Lauren Schweppe Lets Cataumet Take the Lead to Victory in $10,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby 

12 JUN 26 Ocala, FL

A rider in equestrian attire jumps a brown horse over a wooden obstacle in an indoor arena with a scoreboard in the background.

Ocala, FL – World Equestrian Center – Ocala welcomed a talented field of hunter riders to the air-conditioned comfort of Indoor Arena 1 for three featured derby classes: the $10,000 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. Dean Rheinheimer designed winding tracks that rewarded brilliance, adjustability and handiness.

Lauren Schweppe closed out Hunter Derby Friday with a standout performance aboard Cynthia Boudreau’s Cataumet (Cabachon x Gaya) to take top honors in the $10,000 Golden Ocala 3’6″-3’9″ Hunter Derby.

A rider on a brown horse jumps over an obstacle in an indoor arena with a large digital scoreboard displaying event and participant details in the background.
Lauren Schweppe & Cataumet. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Schweppe and the seasoned 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding earned an 88 in the classic round before returning for an unforgettable handy trip.

After watching several competitors tackle the course, Schweppe made a last-minute adjustment to her plan. “I was nervous already, and then I watched Tim Maddrix go around and do some really cool turns. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I can’t do those.’ My plan was to be conservative, but then Jake Evans went in and got a high score with some inside turns, and then Dorrie Douglas went around beautifully and got a high score too. My whole plan changed the second I walked in. I thought, ‘Okay, I’m just going to do what my horse wants.'”

That decision paid off. A daring inside turn to the trot jump helped elevate the pair to a winning handy score of 94 and an overall total of 182.

“Every question I asked him, he was there for me. The inside turn to the trot jump was a total accident. I walked it and thought, ‘There’s no way I can pull this off.’ But I landed from the two-stride, and he was galloping through the corner looking for the next jump. He jumped the high side of that big, scary, bushy jump great, landed, and was already turning. I thought, ‘Well, let’s turn.’ We turned really tight, and suddenly the trot jump was right there. I thought, ‘Okay, do it. Try it.’ It worked out, and it was slick. I definitely didn’t plan it.'”

Four women and a horse pose indoors; one woman is mounted, another holds a large check, and others stand beside a banner. There are flowers and stadium seating in the background.
Lauren Schweppe & Cataumet. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Schweppe credits the gelding’s heart and partnership for their success. “He’s just amazing. I have an amazing animal. That’s all I can say. He has so much heart.”

$10,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results 

Megan Wexler Guides Rising Star Kobalt des VK to the Top in $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby 

A rider in equestrian gear gives a thumbs up while jumping a horse over an obstacle during an indoor show jumping competition.
Megan Wexler & Kobalt des VK. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

The $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3′ Open Hunter Derby kicked off the day, with Megan Wexler and Kobalt des VK (Comme Il Faut x Egrie des Plains) proving best of the field.

Owned by Mackenzie McGehee, the six-year-old Selle Français gelding impressed from the start, earning an 86 in the classic round.

“He’s a six-year-old owned by my clients from Jacksonville, Mackenzie and Ashley McGehee. We imported him about a year ago from the Holger Hetzel auction. We bought him from Jeremy Sweetnam. Jeremy trained him as a young horse and said, ‘This is your derby horse,’ and we had to have him.”

A rider on a brown horse jumps over a green hedge obstacle during an indoor equestrian competition, with a scoreboard displaying event and participant information in the background.
Megan Wexler & Kobalt des VK. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Returning for the handy, Wexler balanced showcasing the gelding’s natural talent while giving the young horse time to process some of the more challenging questions. “I looked at a few inside-turn options, especially after the trot jump. The trot jump was quite impressive today with the log on top and the bell towers, and there was an inside turn available there. I decided to take a double inside turn after the hedge. Then, after the trot jump, because he’s still a young horse, I decided to go around and just keep the gallop.”

The strategy earned a winning handy score of 92 and a two-round total of 178.

Five people and a horse pose indoors at an equestrian event; one person on horseback holds ribbons, others hold a trophy bag and an oversized check.
Megan Wexler & Kobalt des VK. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Wexler is excited about the gelding’s future and his upcoming plans with his owners. “He’ll do the Adult Hunters and the Amateur Derby with his owners.”

She also shared her enthusiasm for spending the summer in Ocala. “We’re excited for the summer season here. We love it so much.”

$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results 

Hayley Waters Wear Keeps the Momentum Rolling with Genuine in $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby 

A rider in formal equestrian attire and helmet guides a horse over a green jump during an indoor show jumping competition.
Hayley Waters Wear & Genuine. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Twenty-two talented junior and amateur athletes contested the $10,000 USHJA National 3′ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Hayley Waters Wear who returned to WEC – Ocala right back on top aboard Genuine (Diarado x Kampari W), owned by Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Waters.

A rider in formal equestrian attire sits on a brown horse wearing a blue ribbon, moving on a sandy arena next to a white fence.
Hayley Waters Wear & Genuine. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Waters Wear and the Oldenburg gelding earned an 85 in the classic round before returning for a polished handy performance. A score of 91 in the second round boosted the pair to an overall score of 176, securing the victory by nine points.

Since beginning her partnership with Genuine, Waters Wear has watched the talented gelding continue to mature into a dependable competitor. “Genuine has grown up so much! He had a little bit of a late start but has become so dependable!”

A woman on horseback poses with a ribbon beside a woman holding a large check, while a man holding a child stands nearby in an indoor arena with jumps and flowers.
Hayley Waters Wear & Genuine. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

The win also marked a successful return to indoor competition for Waters Wear, who appreciates the unique advantages of summer competition at WEC – Ocala. “It’s so nice to have the climate control, but I also really love when we get to show in the Stadium. It’s the best of both worlds!”

$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.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

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