Wilmington, Ohio – Friday evening in the R+L Arena showcased 20 top notch horse-and-rider combinations for the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby. After a competitive handy round, it was the dynamic duo, Melissa Donnelly and Corlando 49 (Cartani x Olanda I) that came out on top.
Having won many derbies in their career together, Donnelly discussed the strict routine that ‘Corey’ follows at every show.
“He has to come out for a hack with an extremely long walk in the mornings, and you have to allow him time for a long nap during the day before you prepare him to go to the ring. He does not handle typically more than two weeks at home, or he starts to get grumpy. He is totally a horse show horse. He is the happiest here. He likes to go home for a few minutes in the paddock, but that’s it,” said Donnelly.
Elizabeth Becker’s seasoned 18-year-old Holsteiner gelding cantered around the first-round track for a score of 90, sitting the pair in third place returning for the second round.
Donnelly shared about her winning handy plan, “I chose to go around the log jump with a gallop. He does better with a little more room on the front side, and it gave me a big gallop to stay hunting everywhere else. That made the other inside options a lot nicer to follow through.”
A textbook handy round, a score of 93 and a two-round total of 183 put the duo in the lead once again.
Donnelly expressed her gratitude for Corlando 49’s owner, Elizabeth Becker, “I am blessed that I am able to show the horses while Elizabeth is at school. It keeps Corey happier, and it keeps them nice and ready for when she gets back!”
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 90 | 93 | 183
2 Caruso Des Flagues, Kathleen Caya, Stephanie Maahs | 92 | 86.5 | 178.5
3 Carallo Z, Matthew Piccolo, Arrow Hill Farm LLC | 86 | 92 | 178
4 Eurythmix, Kathleen Caya, Susan Winchester | 84 | 91 | 175
5 My Autograf, Kevin Kirk, Deborah Shepherd | 83 | 87 | 170
6 Redwood, Patrick Miller, Sarah Miller | 77 | 88 | 165
7 Glekinchie, Natalie Hauber, Stephanie Maahs | 85.5 | 79 | 164.5
8 Credible De Bornival Z, Kathleen Caya, Colleen Nagy White | 87 | 74 | 161
9 Diavisto Na, Joseph Fischetti, Derek Peterson | 76 | 82 | 158
10 Braam, Ashley McCarthy, Kay Calvin | 79 | 77 | 156
Lizzie Rinehart & Bond Secure $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Win at Winter Classic 6
The $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby saw 18 horse-and-rider combinations, but it was Lizzie Rinehart that demonstrated the most accuracy and consistency to secure the lead by 12 points.
Going into the handy with a score of 93 from the first round and a significant lead, Rinehart “mainly wanted to have a solid round,” she noted. “A lot of the inside turns were really tight, so I planned to go around basically everywhere.”
The successful junior rider of her family establishment, Rinehart Farm, utilized her well-practiced skills aboard her favorite horse in the barn, Bond, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding by Clarimo.
Rinehart spoke enthusiastically about her mount, “He has a lot of opinions! Everything goes his way. It took a minute for me to learn to get along with him and sort everything out, but once you do that, he is perfect. He is super sweet. He is a different ride for me compared to horses I have done before. He is so much fun and is my favorite horse to ride. He knows a lot, and it shows when you are riding him.”
The conservative track in the handy paid off for the duo, landing them a score of 89 for a winning two round total of 182.
“We moved up to the 3’6” this year, so I want to get more consistent in the juniors with him. I will hopefully qualify for indoors at the end of the year and continue to do the derbies,” Rinehart commented on her vision for 2024 with Bond.
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Results:
1 Bond, Lizzie Rinehart, Lizzie Rinehart | 93 | 89 | 182
2 Denero, Sophia Welniak, SSAM Equine LLC | 85 | 85 | 170
3 Red Roc, Kiera Phlipot, Kiera Phlipot | 79 | 88 | 167
4 Synchronicity, Allison Roper, Roper Farms | 82 | 79 | 161
5 Nureyev SCF, Jaclyn Fisher, Jaclyn Fisher | 77.5 | 80 | 157.5
6 Capone, Claudia Courtney, Claudia Courtney | 77 | 80 | 157
7 Jumpman, Kara Hays, Kara Hays | 78 | 77 | 155
8 Sweet Spot CTF, Madison Fankhauser, Madison Fankhauser | 73.5 | 78 | 151
9 Cristiano, Leighton Goldberg, Leighton Goldberg | 92 | 52 | 144
10 Hallelujah, Tessa Carlino, Tessa Carlino | 74 | 64 | 138
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Results can be found at wec.net.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.