Hunter riders took center stage during the Ocala Winter Festival, the fifth week of the exciting 2025 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, for the $10,000 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby, presented by CWD, on Friday, February 14. The class highlighted top junior and amateur riders as they took on a beautifully designed course, with Dayner and Carlos He’Las rising to the occasion to claim victory. The pair delivered a standout performance, earning a combined score of 183 to secure the top spot in a highly competitive field.
Riders faced a thoughtfully designed track created by Chris Jones, Bill Worthington, and Tim Hott, while judges Steve Wall and Caroline Jones scored each round. The class followed a traditional format, with all 32 competitors completing a classic first round before the top 12 advanced to the handy round, where strategic turns and bold choices often determine the final standings.
Dayner and Carlos He’Las, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Cassini II x Caretino) owned by Adair Moses, set themselves apart early with a first-round score of 88, bolstered by four high-option bonus points. They delivered once again in the handy round, earning a base score of 87, plus another four bonus points, securing Dayner’s second derby victory at HITS Ocala this season.
“Coming back on top and a little bit ahead, I was a little conservative in the handy,” admitted Dayner. “I just tried to be smooth. I did the easy inside turns, but I didn’t risk much.”
Though Dayner and Carlos He’Las were reunited just for this class, their partnership goes back years. With a strong background in equitation and a keen eye for precision, Dayner was able to expertly navigate the course, demonstrating skill, confidence, and a seamless partnership with her horse.
“We actually imported him as a six-year-old, so I’ve known him for a long time,” explained Dayner. “His owners now, Stacey and Adair Moses, offered for me to show him this week, so we had a little reunion. He always jumps a ten, and he always tries so hard. He just always wants to win.”
After a decorated junior career, Dayner recently aged out and now competes as an amateur under the guidance of her mother, Heather Dayner, at Baxter Lane Farm in Odessa, Florida. Already tallying a win in the $5,000 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby during the Ocala January Festival, she remains active at HITS Ocala, bringing along young horses before heading to Dallas, Texas, in the fall to join the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team at Southern Methodist University.
“I love it here at HITS Ocala,” expressed Schuyler Dayner. “The ring looked amazing today, and the jumps were really fun. I think it’s awesome that they offer this type of prize money for the juniors and amateurs so we can pay the show bills too.”
Junior rider Molly Gfroerer and Liberty Road, a 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casall owned by the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, secured second place with a two-round score of 178. Eleanor Pieters and Tibri LLC’s nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cordess x Riant), Tibri’s So True, rounded out the podium with a score of 175.
The excitement continued with The League Hunter Derbies, presented by Marshall & Sterling Insurance, showcasing top talent in Hunter Rings 2 and 3. Andrea Clark guided her 16-year-old Warmblood gelding, Eland, to victory in the $750 League Bit O’ Straw 2’6” Hunter Derby, while Miley Vitale and her own Stonewall Stetson claimed top honors in The League Tiny Bit O’ 2’ Hunter Derby.
As Week 5 of the 2025 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit comes to a close, riders and spectators are looking ahead to even more top-tier competition as Week 6 gets underway on Wednesday, February 19.
