Tag Archives: USHJA International Hunter Derby

John French and Milagro Master $25k USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt-N-Go

John French & Milagro. Photo © Sportfot.

Competition in the International Ring at Wellington International drew to a close Friday afternoon with a total of 47 top hunter combinations taking to the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Perfect Products. Over a course designed by Andy Christiansen as an efficient hunt-and-go format, the lead changed hands several times throughout the one-round challenge, but ultimately the top honors were awarded to John French and eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding Milagro.

“He stands out in the hunter derbies because he has a lot of scope; he is slow in the air so I can make the tight turns on landing easily; he is very brave, and I never have to worry he’s going to look at anything,” French gushed of the gelding.

As no stranger to the victory gallop, once French got through the first half of the course, which he expressed had a few tests for himself, he knew that Milagro’s exceptional form and athleticism would take care of the rest.

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John French and Milagro Win WEF Premiere $25k USHJA International Hunter Derby

John French & Milagro. Photo © Sportfot.

John French set a high bar for the 2023 hunter season at Wellington International with Milagro on Friday. The pair jumped around effortlessly to steal the win in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during opening week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.

Thirty combinations set out to conquer the classic derby format class as a highlight to professional, amateur, and junior hunter competition during WEF’s 2023 debut.

Right behind French came Michael Britt-Leon and Bacchus, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding owned by Kelly Sims, in second place, followed by Greg Crolick and Zanziebar R Z, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jon Cotton, in third place.

French and Milagro, the coming eight-year-old gelding owned by Kent Farrington, LLC, claimed the derby victory over an interesting course plan in front of two panels of judges.

“The course was different; it wasn’t your typical turns, so you had to really pay attention to where you were going. There were times you thought you’d be going left, but really you were turning a little sharper to the right,” he said after posting a first-round combined score of 186. “Sometimes you do that in the handy, but there were a lot more turns today. It was definitely a true derby course and not your normal hunter course.”

Tomas Yofre Has What It Takes in Bainbridge 1.40m Speed Challenge

Argentina’s Tomas Yofre is off and running at WEF with a victory in the Bainbridge 1.40m Speed Challenge on Friday riding Eliante Z, a 2013 Zangersheide mare by Ermindo W. From a starting field of 62 over a course designed by Eric Hasbrouck USA, Eliante Z proved she had the speed to top them all for owner by Stellium Sport Horses LLC.

“I am so thankful to Olivia Broder and her family for trusting me with this special mare,” said Yofre of the mount he’s only been partnered with since the end of the 2022 season. “She gets better and better. She is super careful and competitive, and I think she can win any class she wants.”

Sweeping the rest of the podium, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny took second on California Pie, owned by Oakland Ventures, and third aboard Cicomein VDL for owned HKC Collection LLC.

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Matt Cyphert and No Secret De La Pomme $40k USHJA International Hunter Derby under the Lights

Matt Cyphert and No Secret De La Pomme ©Natalie Suto Photography for TIEC.

June 10, 20220 – Matt Cyphert (USA) and No Secret De La Pomme came up golden in the $40,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House, scoring 382 points over two rounds to be the first to claim an international derby win under the lights in Tryon Stadium. Colin Syquia (PHI) and Front Page, the 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Vigo D’Arsouilles x Cartagena Indias Ecaussinnes) owned by Cynthia Sulzberger, also produced a handy round score of 203 to take reserve on a two-round total of 378 points. Clinching the final podium spot, Kelli Cruciotti-Vanderveen (USA) and Gambler B scored 345 points over two rounds, with the yellow rosette presented to the 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Campbell VDL x Adelwise VDL) owned by Serenity Farm.

Cyphert and the 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding (RMF Cadeau De Muse x Geneve De Muse) owned by Beth Von Brecht navigated the course set by Skip Bailey (USA) for a score of 179 in the first round, clinching the win despite the fact that “Pom Pom” is brand-new to the discipline, he revealed:

“We’ve had him for about two years now, and we’ve done him in the jumpers with his owner, Beth Von Brecht. I’ve played with him in a couple of Midwest Grand Prixs. But you know, he just has such a good jump and he has the right mind for the Hunters, so we wanted to dabble in it a little bit,” he explained. “About a month ago, we did him in a horse show. He was fantastic: champion in the four-foot division, and good in the derby. I think he’s found a new career!”

Earning the perpetual honor of being the first duo to win an International Hunter Derby under the lights in Tryon Stadium, Cyphert noted that he had to contain his mount’s excitement after the first round and help Pom Pom relax into his new role.

