It showed me what I needed to do better and what I needed to do less.”
The pair floated around the handy track for a high score of 92 for a two-round total of 180.
Moore spoke about the jaw-dropping stallion, “I just started riding him a couple of months ago. He’s a Chacco Blue stallion. I was lucky that the owner was looking for a rider and I was in the right place at the right time. Kim Brunette set that all up for me. I was wanting another derby horse to practice on, and it just so happens that he’s a phenomenal derby horse! He loves it.”
“I love showing here, especially in the summer. The indoors are so fun and unique. I am a West Coast kid, so growing up we didn’t have anything like this. It’s a very large facility and it’s pretty easy to get lost,” joked Moore. “It brings everyone together. I see friends from out west constantly. It’s a community here and everyone is so nice.”.
$12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Chacco Ricco, Erika Moore, Noble Steeds LLC: 88 | 92 | 180
2 Carado, Jordan Melfi, Jordan Melfi: 87 | 91 | 178
3 MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 86.5 | 90 | 176.5
4 High Renaissance, Jake Parker Wymard, Della Equestrian: 83 | 84 | 167
5 Lord Dornet, Jodie Camberg, Jodie Camberg: 77 | 79 | 156
6 Hollywood, Erika Moore, Moore Acres, LLC: 79 | 76 | 155
7 Abudabi, Robert Mendoza, It’s All Covered, LLC: 75 | 78 | 153
8 Poker Face. Jennifer Bliss, Harris Hill Farm, LLC: 85 | 51 | 136
9 Casa Quo Vadis, Chelsea Stopford, Dreams Come True Horses, LLC: 47 | 74 | 121
10 Cliff Affair, Skylar Gurtis, Laura Barrett: 68 | 49 | 117
Jordan Lubow & Wisely Secure First WEC Derby Victory in the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
The $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby saw a field of 16 top-level professionals, but it was Jordan Lubow that wowed the judges aboard Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC’s Wisely (Casiro I x Hauptstutbuch Fabaletta) and took home her first national hunter derby victory at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
Lubow and the elegant 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding yielded a superb performance in the first round for a high score of 91.
“Wisely is owned by Valerie Kalderon of Opening Bell Sporthorses and Lisa Williams. Valerie imported him 2021. He won an international derby with Hope Glynn and then went off to spend the winter in Wellington with Victoria Colvin where she had a lot of success. I began riding him this past summer and wanted to take it easy with the 3’ derbies. Valerie rides him in the adult hunters. She won the Low Adult Hunter Classic last week. He’s the jack of all trades,” shared Lubow.
The pair returned for the handy sitting on top, “He’s huge, like a bus and doesn’t turn the best, so you have to keep that in mind going into the handy. There wasn’t a ton of options, everyone did the straight ride to the first jump and the nice turn to the oxer. I did a tighter turn to the trot jump because that was easier for him. The question I had was after the World Equestrian Center vertical to the brown – there was no way I could do the super tight inside turn because he’s the length of it,” laughed Lubow. “He landed so well, I was able to take the other inside track and everything else came up perfectly.”
With a score of 86 for a two-round total of 177, Lubow and Wisely secured the win with a three-point lead.
Lubow moved to Ocala for World Equestrian Center, “Ocala was not the plan. I moved here last year and had my spinal surgery in May. After that I helped Val from the ground. I started riding again in September and started jumping in December. I was supposed to go back to Wellington last December, but I loved it here so much. No other horse show is like this, so why would I leave? Nothing can compare. So, I decided to stay, and I work for Valarie. I still own Jordan Lubow Sporthorses as a team with her. Now Abby Strohmeyer and I help run Opening Bell together and it turned out to be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Wisely, Jordan Lubow, Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC: 91 | 86 | 177
2 MTM Nonchalant, Crystal Young, Adelle Alletto: 85 | 89 | 174
3 Tibri’s Alibi, Jenny Miller, Kelly Desaye: 87 | 86.5 | 173.5
4 MTM Grateful, Crystal Young, Adelle Alletto: 83.5 | 88 | 171.5
5 Julington, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 84 | 87.250 | 171.25
6 Hela, Taylor Adams, Lee Cesery: 80.75 | 87 | 167.75
7 Londarco, Anna Christina Gansauer, Double H Farm: 86 | 80 | 166
8 Debonair. Jennifer Tate, Barbara Kravetz: 80.5 | 84 | 164.5
9 Goodluck Du Villard, Catalina Peralta, Annette Lyth: 81 | 81 | 162
10 Augustino, Jamie Gibson, Ann Scotton: 83 | 75 | 158
Hayley Waters Wear & Genuine Secure Third $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Victory
Twenty-two aspiring junior and amateur athletes gathered at the CaptiveOne Advisors Arena 1 to contest the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Hayley Waters Wear and Genuine (Dorado x Kampari W) owned by Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Waters that captured their third derby victory of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series.
Waters Wear piloted the stylish eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding to a perfect track, showing off his stunning jumping style and elegant form for a high score of 90.
The pair returned for the handy with a strong lead in the first-round, “I was coming back on top and the handy had a few awkward inside turns. I tried to mitigate my risk after the first few jumps and was conservative at the end of the course.”
Waters Wear and Genuine started on a strong canter right from the in-gate. The pair maneuvered each inside turn with poise and found yet another seamless track for a score of 83.5 for a two-round total of 173.5.
“I love how reliable Genuine is. It’s so nice to go in the ring and have a partner you can count on,” shared Waters Wear about Genuine.
$10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Genuine, Hayley Waters Wear, Mr. & Mrs. Check Waters: 90 | 83.5 | 173.5
2 Consanto, Lily Toensing, Lily Toensing: 83 | 90 | 173
3 Limitless, Stephanie King, Stephanie King: 84 | 84 | 168
4 Hanko, Lyndsey Keen, Stephanie Keen: 86 | 78 | 164
5 Fitz, Isabel Harbour, IMH Equine, LLC: 79 | 83 | 162
6 Cambastian, Evana Somareddy, Evana Somareddy: 78 | 82 | 160
7 Best Of Me, Ashley Wallace, Ashley Wallace: 71 | 69 | 140
8 Agave, Isabel Harbour, IMH Equine, LLC: 71.5 | 56 | 127.5
9 Crac D’Iloe, Charlotte Mack, Ana Elena Armas: 77 | 49 | 126
10 Brunos Bellini R, Catherine Moorhead, PLC Farm: 74 | 48 | 122
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.