Seven-year-old Unwritten continues his progression with a standout performance in Traverse City’s weekly hunter derby.
As one of the top riders to beat in both the hunter and jumper rings in Traverse City, Jacob Pope brought home a win Friday in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby with Unwritten, owned by Stephanie Keen. The pair earned double scores of 94, thoroughly impressing the judges with their handy skills and jumping style against an impressive field.
“I started showing him here last year in the 3′ Greens,” Pope remarked after their win. “Now he’s stepped up to the 3’3″ Greens and he’s a blast to ride. We had nice success here last year and he had a great inter circuit so he’s feeling awesome coming into summer.”
At just 7 years old, the Holsteiner gelding handled both rounds with ease, despite not having many opportunities to contest handy rounds.. Competing in the Amateur-Owners has shown the horse a little about what course elements handy rounds can present, but his experience is still limited.
“I was just trying to be as smooth as possible,” Pope said of his strategy coming back for round two. “A couple inside turns I took but [one in particular] I didn’t do because I really wanted him to be straight to the in-and-out. I thought he followed me really well everywhere and landed all the leads. I was really happy with how he was right with me the whole way, which is what you’re really looking for.”
Pope spends much of each summer in Traverse City and has become one of the circuit’s most familiar competitors. Not only is it an enjoyable place to spend a summer but he particularly enjoys what a great atmosphere it provides for young horses as they progress through the levels.
“I talk all the time about how much I love being up here,” he shared. “Last week doing the Green [Incentive] Championship, [Unwritten] was second. That’s a good way to produce young horses because you have a nice ring with good jumps. The atmosphere is so nice with VIP being next to the ring. It really gets the horses prepared for anything. Doing last week really set us up to have a good round today. I was thrilled he had two good rounds today.”
For his win in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Unwritten was named the Platinum Performance Horse of the Week.
Tiffany Morrissey and Cullighan, owned by Claudia Millstone, placed second with a total score of 174, and Kelsey Epperson was third on Stiletto, owned by Michelle Carroll with a 173 score.
Farfone Returns from Surgery to Win Junior/Am Hunter Derby
Following the open derby, juniors and amateurs contested the $10,000 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby, and it was Brooke Farfone topping the class aboard Testify, owned by Scott’s Family Farms. Training under Our Day Farm, Farfone paired together scores of 89 and 88 in the respective rounds for a combined score of 177 and the win.
“I got him two years ago and this is our second derby win together,” she said of her partnership with the 12-year-old gelding. “I’m very happy with him. We just recently moved to Lynn [Jayne] and her team and we are immensely grateful.”
Though she’s spent some time out of the saddle recently, she believed she could top this class and came out fighting.
“I came out with a really good feeling today and I was hoping to win it,” she said of her mindset heading into Friday’s competition. “I’m glad it worked out for us and I’m recovering from surgery at the moment, so this is my first big win back. I was out for about two months. I got to watch a lot so I learned a lot from watching. I’m grateful to be able to sit at the ring and watch.”
Marking just the start of what is hopefully a successful summer of showing, Farfone has her eye on more derby classes to come, which she particularly enjoys about Traverse City’s schedule.
“They’re so fun; I love to derby and it’s just unlike any other show when they have one or two derbies per circuit,” she shared. “I’m so happy to come out here every week and just get better. I think we’re doing the Equitation Championship on Sunday and we’ll just keep on derbying all circuit long.”
Outside of competing in the hunter ring, Farfone rides for the University of South Carolina equestrian team. “I love my team,” she said about her collegiate riding program. “We were national champions last year. I’m immensely grateful for them and riding at school has been incredible. I get to ride so many horses and it’s a blessing.”
Lillian Gordon and Levitano Z placed second in the $10,000 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby, and Madeline Brooks and Luxardo CF followed up for third.
Competition during the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, comes to a head Saturday with the feature class of the week, the $116,500 Molon CSI3* Grand Prix. Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