“Since this class normally would have been a Grand Prix, and it would have benefited him to be a little bit awake and alert, we had to sort of work to chill him out, and take a breath. Even after the last jump in the first round, he was so good, and people clapped and he really wanted to get excited about that, but he held it together. I’m just so proud of him. He always tries hard.

“It [riding under the lights] obviously kind of adds to the suspense and the excitement of it all. For us, Derby Finals is on our radar. What a great preparation for a class like that! You had a nice crowd, with legitimate size jumps, and so they really got the same atmosphere that they’re going to have in a couple of months at Derby Finals,” Cyphert shared about the evening class.

Based in Argyle, TX, Cyphert and team make it a point to attend TIEC competition each year, Cyphert emphasized. “We have been coming here for years… I mean, years and years, and we love it. I was kind of laughing with J. P. [Godard] because I’ve won a couple Grands Prix here. I told him how much I liked this ring; it has a little bit of magic for me. Now, in the Hunters as well!”

Cyphert concluded of the venue, “I don’t know what you can’t like about it. I mean, the rings are fantastic, and it’s a well-run show. We love the area, too; there’s just so many things to do between golfing, hiking, restaurants, and more. The customers love it, we love it, J. P. does a great job running it. It’s always on our schedule every year – sometimes different times of the year – but we always make an effort to be here.”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Paul O’Shea and Chancelloress Win $140k CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Series Final

Paul O’Shea and Chancelloress. © Sportfot.

Competition for “Saturday Night Lights” during week 11, sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) was packed with action during the circuit’s penultimate week. While hunter riders had the opportunity to take center stage on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village over the weekend in both international and national derby events, show jumpers took to the Wellington International Arena to compete for the top prize in the $140,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final. In a mad dash across the finish line, Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Chancelloress claimed the leading spot.

The night culminated with both an overall series champion as well as the final class winner. Spectators in the night’s crowd were treated to extra excitement as the new name of the venue, Wellington International, was revealed prior to the first horse on course. Course designer Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) raised an impressive challenge to the field of 48 starters representing 17 nations, and only five of the original entries managed to earn a slot for the short track. The jump-off came down to a battle between the U.S. and Ireland as Spencer Smith (USA), Laura Kraut (USA), and Alex Matz (USA) took on countrymen Mark McAuley (IRL) and O’Shea.

With three to follow, McAuley was the first to produce a double-clear effort in a tidy time of 36.97 seconds aboard LT Competition’s 10-year-old CH mare O’Hara ELS (Ogano Sitte x Liandero). However, the taste of victory didn’t last quite as long as hoped when O’Shea immediately followed and shaved over a second off of McAuley’s effort in 35.51 seconds.

“I knew Alex would be fast, and that Laura was after me too,” explained O’Shea. “I didn’t get to see Mark go but he is always fast, so I just tried to do the best round that I could.”

O’Shea credited his mount with rising to the occasion for the class and has high hopes for the end of season with the Trelawny Farms’ 13-year-old Hanoverian mare (Chacco-Blue x Balou Du Rouet).

The Irish also took the overall victory of the CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Series as Shane Sweetnam was named the leading rider through the entirety of the circuit. Despite never having worn the winning cooler, Sweetnam’s consistency and six top-five placings throughout the season with four different mounts was enough to earn the honors.

Jimmy Torano and Laskano Can’t Be Beat in $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

As top hunter riders took their final turn on the turf at Equestrian Village, Jimmy Torano once again led the lap of honor across the grass as he claimed yet another victory aboard Isalou Inc.’s Laskano. Thirty of the country’s best hunter riders donned their shadbellies astride perfectly manicured athletes for the $50,000 USHJA International Derby. The competition was down to the wire but ultimately, as the pair have done repeatedly throughout the WEF season, Jimmy Torano and Laskano emerged at the top of the elite field. Torano and his talented mount held one of the top 12 coveted spots from the start and returned as one of the final few pairings to contest Ken Krome’s handy course.

Looking on to determine the class winner were Bob Crandall and Ken Krome from the Panel One judges box and Rob Bielefeld with Melissa Bark for Panel Two. Krome designed a handy phase worthy of its opponents that included multiple rollbacks, a trot fence, and a two-stride combination in a bending line to a bounce. Competitors could earn four additional points for high options and were rewarded with extra points for handiness.

The top 12 returned in reverse order and after returning in the tenth-place position, Hannah Isop put the pressure on the remaining riders when she and Red Ryder, an 18-year-old Selle Francais gelding, scored a total of 210 for their efforts in the handy. The massive score catapulted Isop into the lead and put the pressure on Torano to display another flawless effort.

