Jessie Lang and C. Quito won the 2011 $25,000 USHJA International Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby (Photo: Heather Bellock/PMG).
The entire weekend proved successful as the West Coast's only standalone hunter derby. The success of this derby will hope to encourage the progression of the standalone USHJA International Hunter Derbies throughout the country.. The Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby also worked in collaboration with the Water and Rails Foundation to benefit the ALS of Nevada a non-profit organization.
This weekend riders, judges, and officials, marveled at the wonderful hunter derby course designed by Phil DeVita of Apopka, FL, the excellent footing, and the picturesque setting of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Riders showcased their derby abilities while competing over the first round course of 12 numbered obstacles. After the first round of competition 12 riders were invited back to the show ring to compete over the handy round course, which featured 11 numbered obstacles and included four high options.
Riders had a generous amount of space to plan their track to each fence. The handy round began heading away from the gate over the vertical log pile, which was decorated with wooden carved bear and eagle sculptures. The track then turned to the first of the high options, the wine barrel vertical. Riders then cantered around to the far end of the field to the next high option the barn vertical headed towards the in gate and then headed down the diagonal over a two stride oxer-oxer combination. Next, they rolled back to the right over the trot jump and then had to hand gallop away from the gate over a single oxer at the far end of the ring. After the hand gallop, a short turn back to the left brought them to fence eight a roll top coop and then to the next high option fence, an oxer. To finish, riders turned back to the left to a single vertical away from the in gate and then galloped to the last fence and the last high option a natural oxer.
"I think that the pace went well and I think it rode flowing and smooth. The horses jumped well and it was a nice class," said DeVita. "This is such a wonderful event and I hope that people can continue to come and support it. I tried to bring some local flare into the course so, the ski jump and the carved wooden bears and eagles at the wood jump are from the local area to give it more character. I didn't have a lot of decorations around the ring, just some simple things here and there. There were no gimmicks or tricks, it was very straightforward."
"I thought the course was awesome. I liked the way it rode and really enjoyed this derby event," said today's winner Jessie Lang. "I was encouraged to come here by other people who had shown in the derby last year and were helping to put the show on and I am glad I came."
Twelve horse and rider combinations returned for the handy round and were judged by Julie Winkel, Leo Conroy, Susan B. Schoellkopf, and Daniel Robertshaw. The first of the top seven horses to attempt the handy round was John French and Sarah Draxton's Rienzo. The duo showed off their handiness taking inside turns and demonstrated a bold hand gallop. French chose all of the higher options and earned scores of 86 and 86 to secure the fifth place honors.
"This was the first time I have ridden Rienzo and I think I rode him a little too soft not knowing him. I had one jump where he had an extra step and I didn't think there was an extra step," explained French. "Then I came back and I got a feel for him and he was great in the handy."
French returned to the ring aboard the famous 16-year-old stallion Crown Affair, owned by Yellow Dog Farm with a first round score of 196. The pair received scores of 88 and 88 for their efforts in the handy round. The duo earned a total of four bonus points for their handiness and jumped all of the higher options earning the third place honors.
"I was the most happy with Crown Affair," smiled French. "We were the best in the handy and it was special for me and the owner because it was his last class before he was retired. It was nice that he won that and was third overall. I think he really can turn very well and I know him so I can take tighter turns and everything comes up flowing."
Kelly Van Vleck was the next rider to tackle the handy round and took home the seventh place award with Linda Freeman's P.S. I Love You. The team earned scores of 73 and 75 and eight bonus points and chose three of the higher options. Hayley Bowen and Osilvia navigated the handy course and their scores were enough to earn the sixth place prize. They chose all of the higher options and were awarded scores of 73.5 and 73 with eight bonus points for their efforts.
The next horse and rider combination to enter the ring would ultimately lead the final victory gallop after two solid rounds. Jessie Lang piloted Margot Snowdon's C. Quito to the victory after an impressive handy round. The duo took every inside turn and executed a bold hand gallop keeping a smooth consistent ride throughout their courses. They earned an 87 and an 89 with six bonus points and an additional four points for the higher options. Their rounds could not be matched and they took home today's winning title.
"I have had C. Quito for three years and we got him to do this type of class," said Lang. "The course was over a big, open field and he has a huge stride so I had to keep myself a little collected and not get too big in my step. I thought he jumped great in the first round. I made a small error toward the end of the bending line, so in the handy I made sure I was working on my left turn because a lot of the tight turns were off the left. He jumped so well and was so right on and keen; not too quite and not too strong. C. Quito is up for stud and we have several foals on the ground this year so it is exciting to add this to his career. He is an amazing horse and he just loves the derbies. I really liked it here everything was great and I am glad I came out. I think everything was done so well."
John French returned to the field to try and steal the lead this time aboard Emma Townsend's CR Haribo. The duo pulled out all of the stops showing off their handiness at every turn and galloping with confidence, but only jumped two of the higher options. They earned scores of 86.5 and 85 with five bonus points they came just shy of the win taking home the second place honors.
"I hadn't ridden CR Haribo before today so I didn't really go all out and do all of the higher options," said French. "I was feeling him out during the first round, but he was quite good.
French also took home the fourth place honors aboard Symon, owned by Alison Bailyes. The pair was awarded and 77 and an 87 after jumping one of the higher options and received four bonus points for their handiness. French commented, "Symon's first round I didn't do any of the high options because he is only 15.2 and can do it but sometimes will jump way too high. In the handy I did some of the big options and he jumped really high and one judge really liked it and the other one gave us a lower score."
"I thought the courses were great, and the handy was terrific," French continued. "The jumps here are beautiful and they do a great job. There is no other hunter derby like this on the west coast and I like that it is stand alone and I hope more people start to come. I have been to ones on the east coast and this course is better then all the derby courses I have seen this year."
The 2011 $25,000 USHJA International Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby was hosted by the MacLean family of the Franktown Meadows Equestrian Facility in Carson City, NV. The Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby worked in collaboration with the Water and Rails Foundation to benefit the ALS of Nevada a non-profit organization.
The Water and Rails Community Foundation promotes organizational innovation and collaboration as means by which charitable gifts can be used in the most effective and efficient manner possible. This year, ALS Of Nevada was the beneficiary of the $25,000 Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby. The Northern Nevada community has been enriched through the kind generosity of donors, the quality services provided by local non-profits, and the hard work of many volunteers.
For more information about the 2011 $25,000 USHJA International Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby please visit www.fmhunterderby.com. For more information and questions please contact [email protected] or Lynne Garnett at (775) 722-4261.