Wilmington, Ohio – Havens Schatt returned to World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Summer III picking up right where she left off, securing a one-two finish in the $15,000 GGT Footing USHJA National Open Hunter Derby.
Schatt jumped to victory aboard Julia McNerney’s Corsini (Cornet Obolensky x Fidele) and second place with her own Chacoon’s Rouet Ps (Chacoon Blue x Saralina).
Schatt discussed the development of McNerney’s six-year-old Oldenburg gelding, “I tried Corsini in Europe last year around this time. I really thought when I got him as a five-year-old that he could have come here and walk around derby finals. He can really jump. We gelded him when he got here, and he had a bit of a hard time after that.”
“We have really taken our time with him since then. He is a very quiet horse by nature. We have been working with him at home, and our goal will be Green Incentive Finals next week. I think it will be great for him to go and experience it. By the time he is eight, he will be a great amateur hunter for Julia, and I think I will have a lot of fun with him in the derbies!”
The duo earned a first-round score of 87 and a handy round score of 92.5 for a winning total of 179.5, paving the way to a successful week ahead.
Her own seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Chacoon’s Rouet Ps, earned a two-round total of 179 for a close second place.
“This was both of these horses second time jumping in a derby, for in the first round, the in-and-out to the oxer was a little hard to navigate on a young horse,” Schatt shared. “I loved the handy. It gave a lot of options and places to try some turns.”
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results
Sweet Victory for Haylee Moore & Clooney Lb in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby
It was a rewarding day for Haylee Moore as she topped a field of 19 horse-and-rider combinations in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby with her own, Clooney Lb (Caesar x Beatrice Von Wessenberk).
Having been partnered with the now nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding since his four-year-old, today’s victory was sweet for Moore.
“I imported him when he was four. We had a bit of a rough start,” Moore laughed. “We didn’t get to the 3ft for about two years. He has been back and forth in work recently, so this is our first consistent horse show back and he pulled out the win. I couldn’t be happier. I have worked so hard with this horse and finally got the results!”
Though the first-round track didn’t quite suit her and her mount, Moore rose to the challenge to earn the highest first round score of 88.
“At first, I was skeptical of the course. It wasn’t my ideal track with him, so I was nervous, but I think it actually made me better,” she noted. “In the handy, there were so many options which was so nice because I didn’t want to turn him off his feet, but I was still able to be smooth.”
Returning as the final entry in the handy phase, Moore secured her leading position with a second-round score of 86 for a two-round total of 174.
“It feels so good! I can’t stop smiling. I have had other horses that were already made, and it is so much more rewarding to win on one that you made yourself,” Moore smiled as she went home with the blue.