Ocala, FL – More than 70 entries took to the WEC Stadium at World Equestrian Center – Ocala for week V’s Hunter Derby Friday. Tucker Williams (USA) built the stunning tracks that emulated the hunt field for 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.
Tiffany Cambria of Upperville, Virginia and Kym K Smith’s Malibu Ken (Cassall x Viness SH) earned the victory in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, besting a field of elite horse-and-rider combinations.
Cambria and nine-year-old gelding delivered an effortless round to secure the first round high score of 92.
The hunter ring is still a bit new for Mailbu Ken, “We bought him from Daniel Bedoya, who brought him over from Europe as a jumper. I ended up trying the horse for his now owner, and we fell in love with him. He was still a little bit green, so we decided to stick him in the hunter ring, so he could focus on straight lines and learn, but he just took to it. So, now we are competing in the derbies and he is loving it. This is his third or fourth derby ever, but I can tell each time he walks into the ring he gets better and better.”
The pair returned to the handy on top, “My goal was to have another confident ride. I wanted to be handy and do some fun inside turns, but he is still a bit green and learning the ropes, so I focused on having a good confidence building round while remaining competitive.”
The plan paid off as the pair secured a handy score of 90.5 for a winning two-round total of 182.5.
Cambria enjoyed competing in the WEC Stadium today, “I had a blast out here today. The first-round rode very well and after we jumped the first jump, it was smooth sailing from there. It was an incredible feeling to compete out in that arena today with the great footing and gorgeous jumps. It’s a pleasure to be able to ride him and compete at such an amazing facility.”
$20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Malibu Ken, Tiffany Cambria, Kym K Smith: 92 | 90.5 | 182.5
2 MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 90 | 89.5 | 179.5
3 MTM Nabilli, Jenny Miller, Erica Prockow: 89 | 90 | 179
4 Ipanema, Josh Dolan, Belle Rolfe: 87 | 91 | 178
5 Jordantinus, David Jennings, Allison Ventura: 86 | 89 | 175
6 Ulysses, Maddie Tosh, Betsee Parker: 88 | 85 | 173
7 Accelerator, Fabian Herrera, Fabian Herrera: 84 | 87 | 171
8 Casimire Ice, Isaac Leffkowitz, Isaac Leffkowitz: 81.5 | 86 | 167.5
9 Clovio Di Lachrifreso Z, Abigail Russo, Cindy Bohn: 83 | 83 | 166
10 Cool Girl, Sarah Barge, Stone Lane Stables, LLC: 81 | 83
Amanda Steege & Tangelina Top the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Twenty-nine decked out hunters gathered at the WEC Stadium early this morning to compete for the blue ribbon in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby. Amanda Steege piloted Cara Garito’s Tangelina (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Lucienne) to victory after delivering two beautiful rounds that secured the top scores from the judges.
Steege and the flashy seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare earned a first round for a score of 90.
“We bought Tangelina here at WEC last year from Paige Cade and Samantha Wolfram. I was competing in this same class on another horse, when she went into the ring. She had a beautiful round and ended up getting a pretty high score of a 90 or 92. While she was on course, I messaged my client Cara Garito because I knew she was watching the live stream and told her to watch the horse. I ended up messaging Samantha on Facebook after the first round and asked about the horse, and at that point I had no idea how old she was or what experience she had,” said Steege. “She ended up telling us she was for sale. Shortly after, Cara and I tried her and after 15 minutes, we knew we had to have her.”
The pair floated around the handy track for a score of 89 and an overall score of 179.
“This is her sixth time doing a handy in her career, and I couldn’t be happier with her. She felt incredible in the first round, and even after the weather change, she came back exactly the same,” shared Steege. “I always have the best time competing in this arena. It’s really fun to come week to week and see what the course designers did differently. The jumps are always beautiful and unique, and no course is ever the same. Today, you could just pick up a flow and gallop around to show off your horse. I loved it.”
