The $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby was the highlight event on Thursday, August 1, 2024, during the Vermont Summer Festival. With the beautiful mountains of Manchester, Vermont, as the backdrop, riders took to the main hunter arenas in their shadbellies and white breeches as they aimed for the top prize. At the end of the exciting competition, it was Carly Carbacho and Rapidash that clinched the victory.
Brian Post, of Phoenix, Arizona, set forth a lovely hunt-and-go style course to challenge the 36 junior, amateur, and professional horse-and-rider combinations. Riders completed the classic portion of the derby in the Hunter 2 arena. From there, they continued to canter through the path connecting the hunter rings, where they then completed the handy portion in the Hunter 1 arena.
Corbacho and Rapidash went near the beginning of the starting order and made quite an impression on the judges, with scores of 88 and 90 in the classic and handy rounds, respectively. Ultimately,their dazzling performance held up for the win.
“He’s the best horse ever,” enthused Corbacho. “He was a little excited earlier this morning when I rode in the ring to school, so I took it slow until he became more relaxed. I don’t think he’s ever cantered between two rings before, so that was new for him.”
Corbacho, who trains out of the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, took over the ride on Rapidash as his rider, Nalina Atamian, was unable to show this week. Rapidash, Horse Orchard LLC’s 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Chaqui Z x Lancelot), is seasoned in all areas of the sport, having had a very successful jumper career through the five-star level, and most recently, competing in the equitation divisions.
“He’s very scopey, but he goes really slowly and is very adjustable to the jump,” said Corbacho. “He’s really good at turning, so we were able to do an inside turn after the trot jump in the handy and gallop up one of the bending lines. He’s just so good at knowing where he’s going and staying with me.”
Finishing just a few points behind Corbacho, Shane Powell and Marissa Bleiler’s 10-year-old KWPN gelding Emerald City (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Quasimodo Z) claimed the runner-up position. Rounding out the podium was Oakley Clark and Morgan Eisler Bradley’s seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Ravioli (Cicero x Der Senaat 111).
Hunter competition continued throughout the week. Alessia Tully and Oakley Clark’s 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Billy Irish, by Guy Cavalier, jumped to the top scores in the Bit O’ Straw 2’6” Hunter Derby. In the Tiny Bit O’ Straw Derby, it was Sawyer Bruce and Country Lane Farm’s eight-year-old Capri Son (Capri x Leviano F) that took home top honors.
Competition resumes Wednesday, August 7th, with the Vermont Summer Celebration. For a full list of results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
