Ocala, FL – The CaptiveOne Advisors Indoor Arena 1 played host to first Hunter Derby Friday of the 2023 December Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Tucker Williams (USA) crafted the hunter tracks for three derbies: $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby.
Samantha Schaefer and In The Know (Arkansas x Cavelle) secured a hat trick during the first Hunter Derby Friday of the December Show Series. The pair claimed the top prize in the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby during the two-week November Series and continued their success today.
The seasoned pair found a fluid first round, jumping all four high options for a score of 85.
Schaefer knew she had points to make up in the handy, but luckily the 14-year-old Warmblood gelding is a master of the craft. The pair floated around the track, taking tidy turns for the highest score of the day, a 94 for an overall total of 179.
“I thought his handy was perfect. I was really neat from two to three to four, and I think that’s what stood out to the judges. I opted to not take the full inside turn to the trot jump, but I still stayed as tidy as I could,” she said.
In The Know is not just a horse for Schaefer, but a part of the family, “’Spyder’ gets whatever he wants. He’s a little obnoxious in the barn, but he’s so perfect everyone just lets him do what he wants. He’s super spoiled, but rightfully so. He’s a part of the family, and I still have so much fun every time I ride him.”
$12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 In The Know, Samantha Schaefer, Madeline Schaefer: 85 | 94 | 179
2 Wisely, Jordan Lubow, Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC: 90 | 88.5 | 178.5
3 Jagerbomb, Megan Wexler, Double E, LLC: 84.5 | 93 | 177.5
4 Small Safari, Kate Conover, Iwasaki & Reilly: 86 | 87 | 173
5 MTM Aztek, Jenny Miller, Kelly Desaye: 87 | 85.5 | 172.5
6 Paperboy, Erica Quinn, Brighton Farms: 84 | 88 | 172
7 Julington, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 81 | 85 | 166
8 Igor, Brooke Cudmore, Brooke Cudmore: 76 | 80 | 156
9 MTM Idolized, Kyle Muckler, Lynn Parker: 72 | 81 | 153
10 MTM Good Times, Erica Prockow, MTM Farm: 66 | 77 | 143
Kate Conover Lands First and Second in $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
In the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, Kate Conover was the one to beat. The talented athlete piloted two top mares owned by Chris Iwasaki and Liz Reilly to top scores, securing herself the top two spots on the leaderboard.
Conover earned first place aboard Small Love, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare by Chacco Blue x Wisilvia. A first round score of 88 and a handy score of 89 with a two-round total of 177 took the lead.
Her second mount Small Story (Self Control x Eurogirl) received a score of 82 in the first round and wowed the judges in the second round for a high score of 92, for an overall score of 174.
Conover couldn’t have been happier with the results, “It was a great way to start the circuit. Both mares are pretty incredible, and I am very lucky to be able to ride them while Augusta [Iwasaki} is at college.”
Conover spoke about the two skilled mares, “They ride pretty different, but they both try extremely hard. They’re the types of horses that fight, especially in the handy, when you turn tight on fences, they are always trying their best to clear it. It’s always an incredible feeling when you have horses that take the shots with you and try to produce good rounds.”
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Small Love, Kate Conover, Iwasaki & Reilly: 88 | 89 | 177
2 Small Story, Kate Conover, Iwasaki & Reilly: 82 | 92 | 174
3 Mr. Untouchable, Hunter Holloway, Cane Creek LLC: 86 | 87 | 173
4 Cahla Cool, Megan Wexler, Megan Wexler: 66 | 86 | 152
5 Collins, Hannah Matts, James York: 77 | 70 | 147
6 MTM Exceptional, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 89 | 47 | 136
7 Lex Lano, Karen Cudmore, Karen Cudmore: 47 | 82 | 129
8 Evelien, Brooke Cudmore, Kathleen Rose: 48 | 76 | 124
9 Cupido ZG Z, Megan Wexler, Catherine Merrill: 74 | 49 | 123
10 AHT Maverick, Megan Galloway, Nadia Mirza: 72 | 47 | 119
Isabelle Ehman Dominates the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Thirty-three talented junior and amateur athletes contested the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Isabelle Ehman that snagged both first and third place with impressive scores.
Ehman piloted her new partner Charlie Brown (Chaccato x Levade) owned by Donald Stewart to first place with a first round score of 89 and a handy score of 91 for a two-round total of 180.
The hunter ring is a new avenue for the seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding, “This is his second show as an equitation/hunter horse, and he’s pretty good at it! This was his first ever derby and he won it. He exceeded all of my expectations. He went in there and acted like he has been doing derbies his whole life.”
Ehman also found solid scores on No Secret (RMG Cadeau De Muze x Geneve De Muze), a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned Donald Stewart.
Ehman enjoyed today’s tracks built by Tucker Williams, “I really liked the courses. Everything had a number to it, so as long as you stayed on pace, you could just step around,” she said. “The handy was a blast. There were some really fun options to go inside. The inside turn to the trot jump was my favorite.”
$10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Charlie Brown, Isabelle Ehman, Donald Stewart: 89 | 91 | 180
2 Semi-Automatic C, Taylor Matalon, Matalon Equestrian LLC: 90 | 86 | 176
3 No Secret, Isabell Ehman, Donald Stewart: 93 | 78 | 171
4 Catah H, Adele Dewar, Ashland Farms: 82 | 87 | 169
5 Catori, Lilyana Spafford, Bella Clemente: 84 | 82 | 166
6 Remember Romance, Taylor Matalon, Matalon Equestrian LLC: 76 | 88 | 164
7 Hanko, Lyndsey Keen, Stephanie Keen: 79 | 84 | 163
8 Gotham, Jordan Gibbs, Donald Stewart: 85 | 77 | 162
9 Marvelous, Lilyana Spafford, Lilyana Spafford: 88 | 71 | 159
10 Chappalo, Payton Ryan Grant, Payton Ryan Grant: 80 | 72 | 152
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
Plan your stay at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.