The hunters took over the main arena at the Winter Equestrian Festival Friday afternoon for a $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Fifty-six horses stepped up to vie for the win with Mindful and Jennifer Hannan coming out on top (you can read about their win here)—check out some of our favorite shots from the class!
It was overcast for much of the class, but we’re glad the sun came out to catch Fibonacci’s coat. Chris Payne guided the gelding to an eighth-placed finish. ANN GLAVAN PHOTOSNow that’s a true hand gallop! Tori Colvin and El Primero flew down to the final fence, a high option oxer, on their way to second place.Dapple envy alert! Chris Payne up on Patton.What do you think Mindful is thinking as he canters past the line up of horses he just beat? “Nah nah nahhhhh nah, hey hey hey, goodbye!”Photos don’t do justice to just how glossy Mindful’s coat really is. No body clipping here—his groom Felipe Gaytan (left) spends about two hours currying him every day!Hilfiger Z with Maria Rasmussen in the irons showing some classic over fences form.This jump was a fun little switch up from the regular hunter classes and derbies. Riders had to jump it both directions one right after another. You could pick which side you wanted to jump first, and it was up to you how tight you wanted to turn, but you had better make it pretty tidy—there were handy bonus points on the line! Pictured here is Jennifer Hannan and Best Regards.Jeff Gogul and Counselor showing some great form over one of the spookier fences on course.And speaking of fine form, we’re pretty sure Havens Schatt’s ride Spectacular has a wood allergy.Always a nice change of pace to see the hunters in the main ring. Meredith Lipke and For Love.
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