$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Tangelina, Amanda Steege, Cara Garito: 90 | 89 | 179
2 Eldoret, Josh Dolan, Karen Redding: 89 | 87 | 176
3 Cataumet, Lauren Schweppe, Cynthia Bourdreau: 87.5 | 88 | 175.5
4 Balou Velvet, Amanda Steege, Felicity Farms LLC: 87 | 85 | 172
5 Blue Monday, Hillary Johnson, Stephanie Bettershall: 88 | 83 | 171
6 L Colantos, Kyle Muckler, Megan Temme: 83 | 86 | 169
7 Royal Balou, Jake Evans, Opening Bell Sporthorses, LLC: 82 | 84 | 166
8 Elated, Sam Meadows, Golden Oaks Farm Inc.: 86 | 78 | 164
9 Correlation, Chris Wynne, Maryellen Kroll: 80.5 | 82 | 162.5
10 Aramona K, Robert Meyerhoff, Danica Meyerhoff: 80 | 76 | 156
Isabel Harbour & Condor Glide to the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Win
The $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby saw an impressive field of 29 entries set out to compete for the top prize over Tucker William’s first round track, but it was Isabel Harbour and Robin Felton’s Condor that emerged victorious.
Harbour and 11-year-old Warmblood gelding produced a textbook first round for a score of 87.
“This is our third show together. His owner is away at college, so they kindly allowed me to show him while she is there,” said Harbour. “I’ve always wanted to ride him. I have been watching him go for years, and he looked so much fun. His canter is amazing, he is so adjustable and always wants to please. He’s a total dream to ride.”
Harbour and the adorable Condor returned for the handy, “I was able to slip in between the in-and-out to go to fence one, and he is such a handy horse, it was easy for him. I rode up to the double combination and found the wall jump on a nice angle. The rest of the course just showed up perfectly. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Despite the rainy conditions, Harbour and Condor put forth a sublime handy effort to earn a score of 85, and the winning two-round total of 172.
$15,000 WEC Ocala Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Condor, Isabel Harbour, Robin Felton: 87 | 85 | 172
2 Consanto, Adelaide Toensing, Lily Toensing: 83 | 88 | 171
3 Kilroy, Isabella Erlick, Isabella Erlick: 86.5 | 84 | 170.5
4 Semi-Automatic C, Taylor Matalon, Peyton Addington: 83.25 | 87 | 170.25
5 Diacasir, Isabella Griffin, Trefoil Farm LLC: 82 | 86 | 168
6 Quaxx 2, Hannah Serfass, Mackenna Moss: 86 | 79.5 | 165.5
7 Briljant Z, Grace Loughlin, Loughlin Sport Horses: 84 | 81 | 165
8 Jagerbomb, Isabelle Ehman, Infinity Equestrian LLC: 88 | 69.5 | 157.5
9 Etiquette, Elise Iafrate, Elise Iafrate: 79 | 78 | 157
10 MTM Wheels Up, Shane Radimer, Radequestrian LLC: 75 | 80 | 155
‘THE STYLE OF RIDING AWARD’
Before the start of the handy round in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3′ Open Hunter Derby, Bill Rube, presented the prestigious Style of Riding Award to Kelley Robinson for her classic style and sportsmanship. 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. Robinson received an elegant duffel bag and wore a white rose corsage on her lapel throughout the handy round to signify her achievement.
Groom’s Class
World Equestrian Center – Ocala hosted a Groom’s Class tonight in the WEC Grand Arena for both hunter and jumper grooms presented by Mane n’ Tail. Large R judge and FEI Level III course designer Kenny Krome judged the Hunter’s Groom Class while Olympic Gold Medalist William Simpson judged the Jumper’s Groom Class. Both judges picked a winner for their class and combined their efforts to find an overall winner.
Joaquin Aguilar took home the winning title in the Jumper’s Groom Class and the overall victor after dressing Mandy Miller’s Loredano Van Noordhoek perfectly for the ring.
Hector Deleon perfectly prepared Amelia Gallagher’s stunning McLaren for the ring earning Deleon the top prize in the Hunter’s Groom class.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV