Farmer and Colvin Ride to Victory in the USHJA Hunter Derbies

Lexington, Ky. – May 14 – 2017 – Hunter competition for the Kentucky Spring Horse Show culminated on Sunday with both the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby in the Stonelea Ring of the Kentucky Horse Park. Of the 12 combinations that qualified to return for the handy round of the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, it was Victoria Colvin aboard Laura Karet’s, Caliber, who took top honors with an overall score of 183. Shortly after in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, Kelley Farmer secured both first and second placings, winning the blue ribbon on Derby Lane LLC’s Point Being.

In the USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Equine Insurance, fourteen riders presented their horses over the classic round course. Twelve of those entired returned for the handy round, where Kelley Farmer sat in a great position to win with multiple entries. In the classic round, Farmer and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, Point Being, jumped to the top of the leaderboard with an 88 from both judge’s panels and eight high option points to position the pair with a 184 going into the handy round. Farmer did not disappoint, claiming the class with a final total of 373 to claim both champion and reserve.

This was Point Being’s first time back in the show ring since placing fourth in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the Winter Equestrian Festival. It’s Me, a horse owned by Farmer’s mother, Bibby Farmer Hill, placed in second for a celebratory Mother’s Day.

Earlier in the afternoon, twenty-four entries took to the ring for the classic round of the USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by World Equestrian Center and Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC. Exhibitors were asked to navigate a Bobby Murphy designed course of ten fences with four high options in the first round.

Victoria Colvin rode three horses in the class, but Caliber’s smooth round earned the gelding an 87 from the judges and a total of 91 in the classic after adding all four high option bonus points. Colvin was in a great position to take the class upon returning for the handy round and again took all four high options, executing a beautiful and consistent second round that resulted in a score of 92. In addition to winning top prize money, Colvin also received a pair of Fabbri Boots.

Professional and Amateur hunter competition will resume next week during the Kentucky Spring Classic Horse Show beginning on Wednesday, May 17. Along with a USHJA National Hunter Derby, the Kentucky Spring Horse show will host  ‘A Day in the Park’ to honor Ellen Veitch on Saturday, May 20.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Kelly Farmer 

“Point Being loves bananas and he is a very sweet horse. He is an overachiever in everything that he does. He’s the best, what else can you say about him?”

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