Kelley Farmer took the yellow ribbon honors aboard a horse that is competing for the first time in the U.S.

Torano was not going down without a fight, however, and he gave it his all with the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding to earn another incredible score over the 200-mark with a total of 206 points from the respective judges. The round once again led the field, and Torano piloted Laskano to an overall score of 393 points.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Laskano Continues Derby Win Streak in $15,000 USHJA International Hunt & Go at WEF

Jimmy Torano and Laskano. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 25, 2022 – The 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival continued week 11 competition, sponsored by Palm Beach County Sports Commission, on Friday, March 25, 2022, with top hunter competition on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village and international jumpers in CSI4* and CSI2* classes on the main grounds of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Taking home yet another derby win this winter, Jimmy Torano and Laskano captured the title in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go. Victoria Colvin, Macquarie Simon, and Caroline Olsen took the top prizes in the three sections of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.

Thirty-two riders attempted a course of 13 obstacles in a “Hunt & Go” format, with the first seven fences as their classic round, and the last six fences judged as their handy round.

This “Hunt & Go” format also allowed for a possible extra two points awarded per section for high options taken and handy round bonus points awarded up to a maximum of 10 per judging panel.

Over a course designed by Ken Krome, it was the 30th pair to go, Laskano and Jimmy Torano, that would claim yet another derby victory.

Simon, Olsen, and Colvin Win in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

The $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby out on the grass saw junior, amateur, and open sections with 41, 33, and 43 entries, respectively.

Each section would follow the “Hunt & Go” format with riders attempting a course of 13 obstacles with the first seven fences as their classic round, and the last six fences judged as their handy round with extra points being awarded for high options taken.

The junior and amateur sections ran together but were pinned separately, and riders from each section could end up riding back-to-back, as was the case with the amateur and junior winners, Macquarie Simon and Caroline Olsen.

Macquarie Simon and her own Call Me Cool were 43rd in the order of go and posted a pair of 87s (+2 high options each) for her “classic” and “handy” portions of the course giving them a total of 178 and first position in the amateur section.

The Open section of the derby ran separately and was won by Victoria Colvin on Joelle Sedlacek’s My Style.

Victoria Colvin and My Style chose all of the high options with base scores of 86 and 89 to give them a final total of 179 to earn the first-place sash.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Laskano Takes Top Spot in $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby 2*

Jimmy Torano and Laskano © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – January 6, 2022 – Hunters were the highlight on Friday, January 7, 2022, at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), as Jimmy Torano and Isalou Inc.’s Laskano took the top spot in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby 2*.

After securing the second spot in round one with a score of 182 out of 26 entries, Jimmy Torano piloted Laskano around a twisty second round with bold and precise execution to finish top of the field with a second-round score of 211 and a total of 393.

McLain Ward Notches First 2022 WEF Win

Four-time Olympic medalist McLain Ward (USA) notched his first win of the 2022 WEF circuit on Friday in the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Speed Challenge on Bonnie M Z over 44 other entries. The pair sped to victory in 60.780 seconds over the Eric Hasbrouck-designed course. Finishing just off the pace in second place were Laura Chapot (USA) and Out of Ireland, owned by Chapot and The Edge, who stopped the timers in 61.304 seconds. Catherine Tyree (USA) and Newton van het Krekelhof were third in 65.324 seconds.

Ward and Bonnie M Z showed on Wednesday and improved to a winning performance in Friday’s 1.40m class. Ward got the ride on Bonnie M Z two weeks ago through the Holtgers family of Gut Einhaus LLC. Ward has started a new partnership with them and will train Ansgar Holtgers Jr. Gut Einhaus entered into ownership of the horse in 2018, and he has been ridden by Olympic champions Eric Lamaze of Canada and Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED).

“They asked me to ride the horse and see what I thought he could be,” said Ward of the 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Bentley Van De Heffinck x Berlin. “He’s done up to three-star grand prix. The Holtgers have owned him for a few years, and now we’re getting started with him.”

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Harold Chopping and Catchphrase Collect $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Win

Harold Chopping and Catchphrase ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 9, 2021 – Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) hosted its second $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby of the season during the Tryon Summer 4/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity II Horse Show, with top honors earned by Harold Chopping (CAN) and Catchphrase, who combined for a two-round total score of 384. Havens Schatt (USA) and Cascartini, the Holsteiner gelding owned by Ken and Amy Wexler LLC, were named to reserve after their two-round score of 378. Finishing on a score of 374, Dorothy Douglas (USA) and MTM Lolah LOL, the 2013 Westphalian mare (Los Angeles x Palma) owned by Abigail Davenport, took home third-place honors.

