Ocala, FL – The second-to-last Hunter Derby Friday of the 2025 Summer Series took over the WEC Stadium, giving top hunter pairs a valuable opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive and International Hunter Derby Championships. Course designer Joe Carnicom set beautifully designed tracks for the three competitive derbies: the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, and the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Scores soared into the high 90s across the board.
A competitive field of horse-and-rider combinations vied for the win in the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, but it was Lauren Patterson and her own FPF Idefix (I’m Special De Muze x Olina) who rose to the top.
Patterson and the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding delivered a smooth, flowing first round that earned them a 91. She praised the course, noting, “There were a lot of good questions asked.”
Heading into the handy round in fourth place, Patterson decided to go all in. “I wanted to just go for it. Gallop to the base and turn inside. Then find a nice open gallop to the last oxer,” she explained.
The pair executed their plan with precision, taking efficient inside turns and maintaining an open rhythm to each fence. The judges awarded them a second-round score of 96, bringing their overall total to 187 for the win.
Reflecting on her partner, Patterson said, “I’ve had him for two years now. He started in the 3’ Greens and we’ve worked our way up. He’s been a labor of love,” she laughed. “He’s awesome. He’s the nicest horse I’ve ever had, and he’s taught me so much. I am so proud of him for stepping up today.”
Next up, Patterson has her eyes on Lexington, Kentucky, for the Incentive and Derby Finals, where she’ll be making her debut in the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. “We are going to do the 3’6” Green Incentive Finals and Derby Finals. This will be our first time doing Derby Finals, so I am very excited, and hopefully we will make it to the handy.”
She felt this week’s class was ideal preparation. “I think this ring mimics the Rolex Stadium. The jumps here are beautiful, and they brought out a bunch of new jumps today, so everything was fresh. I think this was perfect prep.”
$12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results
Timothy Maddrix Makes It Happen on a Whim with MTM Well Said in $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
The $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby kicked off the day in the WEC Stadium, where 20 horse-and-rider combinations vied for top honors. In a last-second turn of events, Timothy Maddrix stepped in for a catch ride aboard Marie-Claude Motty’s MTM Well Said—and rode straight to the win with two standout scores in the 90s.
“I randomly picked up the ride at 8:30 this morning,” Maddrix laughed. “It’s one of the nicest and best-jumping horses I’ve ever ridden. He was so simple, too, and his form is spectacular. When I was schooling, everything was easy—easy lead changes and perfect form over the jumps.”
Despite the spontaneous catch ride, Maddrix let the flashy six-year-old Warmblood gelding shine in the first round. “I went to the first jump in the ring and he jumped it about a 12,” he joked. “Then I just tried to coast around the rest.” The round earned a stellar score of 97.
Coming back for the handy in the lead, Maddrix still had work to do—Lauren Patterson was sitting close behind with a total of 188 after scores of 91 and 97. The pressure was on, but Maddrix stuck to a simple strategy: “Try not to lose,” he said. “I’m not very good at coming back on top—I’m much better at having to be really handy and climb up.”
“I just went out and galloped and sliced the first jump, and he actually jumped me out of my tack a bit,” he laughed. “Then sliced the next, and was tidy back to the in-and-out. I was just trying to be as neat as I could without doing anything crazy to lose.”
Another top score of 92 gave the pair a total of 189 and the win.
Maddrix credited Tracy Fenney and Mike McCormick for the quick confidence boost. “I mean, Tracy is one of the best riders in the world, so when she tells you what you need to know about a horse, you listen—and try not to mess it up,” he said. “I might now be riding the horse at Incentive Finals in Kentucky. He’s a super nice horse, and I’m so happy I got the catch ride today.”
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results
Mary Beth McGee Pilots Sergant Drew Wu Jof to Outstanding Scores in the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Nineteen talented junior and amateur athletes took to the WEC Stadium to contest Joe Carnicom’s winding derby tracks, each hoping to earn the coveted blue ribbon. In the end, it was Mary Beth McGee who rose to the occasion, piloting her own Sergant Drew Wu Jof (Diarado x Carabiena Jof) to two exceptional rounds and some of the highest scores of her amateur career.
McGee and the nine-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding laid down a textbook first round, impressing the judges with a flowing, confident trip that earned a massive 96. “I thought the first round was great,” McGee shared. “In the Open class, I saw quite a few have that first jump down, so I made sure I was careful there. But the rest just flowed beautifully, and he jumped amazing. It was the highest score I’ve ever had!”
Returning on top for the handy round, McGee was determined to keep her momentum. “Sometimes nerves get to me, but I just tried to pick up a canter and keep going,” she said. “He trotted the trot jump perfectly. He loves being handy, and he’s dead brave, so I knew I had a good shot, as long as I stayed on pace and didn’t let myself get too slow. He was incredible.”
With another impressive score of 95, the pair totaled 191 to take home the blue ribbon and top honors.
McGee spoke warmly about her promising partner. “I bought him at the World Sport Horse Auction in 2024, and he’s just so sweet. He’s the most perfect boy,” she said. “I’m still just so excited. To get not only one but two scores that high is just amazing. It’s also always so fun to come out in the purple Stadium. WEC is awesome. The people are so great, and they try so hard to keep the facilities in top shape and have anything that you would need.”
$10,000 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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