The $5,000 Michael Saunders & Company USHJA National Hunter Derby had 12 entries in the first round, and all returned for the handy round.
Derby course designers Mike Belisle and William Robertson worked together to design the Winter Series II National Derby courses. When designing for two consecutive weeks at a show, Robertson said he aims to create a new look by using different lines and areas of the rings. “(I) keep to the same philosophy,” he said regarding derby course design. “It’s modeled after traditional hunting- (they’re) out galloping, staying in a rhythm.”
Emily Smith (Aiken, South Carolina) and Vera Vita (Larino x Vita Wiwa), a 9-year-old warmblood mare owned by Lorian Peralta-Ramos, won TerraNova Winter Series I’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. This week, they earned a first-round score of 85 with four high options and a handy round score of 79 with three high options.
“Vera Vita handled the windy conditions really well this morning and jumped great,” Smith said. “The first round was challenging, and I was thankful my horse dealt with it so well. The handy round presented plenty of difficult options, and I felt we needed to do every option to get the score we needed to win. I was thankful to my horse for helping me out and allowing us to take every option. Vera Vita is enjoying her time at TerraNova, and we are looking forward to coming back!”
Mackenzie Suffy (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) and Lammtarra (Vagabond de la Pomme x U-Bresco Z), her own 8-year-old KWPN gelding, earned a first-round score of 80 with one high option and a handy round score of 83 with two high options.
“I thought the course rode really nice,” Suffy said. “It asked you to gallop around a little bit and use your space and keep your pace. My horse quite enjoyed it. We normally do the jumpers, and this was his first time in the hunters, being braided and in a shadbelly. He was great! It was fun to be able to open him up a little.”
Suffy showed at TerraNova last weekend during Winter Series I and in 2023 at TerraNova Hunter/Jumper 3 and 4. “The horses love (TerraNova), they’re so happy here,” Suffy said. “He likes to go hack in the field after he’s done. The jumps are gorgeous, the schooling rings are huge, and they’re just super happy. The stalls are amazing, too.”
Hugh C. Mutch (Loxahatchee, Florida) and AE Hestia (Global Express VDL x Winnie), Atlas Equine LLC’s 9-year-old KWPN mare, earned third with a first-round score of 69 and 81 in the handy.
