Wilmington, Ohio – Despite slight nerves about Joe Carnicom’s tracks for the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of WEC – Wilmington Midwest Indoors I, Kelsey Epperson proved her excellence once again with her winningest mount, Didgereedoo VDL (Zavall VDL x Pheminka).
Epperson left the arena thankful for the eye-catching chestnut gelding, “he is the best horse in the world. I owe everything to him!”
Though the first track did not particularly suit the duo, Epperson rode her plan to perfection for a first-round score of 91.
“I was actually really nervous for the first round because I love singles. I could gallop single jumps all day long and this track was all related distances and I really had to pay attention. I knew I was going to have to be on my game and it rode nicer than I expected,” Epperson shared. “I know this horse so well and we both like the open gallop and he hunts the jumps. I just had to make sure he stayed in my hand and ride it almost like a medal course. Thankfully, he really likes to horse show, so once we started he was right on it.”
Epperson mirrored her winning handy track from Sarah Lothman’s Bernard, who held the lead with a 179.
“I didn’t watch anyone else handy. When I get an idea in my head I just have to stick with it,” Epperson noted about her tricky inside turn back to the double. “I can’t watch anyone else when I know my plan will be okay. I saw that the turn was there and I walked it. I figured if I went far enough down through the turn I could make it work.”
Returning last with Lashier Properties LLC’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Epperson surpassed her own leading score with a 93 and a two-round total of 184 to take first and second place.
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Didgereedoo VDL, Kelsey Epperson, Lashier Properties LLC | 91 | 93 | 184
2 Bernard, Kelsey Epperson, Sarah Lothman | 88 | 91 | 179
3 PS Copy That, Stevie McCarron Wigley, Brittany Sellings | 86 | 84 | 170
4 Jaipur, Kat Barkema, Zachary Parks | 72.5 | 89 | 161.5
5 Fineas, Jessica Jurkowitz, Clover Hill Farm | 78 | 80 | 158
6 Escada, Oliva Noell Wardell, 14 Carrot Farm | 85 | 72 | 157
7 Coolcorron Kaito, Darcy Workman, Story Horse LLC | 74 | 78 | 152
8 Balou Label, Laura Douglas, Dell Kelly | 59 | 86 | 145
9 Verity L, Ann Demichee, Cantatu LLC | 72 | 71 | 143
10 Vicco Blue, Kimbreley Hill, Lauren Mason | 73 | 68 | 141
Sweet Victory for Madelyn Kuhn & No Salt All Sugar in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby
It was a day full of sweet victory for Madelyn Kuhn in the R+L Arena as she claimed her very first derby win with her own No Salt All Sugar (Numero Uno x Belladonna Di Mezzograno).
Kuhn bested the field with a four-point lead in the first $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of the Midwest Indoors Series at WEC – Wilmington and was thrilled with her result.
“I have gotten so many seconds and thirds. I have been trying to win for so long and have been getting knocked about by one point,” Kuhn laughed. “So, it felt really good to finally win one!”
Aboard her special 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Kuhn secured the highest first-round score of 90.
The young rider reflected on her unique journey with No Salt All Sugar, “I have had him for almost four years now. He is a very good boy. I taught him a lot because we imported him as an eventer and he did not understand the hunter world. He has come so far and we just moved up to the 3’6” this year and he has just been killing it.”
Returning for the handy in the lead, Kuhn took a risk to show off at the final oxer to impress the judges.
“I really liked the course; it rode really nicely. It was challenging enough but not too difficult. I thought the handy was fun. My trainer wanted me to have a big canter to the last jump because it was a long run to the oxer. I was a little nervous going to find a bigger distance but he was so game,” Kuhn noted.
A second-round score of 82 and a two-round total of 172 was enough to clinch her very first derby win.
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Derby Results:
1 No Salt All Sugar, Madelyn Kuhn, Madelyn Kuhn | 90 | 82 | 172
2 Quinziano, Catherine Eberly, Catherine Eberly | 80 | 88 | 168
3 Budapest, Ainsley Russell, Ainsley Russell | 86 | 80 | 166
4 Qualtender, Jordan Wicklund, Pamela Wicklund | 82 | 83 | 165
5 Canturello, Lauran Theil, Lauren Theil | 79 | 81 | 160
6 Leonti, Elyse Jeschelnig, Elyse Jeschelnig | 84 | 74 | 158
7 Lorenzo Z, Ava Roof, Ava Roof | 72 | 78 | 150
8 Fitzgerald, Emilie Smith, Emilie Smith | 59 | 90 | 149
9 Calantheos, Anna Suttman, RLH2 Family Trust | 49 | 85 | 134
10 Livello, Shanna Newby, Shanna Newby | 66 | 63 | 129
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.