Chopping and the 2010 Zangersheide gelding (Marome NW x Prelude) owned by Barbara Scott were leading on a score of 181 after the classic round, and navigated the Andres Christiansen (USA) course design with a past loss in mind to maintain their lead, Chopping revealed.

“Years ago, I remember I was leading by quite a bit going into the handy round on a horse that I really trusted – he was really a winner – and I was a bit conservative and I ended up second. I cannot forget riding around in the ring that night because it drives me crazy that I didn’t just walk in there and try and win both rounds,” he explained. “So, my strategy this time was to just be aggressive and try and put in a good score.”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Kelley Farmer and In Writing Win $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with One Round

Kelley Farmer and In Writing ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – June 6, 2020 – Friday’s $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the marquis Hunter class of the Tryon Spring 6/92nd Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), saw Kelley Farmer (USA) and In Writing top the first round on a score of 186. Due to weather forcing competition to halt, their first-round score would be enough to take the win. In second, Aaron Vale (USA) and Iwan, a 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Quasimodo VD Molendreef) owned by Madison Rauschenbach, received a total score of 182, while Jennifer Alfano (USA) rode Channing, a 2010 German Sporthorse gelding (Crossfire x Korg) owned by Olivia Woods, to their place on the podium on a score of 169. Josh Dolan (USA) and Menelik, Signe Ostby’s 2010 Hanoverian stallion (Monte Bellini x Statella P), also scored 169, receiving a base score of 83 from the tie-breaker judge to collect fourth place.

Farmer and the 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Quirado x Pandora VLL) owned by David Glefke and Wendy Hofmeister navigated the Lewis Pack (USA) course alongside 21 other horse-and-rider pairs, and added four points for high options. “The course was lovely, and I have to say, I’ve got to brag on my horse a little bit. I have an incredible animal, which makes my life really easy,” Farmer detailed. “The first three jumps were nice, and kind of got you into the course, and for the fourth to fifth bending line you had to have a horse with a bit of scope to jump the high option. But, I know my horse has all the ability in the world, so I never really worry with him – it’s a nice problem to have – when I walk a course, I know that pretty much anything they can build, he can do it.”

Brian Moggre and Nikita Jolie Claim $25,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

Brian Moggre (Flower Mound, TX) and Nikita Jolie cleared the short-course in 28.582 seconds to take top honors in Thursday’s $25,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake in the International Stadium at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). In second, Shane Sweetnam (Lexington, KY) piloted Viti de Longa, a 2009 Selle Francais mare (Contendro I x Babeth Desmulottes) owned by Seabrook LLC, to a jump-off time of 28.807 seconds, while Andrea Torres Guerreiro (Waterford, VA) collected third aboard her own mount Fifty Shades, stopping the timers at 29.125 seconds aboard the 2008 Westphalian gelding (Call Me Number One x Sheltana).

In addition to besting a competitive field, with 53 entries testing the Lewis Pack (Mill Spring, NC) course design, Moggre also claimed fourth aboard the Major Wager LLC owned MTM Vivre le Reve, a 2009 Westphalian gelding (Ustinov x Chellana). Nineteen horse-and-rider pairs challenged the jump-off track, with eight double-clears on the day. For both of Moggre’s mounts, it was their first class after COVID-19 related pauses in horse showing, he explained:

“It was actually the first class back showing for those two horses of mine. I thought it was very welcoming, but at the same time a nice track for the competition. I was very happy with how my horses performed,” he shared. “After having such a long break due to the current circumstances, it is very exciting to be showing again.”

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Julie Curtin and Cassico Defend $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Title at TIEC

Julie Curtin and Cassico ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 5, 2019 – Julie Curtin (USA) and Cassico repeated their 2018 victory in Friday’s $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, earning a first-round score of 182 and receiving a handy score of 212 for a grand total of 394 to top the field. Harold Chopping (CAN) and Barbara Scott’s Catchphrase, a 2010 Zangersheide gelding (Marome NW x Prelude), collected scores of 160 and 193 to land in second place on a total of 353, while Kelley Farmer (USA) and As Quoted, the 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Zambesi TN x Bybalia SMH) owned by David Glefke, produced rounds garnering scores of 178 and 172.5 to claim third with a total of 350.5.

