Wilmington, Ohio – World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) welcomed a field of 20 professional horse-and-athlete combinations to the R+L Arena for the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunt-N-Go Derby of Winter Classic 14. Megan Hubbard piloted three entries around the class but ultimately landed on top with Cindy Bohn’s Crass B (Carrico x Ulanda).
“Cindy imported Crass seven years ago and then she sold him to someone out in California. She bought him back and he just turned 16 yesterday,” Hubbard shared. “I started riding him at the end of last year and I just became a professional, so it is really nice to have him in the barn! For Crass, the format today was really good. He is experienced, so the windy track didn’t throw him off at all.”
Just recently stepping into her professional status, Hubbard noted, “I have a really great team. Cindy [Bohn] is awesome, and she believes in me. Crass is perfect. If you do it right, he is great.”
As the second rider to go in the class, Hubbard instantly went to the top of the leaderboard and was untouchable with a total score of 177 aboard the 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding.
Hubbard and her team made the trip to Wilmington for the first time last week with a group of talented hunters and have found the facility beneficial to their program. “It is amazing here, especially for the green ones. You get to school, it is very inviting, the jumps are nice, and the rings are great. It has been a great experience for us.”
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunt-N-Go Derby Results:
1 Crass B, Megan Hubbard, Cindy Bohn | 177
2 Fineas, Jessica Jurkowitz, Clover Hill Farm | 170
3 West Lake, Melissa Donnelly, Fawn Lake Farm LLC | 167.5
4 Roosevelt Flt, Kelsey Mogel, Linda Ostberg | 167
5 Lerksovs Balrano, Richard Rinehart, Andrea Stout | 166
6 N-July Morning, Melissa Donnelly, Alison Roper | 165
7 Namesake, Allison Amelia Stabley, Lance Shaner | 161.5
8 Ep To You, Maude Boulanger-Bouchard, Maude Boulanger-Bouchard | 159
9 Bugatti, Megan Hubbard, Christine Sheaffer | 154.5
10 Gloves Off, Kelsey Mogel, Kelsey Mogel | 154
Ella Reinauer & Invictus Best the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunt-N-Go Derby
Thirty-three entries kicked off Hunter Derby Friday in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunt-N-Go Derby in the R+L Arena at WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 14. Ella Reinauer and her mount, Invictus (Ginus x Uit Hauke W), led the way as they impressed the judges with their handy efforts in the Hunt-N-Go format to claim the win.
Reinauer has now been partnered with ‘Lucas’ in all three rings and has transitioned him into a standout hunter.
“This is Lucas. He is so funny. He is opinionated which makes him really fun to ride. Even though he is opinionated, our opinions usually match so we work really well,” Reinauer laughed.
“He always wants to do well for you. He used to be my jumper, and we just transitioned him into the equitation and the hunters. He is really good at it. I do him in the Amateur Owner’s and he has been a blast. He is so brave, loves to turn, show off and win.”
Despite it being her first time competing over the format, Reinauer and her mount were well suited for Michael Pegg’s track, “It was a really nice track. I have never done a Hunt-N-Go before; this was my first one. I liked that there was an option for an inside turn toward the end. I talked about it and wasn’t sure at first, but I ended up taking it because is good at turner and I think that really helped me.”
The 12-year-old KWPN gelding jumped to a combined score of 180 to land on top.
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunt-N-Go Derby Results:
1 Invictus, Ella Reinauer, Ella Reinauer | 180
2 Romano, Catie Karpowich, Catie Karpowich | 174
3 Highgate, Catherine Eberly, Catherine Eberly | 170
4 Talk, Elizabeth Rinehart, Elizabeth Rinehart | 169.75
5 Cosworth, Abaigeal Musser, Front Row Sport Horses LLC | 166.5
6 Lover Boy, Jeffery Ruff, Jeffery Ruff | 166
7 Rafiki, MacKenzie Fawcett Cheng, MacKenzie Fawcett Cheng | 165.5
8 Stay Tuned, Ainsleigh Glenn, Ainsleigh Glenn | 164.5
9 Laitdo, Savanna Mcmichael, Savanna Mcmichael | 162
10 Cabochon, Sophie Carlin, Sophie Carlin | 161
Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!
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.