Wilmington, Ohio – The $12,500 WEC 3’6” Hunter Derby was the principle occasion Friday night at World Equestrian Heart – Wilmington (WEC) Summer season II. Exhibitors crowded the Important Hunter Ring to observe as Ava Barnes captured the win with Rivers Edge’s Valentino (Viscount x Raphael’s Lady).
The seasoned group of riders was no match for Barnes as she claimed the blue ribbon with a lead of 11 factors.
Barnes spoke extremely of her successful 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, “I’ve had him since October of 2023. He’s an incredible horse. It took us a minute to click on, however now that we have now bonded, he is really easy. He’s the sweetest horse within the stall. He loves cuddles, treats, and he loves his job. He’s my equitation horse that simply does some derbies on the aspect. He’s the perfect.”
Barnes laughed, “I’ve the perfect staff,” as she was celebrated on the ingate by the staff at New Hope LLC.
“I’ve been with New Hope for six years now and they’re like a second household to me. I really like them a lot. They offer every thing that they will to verify I’m going into the ring confidently.”
The junior rider earned a rating of 82 within the first spherical to return for the useful sitting in second place. Impressing with their second spherical, the duo earned an 89 for a successful general rating of 171.
“He was a bit of recent immediately, so I wished to watch out going to leap one. I considered going inside however I believed it was finest to play it protected and go round. I used to be nonetheless tidy all over the place and general, I believed it was a very nice monitor,” she famous.
Barnes commented on her expertise at WEC – Wilmington, “I’ve been exhibiting right here since earlier than I can keep in mind. I’ve been using for eight years, and I began exhibiting right here on some ponies. It’s so good to all the time be capable to come again right here as a result of I reside so shut. It’s a very nice environment right here, I adore it.”
$12,500 WEC 3’6” Hunter Derby Outcomes
Catherine Rinehart & Story Hour Emerge Victorious within the $10,000 USHJA Nationwide Open Hunter Derby
Catherine Rinehart had a victorious return to the present ring early Friday night, claiming the win aboard Donald Stewart’s Story Hour (Casalico x Antonia).
“I haven’t proven for fairly some time and Luke [Rinehart] and Lizzie [Rinehart] are up in Michigan, so I made a decision to indicate a few the hunters in order that they will hold going and keep match. It was tremendous enjoyable,” Rinehart smiled as she entered the winner’s circle.
The nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding made simple work of the monitor, leaping to a close to excellent first spherical for a rating of 91.
“Story [Hour] is 9. He has been doing the Junior Hunters with Lizzie and the derbies with Hunter Holloway. So, this was mild work for him immediately,” Rinehart shared.
The duo was flawless within the useful spherical for a 90, rising victorious with a two-round complete of 181.
“I appreciated the monitor immediately. It was difficult sufficient. The primary soar was spectacular. The trot soar within the useful was exhausting. It was coming proper again to the gate in a line and the hunters aren’t used to that. However general, I believed it was very nice.”
$10,000 USHJA Nationwide Open Hunter Derby Outcomes
Sophia Welniak & Romy-Ok Van’T Kattenheye Prime the $10,000 USHJA Nationwide Non-Professional Hunter Derby
Twenty-five horse-and-rider mixtures started Hunter Derby Friday at Summer season II within the $10,000 USHJA Nationwide Non-Professional Hunter Derby the place Sophia Welniak and her Romy-Ok Van’T Kattenheye (Bisquet Balou Van De Mispelaere x Jasmijn Van De Donkhoeve) topped the leaderboard.
Welniak and her eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare aren’t any strangers to the winner’s circle having received the category earlier than.
“She is simply great. Now we have come a great distance collectively,” Welniak shared. “I obtained her when she was a child, and we have now actually put up with one another! She has actually come collectively these previous couple months. She has gotten a lot stronger and assured and is simply wonderful.”
Simply earlier than getting into the derby, Welniak got here from a double clear within the jumper ring, “I’m simply glad that I’ve horses that I can rely on. I can hop from one to the subsequent they usually all the time give me 100%. Though I used to be all over immediately, I by no means get careworn as a result of I do know my horses they usually attempt so exhausting.”
The category suited Welniak and her mare, leaping to a first-round rating of 89 to return within the lead for the useful.
“I beloved the primary spherical. It was tremendous easy, so it was good to only be capable to keep on one canter. I like to do the useful on her as a result of she is the best horse ever. It actually examined her, and she or he was nice,” she acknowledged.
A second-round rating of 92 and a two-round complete of 181 went to the highest.
$10,000 USHJA Nationwide Non-Professional Hunter Derby Outcomes