Curtin and the 2011 Holsteiner gelding (Carrico x Trevigiana) owned by Rebekah Warren were able to earn a repeat victory from last year’s USHJA International Hunter Derby during Tryon Summer 4, besting a competitive field of 21 entries over the Dean Rheinheimer (USA) course design. “The course rode really nicely,” Curtin reported. “There were a lot of long lines out there, which is nice, but it’s sometimes kind of easy to get lost. This is the first time I’ve ridden in this arena – Cassico actually won this same Derby last year here on the grass! It was nice – the footing is great, and the course rode really great.

“We were eight points behind [going into the handy], so I had to just go for it all,” Curtin explained of her winning strategy. “We took every tight turn, high option, and just tried to lay it down, because I knew I had some ground to catch up. We’re getting ready for Derby Finals, so I knew I had to practice. I knew it would either work or it would not, and today it worked! He’s such a scopey horse. The jumps were big, and it was hard, but he was good.”

They made up the difference – and earned their 41-point lead – in two areas, Curtin believes: in their first jump, choosing the high option, and in overall handiness. “Jump one was hard – that was a blind turn for a high option, but he handled it so well. But otherwise, I just tried to keep it tidy everywhere. And he’s so scopey that on all the tight turns it just kept coming up nicely. The two-stride came out a little long, but he just got right up there and handled everything beautifully.”

While Derby Finals is the next goal in focus, Cassico will be Curtin’s ride in National and International Derbies for a long time to come, she hopes. “He’s still young and has a big future, so we’re really excited. Hopefully, Derby Finals will go well, but then his mother is going to start showing him; I will just do Derbies with him and let him be an amateur horse. Right now, I’m doing Derbies and High Performance with him, but we’ll back down a little bit and let her ride him in the Amateurs. Hopefully, I’ll have him for the next eight years to do Derbies on!”

Curtin, who also earned second in Friday morning’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, concluded, “It was a very good day! Tough competition – it’s always a tough competition when Kelly [Farmer] and Evan [Coluccio] have as many horses as they had each! I’m very happy about the win.”

For full results from the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Daniel Geitner and One Request Granted $50k USHJA International Hunter Derby Win

Daniel Geitner and One Request ©Sportfot.

Tryon, NC – June 7, 2019 – Daniel Geitner (USA) and Elizabeth Tarumianz’s One Request were awarded top honors in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) with an overall score of 371. Holly Shepherd (USA) with Tybee, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding by Black Tie owned by Helen Brown, finished in second place on a total score of 349. Erin Floyd (USA) claimed third place aboard Any Given Sunday, a 2003 Oldenburg gelding by Indoctro x Victoria owned by Hays Investment Corp., with a score of 347.

Out of 21 pairs to take part in the highlight Hunter class of the Tryon Spring 6 Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Show, Geitner and the 2010 Selle Francais gelding impressed the judges over the course set by Dean Rheinheimer (USA) and secured first place after their handy performance. Last to go in the second round, Geitner was able to observe competitors ahead of him and adjusted his strategy accordingly, he explained.

“It was a beautiful course. It rode a little trickier than it walked. It walked relatively simple and it just rode a little bit trickier than I think we first thought,” Geitner said. “My original plan [in the handy] was to go to the inside to the two stride, but once I realized I probably didn’t have to, it made it relatively easy. Honestly, his [One Request] jumping style is just spectacular, so I just tried to stay out of his way.

“The jumps were beautiful and my horse obviously jumped amazing,” Geitner continued. “This is only his third Derby, and he’s won two of them now. Last year he did the first years, green conformation, and the amateurs with his owner. This year we’ve done just a couple shows.”

Despite his horse’s newness to the International Derby ring, Geitner reported that One Request took to the atmosphere of Tryon Stadium well: “He was great [in the atmosphere]. Not much phases him, and actually it really had him jumping. He was not close to any jump, and really rose to the occasion,” he said. “I thought the first round was great, and I thought he was even better in the handy. He just jumped higher and higher the more we went.”

Geitner will keep competing One Request in more Derbies, hoping to continue their success thus far, and plans to aim for Derby Finals ahead of the indoor season, he explained. “We just got back from Devon. We sent some ponies here a couple weeks ago with our assistant, but this is our first week. We are happy to be back.

“Unfortunately, we go back home next week, but we come back in July for a couple weeks and for sure a few weeks in the fall,” concluded Geitner. “I personally won’t come back here for Pony Spectacular [Tryon Summer 3] but I hope my wife and some of the pony kids are!”

For full results from the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.