Ocala, FL – It was another perfect sunny Florida day at World Equestrian Center – Ocala as more than 100 gorgeous hunters gathered at Hunter 1 to compete for the top prize in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Peter Grant (CAN) built the winding tracks that saw competitors to reach scores in the mid-90s.
Twenty-two of the country’s best hunter combinations vied for the blue ribbon in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, but none could best Samantha Schaefer and In The Know (Arkansas x Cavelle) after their performance secured a pair of scores in the 90s.
“The course was beautiful today. The jumps were big, and I really enjoyed how they used the end of the ring to connect the track. You felt like you were riding jump to jump, rather than taking a stroll in the turns,” Schaefer shared.
Schaefer and the seasoned 13-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Madeline Schaefer found a textbook first round to receive a high score of 94.
The pair returned for the handy in the lead, “I have to thank Daniel Geitner for helping me. They changed the high option side on the second to last jump, I would have turned and figured it out, but he was kind to say something,” said Schaefer. “The handy was a lot of fun. The beginning really made you think, you had to be on it to get inside to the trot jump and even through the gap to the second.”
Schaefer and In The Know were awarded another high score of 91 for their brilliant handy performance giving them a two-round total of 185 and the win.
“I ran out of things to say about Spyder, he’s just perfect and I could tell he had a lot of fun in the handy. It was a great class. We also had a huge audience that was really getting into it, which made it even better,” expressed Schaefer.
$20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 In The Know, Samantha Schaefer, Madeline Schaefer: 94 | 91 | 185
2 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC: 92 | 89 | 181
3 Billy Awesome, Rowan Willis, Donald Stewart: 87 | 90 | 177
4 Civiera, Tina Judge-Boyle, Judy Power: 88 | 88.5 | 176.5
5 Cartel, Jeffrey Ayers, Jeffrey Ayers: 91 | 84 | 175
6 Chatsworth, Olivia Groenewegen, Olivia Groenewegen: 86.5 | 88 | 174.5
7 TBS Rolls The Dice, Ehrin Rittmueller, Kimberly Mulligan: 84 | 86 | 170
8 Carrera S, Isabelle Lapierre, Johannie Legare: 81 | 85 | 166
9 UFO De Nisi, Leanna Lazzari, Leanna Lazzari: 85 | 80 | 165
10 Odarco Van Het Schaeck, Samantha Wolfram, Paige Cade: 82 | 81 | 163
Daniel Geitner Lands Double Victory in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Thirty-seven horse-and-rider combinations put forth their best efforts in this morning’s $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby. It was a banner day for Daniel Geitner who piloted Cadoretto (Cador x Caletta) to first place and Story Hour (Casalico x Antonia) to second place.
Geitner received first-place honors aboard Mia Bakotic’s 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding Cadoretto with a first-round score of 91 and a second-round score of 94 for a two-round total of 185.
Geitner recently reunited with Cadoretto, “We sold Cadoretto to a junior rider a few years ago, and she’s off to college now, so they sent him back to us to show. He’s an incredible horse and a pro. He’s jumped at Derby Finals in the past, but hasn’t done a derby in a while. He knows the ropes – all I need to do is get his energy up.”
Donald Stewart’s seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding Story Hour secured second place with Geitner in the irons on a first-round score of 85 and a handy score of 91 for an overall score of 176.
“Story Hour is a new one. I just started riding him this week. He’s special. He’s a beautiful mover and jumper. We are going to start doing him in the First Years and Green Conformation. This was a little bit of an ask for him, but he’s such a talent that he was able to answer all of the questions,” told Geitner.
Geitner enjoyed today’s class, “It was a great way to start out the day. We have beautiful weather, a beautiful course and my horses couldn’t have gone any better. Peter Grant is a great course designer, and he asked a few questions. The one stride was only in the handy and that proved to be a bit of challenge for some. On Cadoretto I went inside to the last one stride, and I think I was the only one to do that. Story Hour is a bit more green, so I played it safe and went around. It was a nice handy track where you could make some inside turns, show off and gallop a bit.”
$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Cadoretto, Daniel Geitner, Mia Bakotic: 91 | 94 | 185
2 Story Hour, Daniel Geitner, Donald Stewart: 85 | 91 | 176
3 Blue Monday, Hillary Johnson, Stephanie Battershall: 89.5 | 85 | 174.5
4 Inspiration, Clair Kellner, Mindy Carreja: 90 | 84 | 174
5 Royal Balou, Jordan Lubowm Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC: 81.75 | 92 | 173.75
6 Lone Star, Hillary Rheinheimer, Tracy Leahy: 85.5 | 85 | 170.5
7 Blaze, Ehrin Rittmueller, Kimberly Blasko: 83 | 82 | 165
8 Anthemis Z, Jordan Lubow, Jordan Lubow: 82 | 82 | 164
9 24K Magic, Clair Kellner, Mary McNeel: 88 | 74 | 162
10 MTM Idolized, Kyle Muckler, Lynn Parker: 84 | 69 | 153
Isabelle Ehman & Jagerbomb Are Victorious in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
The $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby invited 43 talented junior and amateur athletes to compete over Peter Grant’s derby tracks. Isabelle Ehman and Donald Stewart’s Jagerbomb (Diarado x Chaccalou) impressed the judges to receive a winning score of 182.
Ehman and the ten-year-old Oldenburg gelding found a seamless first round for a score of 93.
Ehman spoke about the adorable gelding, “Jagerbomb is perfect. He’s like a dog in the barn. He loves treats and people. He tries so hard when he’s in the ring, and really makes you want it.”
Ehman and Jagerbomb were sitting on top returning to the handy, “I just wanted to lay down another nice round. I don’t put pressure on myself because that makes the situation worse. I tried not to think about what score I needed, I just wanted to do my best and do the turns my trainer Don Stewart told me to do. Jagerbomb was perfect and I am very proud of him.”
The pair floated around the handy track to secure a score of 89 for an overall score of 182.
$15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Jagerbomb, Isabelle Ehman, Donald Stewart: 93 | 89 | 182
2 Prado, Katalena Prusso, Falcon Ridge Stables: 87.5 | 88 | 175.5
3 Hero, Luke Rinehart, Luke Rinehart: 91 | 83 | 174
4 Just You Wait, Judah Singer, Margaret Wolfe: 88 | 84 | 172
5 Condor, Isabel Harbour, Robin Felton: 85 | 85 | 170
6 Lost Art, Isabel Harbour, IMH Equine, LLC: 83 | 86 | 169
7 Opportunity Mars, Katie Kantrovitz, Katie Kantrovitz: 86 | 82.75 | 168.75
8 Viscolano, Katalena Prusso, Falcon Ridge Stables: 86.5 | 82 | 168.5
9 Cameo, Maddie Tosh, Betsee Parker: 87 | 81 | 168
10 Tangelina, Cara Garito, Cara Garito: 82.75 | 77 | 159.75
‘THE STYLE OF RIDING AWARD’
Before the start of the handy round in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3′ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, the prestigious Style of Riding Award was presented to Karen Howey for her classic style and her sportsmanship. The Style of Riding Award is generously presented by Bill Rube to be awarded to the rider who best displays the American Style of riding in the ring and sportsmanship outside of the competition arena. The recipient serves as a role model for preserving the integrity and tradition of equestrian sport. “This award is very special to me because the recipient of this award pays it forward both in and out of the show ring,” says Rube. Howey received an elegant duffel bag and wore a white rose corsage on her lapel throughout the handy round to signify her achievement.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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