Iester K’s jumper background shines through in National Hunter Derby victory
On a perfect, crisp morning for hunter derby competition, the blue ribbons went to Melissa P. Donnelly and Rachael Herkowitz in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $10,000 USHJA National JR/Am Hunter Derby, respectively. Both riders rode to high scores in the two-round classes in the Highstreet Arena, kickstarting what they hope to be successful seasons in Traverse City.
Donnelly’s two rounds aboard Iester K in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby just kept getting better as the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare showed off her skill. With an 86 in the first round, Donnelly led from wire to wire, securing an 88 in round two for the win.
“Today was lovely,” Donnelly said of her outing with Iester K, owned by Lily Kosal. “I really loved the track. It had a lot of turns and options but a lot of flow to it. I loved the handy track – a lot of options for inside turns.”
Iester K actually spent her earlier years competing in the jumper divisions, but has now made the switch to hunters. Her jumper background shone through in her handy round, surely helping the horse feel more comfortable with tighter turns.
“I couldn’t have asked my horse to be any sharper or more on par for me today,” Donnelly continued. “Every turn I asked for she was right there for me. She came back [for the handy round] even more soft and more dialed in. I think she’s enjoying a big, bright venue so it was nice for her to step right up today.”
Nearly every week of the season in Traverse City will host hunter derby action, with each week of the Spring Series presenting $10,000 National Hunter Derbies.
“I love having weekly derbies,” Donnelly remarked. “It’s great to get to practice with the horses. They really dial in and it’s so nice for the professionals and the kids to have more options, getting them ready for the big ring.”
Second-place honors were awarded to Hillary Johnson and Blue Monday, while Ehrin Rittmueller claimed third aboard Lovella.
Consistency and experience lead Herkowitz to Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby victory
Rachael H Herkowitz followed suit in the second derby of the day, the $10,000 USHJA National JR/Am Hunter Derby, earning back-to-back scores of 92 for a high score of 184 and the win aboard her partner Harmony.
“I’m feeling great; it was a big win,” Herkowitz said after her awards presentation. “It’s been a while since I’ve shown and these are our favorite shows to come to. It’s pretty much our home base – we are just three hours south – so it’s a great way to start our season here.” Hillside Farm
Training for over 30 years with Heather Irvine and Hillside Farm, Herkowitz credits the team behind her for putting them in the winning mindset.
“This is our fourth season together,” she said of Harmony, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare. “She loves a good derby. We do the 3’6″ Amateur Owners for our regular division but we love coming out here, having a nice classic and handy round, and enjoying the beautiful weather.”
One point ultimately separated the winner from second place, but Herkowitz didn’t let that pressure get to her.
“I knew it was tight,” she remarked. “I always like to watch and see how the class is going. A little pressure is always healthy. We tried to do a really handy course at the end which she does really well. I let her do her thing and stay out of her way. I’m thankful that it worked out.”
As a Michigan native, Herkowitz is excited to once again spend her whole season in Traverse City, and she is pleased that her season has gotten off to such a good start.
“I’m really grateful that this set the tone for our season,” she shared. “It’s really motivating and helps us jump start into the division this weekend and moving forward too.”
Second place in the $10,000 USHJA National JR/Am Hunter Derby went to Luciana Gonzalez So aboard Chamonix 183, and last week’s winner Anna Tyler took third place with Affirm 180.
Competition comes to a head Saturday afternoon with the feature class of the week, the $116,500 Turtle Creek & Casino Grand Prix. Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
Feature Photo: Rachael H. Herkowitz and Harmony won the $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby during week two of the Traverse City Spring Series at Flintfields Horse Park. Photo © Natalie Suto Photography
