Tonight is the final round of the 2013 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. Yesterday was the “Classic” round, and the top 30 advance to tonight’s Tier I Handy Round at 8:30pm ET. It will be broadcast live on USEFNetwork.com. Those just outside the top 30 will make up Tier II, also competing for a bit of prize money; their division begins at 6:30pm. For more on the Hunter Derby Finals and the tier structure, click here.
[Order of Go, Course Maps, & Results]
Read the Chronicle of the Horse’s Classic Round recap.
Scott Stewart and Garfield have the lead after the Classic round; will they be able to pull off the win tonight in the Handy? Here is video of their round yesterday:
Hunter Derbies are more fun to watch than traditional American show hunter rounds: the obstacles actually resemble real challenges one might see on cross-country or out hunting. The horses are generally ridden with a bit more pace and are encouraged to show brilliance. I attended the Derby Finals last year– read the write-up here— and I look forward to attending again tonight. Check back tomorrow for results and commentary from this year’s competition.
Last year’s video:
