EMO Stables’ Sidenote, ridden by Jason Berry of Verona, Virginia, won the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by the Heisley Family Foundation, with an overall score of 179.5.

According to Ernie Oare, “This was pretty special. Ted [Sidenote] is Betty’s ride and she’s won so much with him. The course was just beautiful on top of the hill in the Sandy Gerald Arena and Jason did such a nice job.” 

Betty Oare added, “I always say, Ted must have fallen from heaven to end up with me. He is the sweetest horse and we’ve just won everywhere together.”

She continued, “I haven’t been able to jump since I broke my hip last year and this is the longest I’ve ever been out of commission. I did ride him in an under saddle class this week and won, but I’m still not ready to jump. I’m having so much fun watching him go. We’ve had a lot of fun and success, and I hope there will be more hunter classes for us in the future. I’m working to get back because I love it too much just to give up,” she added. 

Betty and Ernie reflected on how they first came across Ted. “I called Sally Lamb to see if she had a foxhunter for me. She said she might, and we could ‘check him out if we could catch him’,” Betty laughed. The Oares did in fact ‘catch him’ and Betty enjoyed hunting him and then after schooling at the Barracks, decided that he would be a good Adult horse.

“You search high and low for a horse like this. He’s very sweet and doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He knows me, and knows when the treats are coming,” she laughed. “He’s an amazing horse and he’ll never go anywhere else,” she added.

Idle Hour, owned by Bonnie Rhea Adams and ridden by Katherine Schmidt Butler of Richmond, Virginia, earned a second place with their overall score of 178.

EMO Stables’ Avila, also ridden by Berry, finished in third with an overall score of 176.

Ernie Oare commented, “This was her third horse show doing 3’9”, and she did just great. She’s pretty special. We’ve always wanted an International Derby horse and we hope that is what she will become.”

Jessica Collins’ CR Sonador, ridden by Ashley Foster Worthington of Brookeville, Maryland, finished fourth overall after earning a combined score of 172.5.

Absolutely, owned by Lynn Rice and ridden by Miranda Scott of Silver Spring, Maryland, earned fifth place with their overall score of 172.

Daisy Bishop’s Mamacita, ridden by Alan Lohman of Poolesville, Maryland, finished in sixth place with a score of 169. 

Icadello, owned and ridden by Samantha Karp of Great Falls, Virginia finished in seventh with a score of 167.5. Karp also was awarded the EMO Leading Amateur Rider Award.

Style, owned by Annabelle Brown and ridden by Payton Flanders of Lothian, Maryland earned an eighth place with a score of 166 and was also awarded the Hollins University Leading Junior Rider Award.

Karen Robinson Dickman’s First and Goal, ridden by Jessica Gulden of Toano, Virginia, finished in ninth with a score of 165.5. Bailey Schram’s Quew De Kreisker Z, ridden by Megan Young of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, finished in tenth with a score of 164.5 and Fortitude, owned by Katrin Urban and ridden by Nicole Motes of Parkton, Maryland, finished in eleventh with a score of 163. Isabel Flynn of Chevy Chase, Maryland and her own Cahla Cool, wrapped up the class with a twelfth placing and a score of 162. 

Course designer Nancy Wallis said, “I designed the course with lots of options and I was happy to see not one horse had a rail in the National Derby. The horses went really well, and it looked like everyone had a great time.”

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.



Photo credit: KMK Photos

The Heisley Family Foundation was created as a legacy to the Heisley family and is deeply rooted in Virginia equestrian tradition and sport.  

Mr. Heisley’s deep and enduring love of Virginia and his family is why the The Heisley Family Foundation supports the Virginia Horse Center and The Festival of Champions.  

The Heisley Family Foundation is committed to the promotion of the care and wellbeing of our equine partners and the history of the equestrian sport tradition. 

The Virginia Horse Center Foundation appreciates their support!

Champion Shavings is the sponsor of the Champion Shavings Groom’s Award in the $5,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, presented by the Heisley Family Foundation.

As the Official Shavings Supplier to the Virginia Horse Center, Champion Shavings is pleased to provide dust-screened, kiln-dried pine shavings.

Champion Shavings is committed to the highest quality standards and is pleased to offer delivery anywhere in the lower 48 United States from any of its 10 operating facilities.

For more information, please visit them online.

The EMO Agency is the sponsor of the Leading Amateur Rider Award in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies, presented by the Heisley Family Foundation.

Not every business or company can claim they have stood the test of time.

It means continuing to serve with dedication over many years if not decades. It means making a commitment and always staying the course through thick and thin.

The EMO Agency has stayed the course for 3 decades, thirty years, making sure the finest coverages from the best companies are made available at competitive prices and delivered rain or shine 24/7/365.

When you ride with the EMO Agency you can be confident that you are safely riding with the leaders. The EMO Agency offers worldwide coverage for the equine industry. Visit them online for more information.

The Leading Junior Rider Award is sponsored by Hollins University.

Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Hollins University unites excellence in liberal arts education with experiential learning opportunities and career preparation to help students lead lives of consequence. 

With decades of individual and team National titles and amazing horses, coaches, and staff, the university’s riding program has long earned its standing among the nation’s best. 

The riding facilities are only a short walk from the center of campus, making it easy for students to pursue academic and athletic excellence. Riding at Hollins is a life-changing opportunity for undergraduates with any level of experience. To learn more, visit hollins.edu or follow Hollins University Riding on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

Congratulations to Kathleeen Carofino of Virginia Beach, Virginia aboard her own Gold Digger, on winning the $1,000 2’9”-3’ Hunter Derby with a score of 167.

Katherine Schmidt Butler’s Dramatic TF, ridden by Chloe Harrison of Washington, DC finished in second place with a score of 158. Third was awarded to Tradition of Valor, owned and ridden by Virginia Butler of Crozet, Virginia. Helos Enterprises, LLC’s Reconnaissance, ridden by Morgan Hoke of Kingsville, Maryland finished in fourth after earning a score of 151. 



Davenport Z, owned by Lauren Reck and ridden by Nicole Motes of Parkton, Maryland finished in fifth and with a score of 150 and sixth was awarded to Monroe Doctrine, owned and ridden by Catherine Tarcu of Alexandria, Virginia.

Taylor Mitchell’s Carero, ridden by Payton Peterson of Virginia Beach, Virginia placed seventh and Marcus Aurelius, owned and ridden by Jessica Knight of Reston, Virginia, wrapped up the class with an eighth overall.

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

Congratulations to Hollywood’s Eleven, owned and ridden by Gruschenka Mojicasanchez of Pasadena, Maryland on winning the $1,000 2‘3” -2’6” Hunter Derby. Second place was awarded to Cavallo Farm’s Red Sky at Night, ridden by Jane Howard of Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Lusso, owned and ridden by Kathryn Glasgow of Lynchburg, Virginia finished in third and Hopkins, owned and ridden by Chloe Stark of Bethesda, Maryland earned a fourth place.



Castlegate, owned and ridden by Nicole Roberts of Lynchburg, Virginia placed fifth.

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

Triple Crown is an Official Feed of the Virginia Festival of Champions and title sponsor of Triple Crown Derby Days, held each Friday during the three weeks of competition.

Looking for a competitive advantage? Then you can’t compromise when it comes to your horse’s nutrition. The inclusion of cutting-edge technology has been central to Triple Crown Nutrition’s formulas for over 25 years. Pre and probiotics, digestive enzymes, organic minerals and now ButiPEARL, are just a few of the products found in every bag of Triple Crown feed.

Find out how Triple Crown products can help with leaky gut for nutrition that goes beyond compare. Visit triplecrownfeed.com for more information.

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Offering pet-friendly lodging, as well as an onsite restaurant and bar, The Natural Bridge Historic Hotel & Conference Center is offering all competitors a discounted lodging rate. Click here for your discounted rate.

This historic hotel has been updated and overlooks the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and is located across the street from the famous Natural Bridge. The entire family will love the amenities this classic hotel offers, about a 15-minute drive from the Virginia Horse Center.

They offer select adjoining suites as well as rooms with terraces. Their management is top notch and prides itself on offering customer service second to none.