We had a blast this week as we wrapped up the final show of the WEC Spring and Summer Series. Exhibitors and spectators alike enjoyed everything from water slides, to ice cream and pizza parties, to live music along with thrilling equestrian sport in the beautiful outdoor complex. Sunday morning hosted the CMH Hoofless Derby 5k where more than one hundred participants ran through and around the beautiful WEC grounds. All had a fantastic time and $4,000 was raised to support the local Wilmington High School Cross Country Team. The week’s feature classes were dominated by Jumpers, including the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
Feature class action began on Thursday with the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m sponsored by CWD Sellier where Taylor Kain and Eirecon Equine Sales’ Gipsy 1134 (Corlensky G x Landina) took first place. The technical track for the Welcome Stake kept all but two out of the jump off. First to jump a clear first round was Shannon Clifford aboard RK Vincent Santa Monica. The pair took their time throughout the first course to ensure a clear round and crossed the timers with all rails up at 79.695 seconds. Clifford and RK Vincent Santa Monica continued straight to the jump off of the Table II 2b event and kept their focus centered on leaving rails up rather than trying for a speedy time. The pair only had one unfortunate rail in a time of 47.433 seconds. Shortly after, Taylor Kain and Gipsy 1134 blazed through the first round in their usual impressive style, jumping clear in a time of 74.326 seconds. The pair continued straight to the jump off hugging the inside track and keeping a brisk pace. Kain and Gipsy 1134 pulled one unlucky rail before stopping the clock, but their quick time of 37.632 seconds proved to be more than enough to take the win.
Friday afternoon saw thirty one entries contest for the win in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and, by the end of the class, it was three Jumpers, both current and former, that earned scores into the nineties and claimed the top three spots. First place was awarded to Summer Hill and her talented former Grand Prix mount Vendome DH Z (Va-Vite x Veronique), owned by Andrea Simpson. The pair negotiated the course with effortless precision, wowing the judges for a score of 88 in the first round and 92 in the handy round. Timothy Maddrix and M&M Sporthorse’s Casey Jones, a six year old gelding that frequents both the Hunter and Jumper rings, earned second place with a first round score of 88.5 and a second round score of 90. Third place was awarded to Melissa Donnelly and Elizabeth Becker’s Corlando 49 (Cartani x Olanda I) who competed in the Jumpers as recently as 2018. The pair earned scores of 85 and 91 for the yellow ribbon.
Saturday’s $25,000 WEC Grand Prix presented by Buckeye Nutrition saw a brilliant win by top ranked International Grand Prix rider Sharn Wordley and his own Rye Val De Mai (Helios De La Cour II x Jonquille D’Elle). The pair delivered a flawless first round, easily clearing the 1.40 m fences in a time of 70.919 seconds. Eight entries made it to the jump off and Wordley and Rye Val De Mai were first to go clear. Though they took a longer approach rather than the inside track, the pair still managed a speedy time of 38.941 seconds, which snagged them the win. Hot on their trail was Megan Bash and Cleveland Equestrian’s Silver Spring (Larino x Laganita), who also jumped a clear round, but chose the inside track and nearly stole the win with a time of 39.979 seconds. For the win, Wordley and Rye Val De Mai received their lion’s share of the prize money, along with a special prize pack from sponsor Buckeye Nutrition. Throughout the week, exhibitors (and their horses) also enjoyed complimentary peppermint treats courtesy of WEC sponsor Buckeye Nutrition.
The $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire Design on Saturday afternoon saw tough competition with five of the thirteen entries advancing to the jump off. Though many seasoned professionals competed in the class, it was Amateur Madeline Dunlap and her own Don Gerhard (De Chirico x Kenopia) who stepped up to take the blue. The pair have worked their way up from the Low A/O Jumpers over the past year and looked like veterans in the Futures Prix, navigating a foot-perfect first round and jumping clear in a time of 70.065 seconds. The pair continued straight to the jump off of the Table II 2b event, increasing their speed and riding with notable precision. They crossed the timers at 37.637 seconds, which easily held the lead for the remainder of the class.
Shelby Frieszell and Miami University’s Cayenne Z (Corrado x Ghina-S) took the blue in Saturday’s $2,000 WEC Non Pro Hunter Derby 2’6″. The pair bested fifteen entries for the top spot. Frieszell and Cayenne Z also took top placing throughout the week in the Intermediate Adult Hunters and the Intermediate Adult Equitation.
Get your entries in for the WEC Fall horse shows featuring 5 back-to-back shows with nearly $1 Million in money and prizes offered. Feature classes include two $50,000 Grand Prixs and 16 Hunter Derbies during the series with two $20,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies (Open and Non-Pro) weekly. Entries are open now and stall reservations can be made online at www.horseshowing.com.
Thank you for joining us for the WEC Spring and Summer Series and we will see you for the WEC Fall horse shows!
Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography.