Wilmington, Ohio – As the Winter in the Midwest indoor horse show circuit Winter Classic #6 commenced a field of 22 brilliant hunter athletes gathered in the R+L Arena for Hunter Derby Friday. Scott Alder (USA) designed the elegant track that rewarded athletes for demonstrating forward pace, rhythm and brilliance over the natural fences. Ultimately, it was Kathleen Caya and Copa Du Cache (Cooper VD Heffnick x Urtoucha VD) who’s performance impressed the judges panel to take the win with a pair of 90s.
Alder’s track started off with a rolltop vertical and a long-run single oxer, offering riders the opportunity to establish a consistent, rhythmic pace. Throughout the long, flowing bending lines and an inviting two-stride, the field of horses demonstrated incredible scope and athleticism, though none impressed the judges with their style like Copa Du Cache.
Caya, of Integrity Farm in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, dominated the class, earning first and third place honors. Her top mount, Copa Du Cache owned by Colleen Nagy White, never missed a beat and was the only horse in the class to earn a pair of 90’s. Caya shares about Copa Du Cache, “I have had him through his pre-green year. His owner lets me do a lot with him and she shows him sometimes in the adults. We are going to keep coming back here with him this winter and he is qualified for derby finals so that will be our goal!”
The duo was the last to return for the handy with a first round score of 90 looking to hold on to their top spot. The ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding jumped an impeccable round with Caya in the irons, making each inside turn while maintaining a smooth, even canter through the entirety of the track. Securing a handy score of 91, the duo reached the highest overall score of the day of 181 to take the blue ribbon.
Caya piloted her second mount, Eurythmix to the yellow ribbon in the competitive class. The nine-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Susan Winchester showcased experience beyond his years in the hunter ring, posting scores of 88 and 89 for a two-round total of 177.5 to round out the podium.
“I made some tighter turns on him [Copa Du Cache] because I know him better. Eurythmix is a little bit greener, so I tried to be more cautious on him. I just tried to be smooth, it is always tough competition here,” Caya comments on her approach in the handy.
$15,000 USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby Results:
1 Copa Du Cache, Kathleen Caya, Colleen Nagy White | 90 | 91 | 181
2 Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 87.5 | 90 | 177.5
3 Eurythmix, Kathleen Caya, Susan Winchester | 88 | 89 | 177
4 News For You, Christopher Coberley, Lissa Guyton | 87 | 89.5 | 176.5
5 Steel Me Away, Megan Bash, Courtney Pisani | 85 | 86 | 171
6 Brugh’s Mill, Jason Berry, Joan Alberti | 86 | 84 | 170
7 Callestino, Michaella Gerlacher, Frances Conti | 84 | 85 | 169
8 Sir Higgins, Richard Rinehart, Cline Equestrian | 79 | 88 | 167
9 My Autograf, Kevin Kirk, Deborah Shepherd | 81 | 82 | 163
10 Cinda, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 79 | 79 | 158
Elizabeth Rinehart Captures First Derby Win Aboard Chablis 162 in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby
Earlier in the afternoon, 26 horse-and-athlete combinations took the R+L Arena for the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby of Winter Classic #6. In the end, it was Elizabeth Rinehart that mastered Alder’s classic hunter tracks aboard Chablis 162 (Cancara x Untreue) to capture her first ever derby win in the $15,000 UHSJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby.
Rinehart, riding out of her family establishment Rinehart Farm in Westfield, Indiana, displayed two textbook hunter rounds with Luke Rinehart’s Chablis 162. The 13-year-old Holsteiner mare is a veteran in the hunter ring, boasting an amazing seven wins in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby.
“Chablis [Chablis 162] is great, we have had her for about a year now and she was my brother’s horse first. I have been riding her a lot this year and she is really fun. Today I wanted to focus more on having good jumps rather than inside turns and keeping a consistent speed, so that as my plan going but some of the turns worked out really well,” shared Rinehart.
The aspiring junior rider laid down a solid first round including all of the track’s high options to earn a score of 87 . Returning for the handy in second place, Rinehart guided the seasoned mare to flawless handy turns, allowing her to jump in top form, impressing the judges for a score of 88 and a two-round total of 175 that added a top win to her growing record.
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby Results:
1 Chablis 162, Elizabeth Rinehart, Luke Rinehart | 87 | 88 | 175
2 Spectacular, Sarah Entzian, Sarah Entzian | 89 | 83.5 | 172.2
3 On Point, Alisa Berry, Alisa Berry | 84 | 84 |168
4 Cabachon, Sophie Carlin, Sophie Carlin | 80.5 | 86 | 166.5
5 Sweet Spot CTF, Madison Fankhauser, Madison Fankhauser | 82 | 83 | 165
6 Carlina 24, Alia McKeown, Madeline Baer | 81 | 82 | 163
7 Sir Poldi, Emma Williams, Emma Williams | 78 | 81 | 159
8 Lincoln, Sarah Gould, Susan Mattox | 80 | 78 | 158
9 Red Roc, Kiera Phlipot, Kiera Phlipot | 85 | 72 | 157
10 Express De B’Neville, Anona Svenkesen, Anona Svenkesen | 77 | 79 | 156
Make sure to visit the WEC Blog for full coverage on all feature classes! Results can be found at HorseShowing.com.
Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography.
Videos Available at ClipMyHorse.TV.