Hunter Derby Friday at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) returned to Indoor I, where Peter Grant designed the tracks for three derbies: the $7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, and the $5,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. To conclude the day, Jenni Mcallister prevailed in the $7,500 WEC 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby aboard Sharon Schenck’s Shalako (Borsalino x Fokoschima).
Mcallister returned for the handy round sitting in fourth with a first-round score of 87. The duo’s consistency ultimately led them to the top.
“He is nine years old and didn’t start jumping until about two years ago, so he is actually still a bit green,” Mcallister shared. “Consistency is something we’ve been working on, and Shalako is getting better and better at keeping the same pace. He’s easy to find the jumps on, and he doesn’t change his expression. That’s probably my favorite thing about him—he’s naturally very quiet and wants to do everything you ask. He did whatever I asked of him today.”
A smooth second round earned the pair a score of 89 for a two-round total of 176 to secure the victory.
Mcallister shared about her plan for the handy, “My plan was to be as smooth as possible and make all the turns nicely. I always have to remind myself not to ride like a jumper and instead keep it really smooth. My horse is getting better and better at that. He’s starting to really follow where I’m going and doesn’t act so surprised when I ask for a tighter turn.”
The venue has been productive for Mcallister in bringing along her winning mount, “I thought the course was nice—they always do a great job. The jumps are really pretty and interesting. When they’re learning, it’s good for them to be a little surprised. I like that they change it up every week, so it’s always different.”
$7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results
Lauren Patterson and Pacha Van Het Costersveld Secure Victory in the $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
In the $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, thirteen talented horse-and-rider combinations competed for the blue ribbon, but it was Lauren Patterson who took the win aboard Pacha Van Het Costersveld (Casall La Silla x Kornetta D’ Heyboght), owned by Next Level Performance Center INC.
This marked the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding’s first hunter derby, and Patterson knew he would excel. “He was doing the 1.30m, and a friend sent me a video—I thought, ‘yes, I want that one, he’s a derby horse!’ We weren’t planning on competing today, but one of my clients was interested and wanted to see him go in the indoor.”
The pair made a stellar first impression, effortlessly floating around the track to earn the highest classic round score of 92.
Heading into the handy, Patterson’s goal was to keep things smooth and simple, “I wanted to be handy but not take too much of a risk. He jumps in such a good, natural style, but still, this was the first derby I’ve done with him, so I wanted to feel him out a bit. He did the first two turns so well that I thought I could try another!”
The pair delivered once again in the handy round, earning a score of 90 for an overall score of 182 to secure the win.
$5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results
Perfect Effort for Adele Dewar and Mr. Perfectly Fine in the $5,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Thirteen junior horse-and-rider combinations competed for the blue ribbon in the $5,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. In the end, Adele Dewar claimed the win aboard Mr. Perfectly Fine (Balounito x Cover Girl), owned by Kyle Dewar.
Dewar spoke about the growth she and the seven-year-old Westphalian gelding have made over the last 12 months, “I’ve been showing him for about a year now. He was imported when he was younger, so we’ve had him since he was about three or four years old. We just started doing the 3’6” and he’s been so great. At junior hunter finals a few weeks ago, he was second in the handy in the smalls. I’m really proud of him.”
The duo delivered a clean and tidy classic round to earn a score of 87.
Returning for the handy, Dewar planned to let Mr. Perfectly Fine do what he does best, “He’s best at being handy. I took the normal approach to jump one and found the space for the turns. For the right lead to the trot jump, I wanted to land right so I could do a nice nine to the two. We landed really well, and it all came together!”
Their smooth and strategic efforts in the handy earned them the highest round score of 89, making a two-round total of 176 to secure the win.
$5,000 USHJA National 3’ 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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