Wilmington, Ohio – A field of the most competitive hunter riders at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington met at the R+L Arena for the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of Winter Spring Forward. In the end, Kelsey Epperson proved unbeatable with Pamella Kissman’s Incredible (El Salvador x Budine), scoring their second win in a row.
Epperson piloted four horses around Joe Carnicom’s (USA) tracks and stuck to a similar plan on each.
“They were are all really good. I was really worried about the bending six or seven to the hedge, to the grey oxer. Thankfully and unfortunately, Rachael [Herkowitz] got to test drive it for me first,” Epperson laughed. “I didn’t love how the six was riding in the non-pro, and the ones that did the six in the open derby did it really nicely, but I felt like all of my horses were right there in seven. I stuck to the seven on all my horses.”
Epperson executed her plan for a score of 91.5 in the first round. Returning for the handy, the group of professionals jumped each round better than the last, putting the pressure on Epperson as the last to go.
Staying tidy around the track and opting for the available inside turns, a second-round score of 91 and a two-round total of 182.5 put the duo back on top.
This marks the fourth derby win of the circuit for Epperson and the 10-year-old KWPN gelding, Incredible, “He is on a hot streak! He has one more week here, and then a couple of months off before the summer. He is doing the 3’3” this weekend with his mom. Hopefully next week we can make it a three-peat!”
Hunter Derby Friday was particularly successful for Hillside Farm, winning both $15,000 derbies of the day, “Rachael [Herkowitz] and I talked about it this morning. We were like, do we think we can do it? Can we win them both? Of course it is just a fantasy, but we are both really competitive, so we just tried to do it!”
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Incredible, Kelsey Epperson, Pamella Kissman | 91.5 | 91 | 182.5
2 Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 88 | 93 | 181
3 Didgereedoo VDL, Kelsey Epperson, Lashier Properties LLC | 90 | 90 | 180
4 Nandino, Samantha Cooper, Ellen Malson | 91 | 88.5 | 179.5
5 Stiletto, Kelsey Epperson, Michelle Carroll | 86 | 88 | 174
6 No Secret, Catherine Rinehart, Donald Stewart | 92 | 79 | 171
7 Gwendolo, Kathleen Caya, Susan Winchester | 78 | 89 | 167
8 Glekinchie, Natalie Hauber, Stephanie Maahs | 85 | 81 | 166
9 Cinda, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 83 | 80 | 163
10 Eurythmix, Kathleen Caya, Susan Winchester | 82 | 79 | 161
Rachael Herkowitz & Harmony Capture First $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Win
The $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby saw a field of 24 top quality horse-and-rider combinations deliver textbook rounds over Joe Carnicom’s (USA) flowing tracks, but it was Rachael Herkowitz that came back to impress in the handy round to move up the leaderboard.
Herkowitz piloted her very own Harmony (Quiran x Romance I) to not only her first derby win, but their first derby debut together.
“Harmony is a nine-year-old Holsteiner mare. We got her last November, and this is our second year together. This is actually our first derby! So, it is even more exciting. We love coming here to WEC and we wanted to add this to our calendar.”
Herkowitz shared her thoughts on Carnicom’s first round, “The course was great. It really allowed to show off the different aspects of each horse. It was more challenging than I anticipated. After the hedge, I planned to do six, but then had to pivot the plan a bit and then get really going down the second line. She is so scopey, so she handled it so well.”
Jumping to a first-round score of 83, the duo returned for the handy phase sitting in fourth place.
The stylish mare was in top form, impressing the judging panel for the only score in the 90s. Securing a second-round score of 94 and a two-round total of 177, the duo added a derby win to their record.
“Pinch me! This is amazing. We always have the vision, and she makes it so easy for me. I am so blessed,” Herkowitz commented on her remarkable win.
Outside of the ring, Herkowitz wears many hats, and is thankful for her mare that makes the sport exciting, “I am a clinical phycologist, so that keeps me busy! I also have a six-year-old son, so I play a lot of different roles. But Harmony is such a special horse, and she really makes my job easy.”
Herkowitz commended her team behind-the-scenes, “I have to thank my team! Everyone at Hillside Farm, Tammy, Heather and Kelsey. They make it all happen.”
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Results:
1 Harmony, Rachael Herkowitz, Rachael Herkowitz | 83 | 94 | 177
2 Cassano, Amanda Wildauer, Amanada Wildauer | 89 | 86 | 175
3 Fitzgerald, Emilie Smith, Emilie Smith | 85 | 89 | 174
4 Leonti, Elyse Jescheling, Elyse Jescheling | 87 | 84 | 171
5 Cristiano, Leighton Goldberg, Leighton Goldberg | 78 | 85 | 163
6 Deo Volente, Charlotte Larson, Charlotte Larson | 79.5 | 83 | 162.5
7 Carlina 24, Aila McKeown, Madeline Baer | 81 | 81 | 162
8 No Salt All Sugar, Madelyn Kuhn, Madelyn Kuhn | 82 | 78 | 160
9 No Worries, Elaina Davis, Sarah Oelerich | 77 | 80 | 157
10 Cassidi, Lydia Chandler, Lydia Chandler | 78.5 | 74 | 152.5
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
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