Ocala, FL – The first Hunter Derby Friday of the 2023 November & December Show Series lived up to expectations, with impressive scores soaring into the high 90s. A field adorned with beautifully presented horse-and-rider pairs gathered at Hunter 1 to compete in three derbies: the $12,500 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 skillfully crafted the natural tracks that drew acclaim from the riders.
Samantha Schaefer returned to Hunter 1 at World Equestrian Center – Ocala with the famous In The Know (Arkansas x Cavelle), and they did not miss a beat in the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, capturing the win with two scores in the 90s.
Schaefer is no stranger to the winner’s circle at World Equestrian Center – Ocala with her tried-and-true mount, In The Know owned by Madeline Schaefer. The pair continued their success today, yielding an impressive first round for a score of 91.
When it came time to return for the handy, Schaefer knew she could trust the 14-year-old Warmblood gelding to perform, “At this point it’s just fun. I tried to be as handy as I could without going too crazy. I think Jordan Lubow and I did similar turns, but Spyder is just so good at that. He enjoys it. He comes here and gets so much attention, he always puts on his best. He knows the game.”
The pair executed a foot-by-foot perfect track to receive outstanding remarks and a high score of 96 from the judges for a two-round total of 187 for the blue ribbon.
Schaefer is excited to be back at World Equestrian Center – Ocala and is looking forward to the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series beginning in January, “It’s so nice to be back. We will have about 40 horses coming for the circuit. We have 25 stalls at home and then we put up some temporary stalls too. We have circuit stalls here, but on Sunday nights I like to make sure all the horses are in one place,” shared Schaefer. “I have a couple of new ones that we are starting to play around with that I am very excited about. We are going to focus on them these next few weeks while it is a touch quieter, then we will pick up in December, but I have such a great team behind me, I know it will all be great.”
$12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 In The Know, Samantha Schaefer, Madeline Schaefer: 91 | 96 | 187
2 Wisely, Jordan Lubow, Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC: 92 | 92 | 184
3 MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 89 | 91 | 180
4 Blue Zone, Alexa Bayko, Monica Hunt: 88 | 88 | 176
5 Lord Don, Triston Smith, Triston Smith: 86 | 85 | 171
6 Ruby Tuesday, Hunter Holloway, Hays Investment Corp.: 78 | 86 | 164
7 High Renaissance, Elizabeth Blaisdell, Della Equestrian: 78 | 79 | 157
8 Billy Abraham, Rowan Willis, Seven Oaks Sporthorses: 80 | 69 | 149
9 Chacco Ricco, Erika Moore, Noble Steeds LLC: 44 | 87 | 131
10 Hollywood, Erika Moore, Moore Acres, LLC: 50 | 54 | 104
Timothy Maddrix & Cypress Capture the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Win
In the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, a field of nineteen exceptional hunters competed fiercely for the coveted top prize, but it was Timothy Maddrix and Missy Nolen’s Cypress who emerged victorious.
Maddrix showed two horses in the class this morning, and received high remarks from the judges on both. He piloted his longtime partner Cypress to a solid score of 91, but came back a bit later on his newer and younger mount, Candy Man owned by Mark Dorfman, and found a score of 94.
After studying the handy track, Maddrix knew that Cypress would thrive, “The handy felt like it was made for a horse like Cypress to win. I don’t think the course designer envisioned anyone taking the inside turn to the trot jump. It was such a tricky angle, but I know Cypress so well, I did it. Out of all the people that tried it, I think he did it the best and the judges rewarded him for that.”
Maddrix and the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding received an impressive score of 96 for a two-round total of 187 to ultimately secure the win.
“I was so happy with both horses. I can always count on Cypress. The other horse [Candy Man] was amazing in the first round. I think he’s going to be a good one. He’s six and just getting used to this. I messed up the trot jump, but I am still thrilled with him,” said Maddrix about his two talented mounts.
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Cypress, Timothy Maddrix, Missy R. Nolen: 91 | 96 | 187
2 Aladdin, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 90 | 91 | 181
3 So They Say, Brooke Cudmore, Kathleen Rose: 81.5 | 87 | 168.5
4 Lavish, Hannah Matts, Phyllis J. Harlow: 81 | 85 | 166
5 Candy Man, Timothy Maddrix, Mark Dorfman: 94 | 70.5 | 164.5
6 Evelien, Brooke Cudmore, Dorothy Matz: 79 | 85 | 164
7 Celebrity Experience, Mickie Sage, Lola Bacardi: 86 | 74 | 160
8 Emilio, Hannah Matts, Phyllis J. Harlow: 80 | 79 | 159
9 Haldette, Alexa Bayko, Maryann Low-Haviland: 88 | 69 | 157
10 MTM Ahoy, Dorothy Douglas, Nina Koloseike: 87 | 68 | 155
Hannah Klinedinst Scores First Big Win with Classic Hit in $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
The $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby welcomed a skilled group of junior and amateur athletes ready to tackle the beautiful hunter courses designed by Dean Rheinheimer. Hannah Klinedinst, hailing from Dallas, Texas, reigned supreme aboard Classic Hit (Van Gogh x Dinia) owned by Equestrian Closet, LLC, delivering remarkable trips in both rounds to ultimately claim the victory.
Klinedinst piloted Classic Hit to a superb effort in the first round for a score of 93. Klinedinst and Classic Hit were the last pair to return for the handy, and were ready to give the track their best effort, “We were in it to win it. We were going to do all of the turns. He felt great and confident, so I wanted to take advantage of that and see what he could do. It paid off.”
Another high score of 90.5 and a two-round total of 183.5 secured the top spot on the leaderboard for the talented pair. Klinedinst couldn’t have be more proud of the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding, “He had great spirit out there. I have been doing the derbies with him for probably two and half years now. We have been incorporating the more technical pieces here and there. We didn’t do the high options and would stay out in the turns, but we were getting our feet wet. It’s so cool to be able to go in now, do the inside turns, jump the high options and really be competitive. I am so impressed with him today and I am thrilled with the result.”
After such a successful day, Klinedinst shared her admiration for the venue, “It’s such a wonderful facility. It’s so calm and quiet, everything runs smoothy and the rings are so nice. The barns are beautiful and the stalls are amazing. I love how big they are and my horses do too! It’s so great to see the horses sprawling out and laying down. They feel so at home here. It’s such an incredible place to horse show.”
$10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Classic Hit, Hannah Klinedinst, Equestrian Closet, LLC: 93 | 90.5 | 183.5
2 Radioland, Sara Sprague, Judith Sprague: 90 | 90 | 180
3 Genuine, Hayley Waters Wear, Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Waters: 89 | 89 | 178
4 Oyster Bay, Hannah Klinedinst, Equestrian Closet, LLC: 85 | 91 | 176
5 Limitless, Stephanie King, Stephanie King: 87 | 88 | 175
6 I.M. Gold, Bailey Benner, Benner Family Farm: 82 | 86 | 168
7 Hollywood, Capri Truesdale, Mackenzie Greer: 76 | 85 | 161
8 MTM Good Times, Erica Prockow, MTM Farm: 80 | 78 | 158
9 Congham Club, Kendall Dean, KD Equestrian LLC: 79 | 78 | 157
10 Alajolie, Ella Ansolabehere, Ella Ansolabehere: 74 | 79 | 153
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
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