Ocala, FL – The final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2025 Summer Series brought a strong finish to the summer season inside Indoor Arena 1, where competitors turned out for three highly anticipated classes: 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. Course designer Lynn Mullins set flowing, thoughtful tracks that encouraged brilliance, with riders and horses rising to the occasion.
Jenni McAllister rode Sharon Schenck’s Shalako (Borsalino x Fokoschima) to a well-earned victory in the $7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, delivering two standout rounds to claim the lion’s share of the prize money.
In the classic round, McAllister and the nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding impressed the judges with a solid performance that included all four high options, earning a score of 89. “That was one of the best rounds he’s given me,” McAllister shared. “He gave me a really great round today—and in the Stadium last week, too. Every week it’s gotten better and better. I was super pleased with him.”
McAllister returned for the handy sitting in fourth place, but had more on her plate than just the course ahead. “I had a little tricky day because I had the 1.30m in the middle of the derby,” she explained. “So, I left, learned that course on the fly, rode that horse, jumped off, and then came back here and relearned this course. So, I just tried to be smooth, and he was perfect.”
Their handy round earned a top score of 93, bringing their overall total to 182 for the win.
McAllister reflected on Shalako’s journey to the hunter ring. “We got him when he was seven. He was supposed to be a dressage horse, but that didn’t pan out at all,” she laughed. “He wasn’t very broke when we got him—he was super green. He’s just been jumping for two years now, and he’s owned by a very nice owner from New Mexico, Sharon Schenck.”
Despite his late start, Shalako has proven to be a natural in the hunter ring. “He’s a beautiful mover—not quite enough for dressage, but perfect for the hunters. He’s so friendly and just the sweetest horse to ride,” McAllister said. “He’s a dream horse. I’ve ridden a lot of horses in my life, and he’s definitely one of my favorites.”
$7,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results
Jordan Lubow Pilots Emerald Silver to Top Scores in the $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
The $5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby kicked off the final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2025 Summer Series in Indoor Arena 1. Jordan Lubow emerged victorious aboard Emerald Silver (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Royal Rubina), a seven-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC. The pair impressed the judges with two top scores in the 90s.
Lubow and Emerald Silver delivered an effortless first round, earning a standout score of 93. “I was glad it was inside,” said Lubow. “There were some new jumps in the stadium last week, so I just wanted him to have a nice, good, solid round before we head up to Kentucky for Incentive Finals. I actually really liked the course today. I loved that it was all singles, and I loved that there were two big sweeping bending lines, because that’s exactly what I am going to be doing next week. It was the perfect setup for me.”
Returning for the handy round with a strong lead, Lubow approached the course with strategy and composure. “[Valarie Kalderon] and I talked in the beginning, and there were really only three inside turns,” she explained. “One after the first jump was quite pleasant, you had a lot of room before the hedge, so I felt comfortable doing that. But the next two were quite tricky, and he’s still young and green. I haven’t really asked him to step up for the handies quite yet, just because he’s still learning the turns. With Incentive Finals next week, Val and I decided I was going to go in and concentrate on having a nice, consistent round rather than being as handy as we could. I got the first turn done, and then I just focused on keeping everything else clean and smooth.”
Their plan paid off. Lubow and Emerald Silver posted another brilliant round for a score of 95, bringing their total to 188 and securing the win with a commanding 13-point lead.
After Incentive Finals, Lubow plans to give the talented horse a well-earned break. “He will take a break for sure. I have a few amateurs that will go to the Amateur Championships in Kentucky, so I’ll switch gears to trainer mode. I saw the new fall dates here, which I’m very excited for, so we’ll probably do that and possibly Indoors!”
$5,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results
Schuyler Dayner and Pierino Score Second Derby Win in the $5,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Sixteen talented junior and amateur hunter riders gathered in the air-conditioned comfort of Indoor Arena 1 to compete for top honors in the $5,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. In the end, it was Schuyler Dayner who wowed the judges aboard her own six-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding, Pierino (Marschal Fields 111 x Modeste ‘T’).
Dayner and Pierino navigated the first round with confidence, taking all four high options with ease to earn a score of 90. “I thought it was a great course,” said Dayner. “He cantered right around it. It had nice, long bending lines, and he’s good at that. He handled everything really well.”
Returning for the handy round at the top of the leaderboard, Dayner rode a smart and strategic track. “I wasn’t super far ahead, so I wanted to still be pretty handy,” she explained. “But I opted out of doing the one inside turn because he is so young. He was really good and smooth around all the other turns.”
The pair delivered another textbook performance, earning a score of 94 for a two-round total of 184 to secure the win.
Although Pierino is just beginning his hunter career, he’s already made a strong impression in the ring. “He’s been amazing,” shared Dayner. “He won the derby three weeks ago, was second last week in the Stadium with a handy score of 96, and won again this week. He’s also been Champion and Reserve every week, too. I think he’s going to be an amazing horse. I am so lucky to start his career. We’re hoping to do Indoors this year if he doesn’t get sold before then, so we’ll see how everything pans out. I am just so thrilled with him.”
$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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