The hunters were out in force all Friday as the Sandy Gerald Ring set the stage for top hunter competition and good fun and was capped off with the Community Junior Send Off Party. More than 100 derby riders ranging from the National Hunter Derby to the 2’/2’6” heights rode in Friday’s Derby competitions making it a Derby extravaganza!

The $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by the Heisley Family Foundation, was split and saw 19 professionals and 31 Junior/Amateur horse and rider teams compete.

Course Designer, Nancy Wallis of Ewing, New Jersey did a beautiful job in the Sandy Gerald. “I just try to make a course that offers a smooth round for everyone. We like to see the scores in the 90s. Good scores mean that the course runs smoothly. Everywhere we go the Derbies are very popular and the riders really have fun with them. I think people are looking for something different. Virginia is horse country, and this is a big horse show for the hunters."

"I liked designing the Derby course in the Sandy Gerald because its wide. Since you have to go across the arena a lot in the Derbies, I think this ring is really well suited for the courses and the surrounding mountains and views here on top of the hill really make it stunning,” she added.

Lynn Rice’s Absolutely, ridden by Miranda Scott of Silver Spring, Maryland took home the blue ribbon in the $5,000 USHJA Professional Hunter Derby, besting a field of nineteen horse and rider teams with their score of 174. 

Second place was Sabrina Hellman’s Not To Worry, ridden by Tiffany Cambria of Upperville, Virginia for their score of 172.

Prima, owned by Debbie Meighan and ridden by Jonelle Mullen of Warrenton, Virginia earned a score of 171.5 and a third-place ribbon and Grace Owens’ Superlative, ridden by Chris Wynne of Virginia Beach, Virginia placed fourth for their score of 169.

Amy Squier Perez’ Figure of Speech, ridden by Guy Cambria of Upperville, Virginia earned a fifth place finish for their score of 168 and Molly Alderman’s Danieli, ridden by Joy Janouskovec of Whitsett, North Carolina placed sixth overall for their score of 166.5.

Rhian Williams’ Commander in Chief, ridden by Katherine Hess of Washington, DC finished in seventh and Kristin O’Brien’s Livingston ridden by Kayla Yoder of Lancaster, Pennsylvania earned an eighth placing.

Penny Leigh LLC’s Merlino PL, ridden by Brett Shear-Heyman of Middleburg, Virginia finished in ninth and Gryffindor, owned by London Wendell and ridden by Jennifer Sabella of Virginia Beach, Virginia placed tenth.

Sally Hamlin’s Oboras Split, ridden by Alexandra Gilbertson of Warrenton, Virginia finished in eleventh place and Guy Cambria aboard Marytrent Hamilton’s Invinceable wrapped up the class with a twelfth-place finish.

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

Thirty-one horse and rider teams were on the hunt for the blue ribbon in Friday’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by the Heisley Family Foundation and Abby Cole piloted Doc Holiday, owned by Elizabeth Akey to the winner’s circle with their overall score of 168.5 and also won the Hollins University Leading Junior Rider Award.

“He is just perfect,” said Cole. “I started leasing him one year ago at the 2022 Lexington National and he is just a love.” 

“I actually did this course today as a warmup for the Musical Freestyle,” she laughed. “It was really nice, rode well and all the distances came right up for us,” she commented.

Claire Parkinson rode her own Chazeaux to a second-place finish with their score of 168 and Karen Robinson Dickman’s First and Goal, ridden by Jessica Gulden placed third with a score of 167.5.

Fourth place was awarded to Herkules, owned and ridden by Lucy Rabb. The pair earned a score of 166.

Addison Huffman rode her own Calantus to a fifth-place finish with their score of 164.5 and sixth was awarded to Corazon, owned and ridden by Ashley Dewoolfson for their score of 164.

Emilie Beasley and her own Debonair placed seventh and Kingland Stables, LLC’s Privilege, ridden by Ali O’Brien finished in eighth place.

Shimmer, owned and ridden by Libby Bishop earned a ninth-place ribbon and Kerry Cole’s Amazing Grace, ridden by Abby Cole finished in tenth place.

Eileen Miller’s South Wind, ridden by Makayla Benjamin earned an eleventh-place finish and Isabella Bertozzi aboard her own Cousteau wrapped up the class with a twelfth place.

This is Cole’s last horse show as she is heading to start her college career at Purdue University on Sunday. She plans on studying cyber security and hopes to join a club team at school. “I’ve been showing here at the Virginia Horse Center for eight years. I’ve made a ton of friends here. Everyone is super nice and so encouraging.”  

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

About the Heisley Family Foundation

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 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.

About Hollins University

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.

Beth Butler piloted Balenciaga, owned by The Barracks to a winning round, besting a field of thirty three horse and rider teams in the $1,000 VHC 2’9/3’ Hunter Derby during the Sandy Gerald Derby Day.

“The course was fantastic, and it was really fun to ride. I loved the hunt and go format. The course rode really well. It gave you spots to show off and the format was great. When I was doing my round, I was thinking about how much fun I was having,” she said. “Nancy [Wallis] did a great job putting the track together.”

Butler rides with Maria Shannon at The Barracks. “Balenciaga’s barn name is Balou and he is such a great horse. He takes good care of me and is an absolute joy to ride. The Barracks does a great job taking care of him and all of the horses.”

Butler continued, “This is our first year of showing together and our first derby. It was extra special to show in the Sandy Gerald. I rode at Hollins and graduated in 2007 and my trainer Maria rode there, too. We used to show here so it made it extra special to ride in Sandy’s [Gerald] ring. It was really heartwarming, and we miss him so much.”

Second place was awarded to Blue Moon owned and ridden by Susan Ross. Varekai, owned and ridden by Kim Shuler won third place and Alexandra Gilbertson piloted Oliver Brown’s Relevant to a fourth-place finish.

McDonogh School Inc.’s Jentle ridden by Sanaa Chappelle finished in fifth place and Streett Moore’s Levistano 2, ridden by Kylie Martin earned a sixth.

Seventh place was awarded to Superstition, owned and ridden by Emily Easton and Lisa Hammerschmidt’s Laudable, ridden by Karsyn Mason finished in eighth place.



Flynn Peljovich rode Avalanche, owned by Streett Moore to a ninth place finish and Hitting Streak, owned and ridden by Jill Adler earned a tenth place finish. Waterlily, owned and ridden by Kirsten Tillotson earned an eleventh place and Take Z Charge, owned and ridden by Marlee Presgrave wrapped up the class with a twelfth place finish.

Virginia [Lainey] Butler and her own Tradition of Valor [Soldier] bested a field of thirty-four horse and rider teams, taking home the blue ribbon in the $1,000 VFC 2’/2’6” Hunter Derby.

Butler commented, “It was so nice that everyone had the opportunity to do a Derby. We really decided just this week that it could be a fun opportunity and a good warm up for the Low Adults. As it turned out, it ended up being a great class for us!”

“I thought the course was really fun. When I heard that there were going to be 12 jumps, I almost passed out; I thought I would forget one!” she laughed. “He [Soldier] liked it in the Wiley. I was a little surprised. He gets distracted and since the Wiley has a lot of foot traffic, I was afraid someone would walk by and he’d have a 'squirrel!' moment,” she laughed. “But he was very focused and very good. That was only our second derby ever. I rode in one on another horse I used to ride, and he had done a Derby with a pro before.”

“I was really proud of him,” Butler continued. “We scored an 87 in the Classic and an 83 in the Handy. When I heard our score in the Classic round, I was shocked! I had a riding incident that took me out for about three weeks and I’m just starting to come back. This is actually only my second week riding and maybe my fifth time back in the saddle again. I had no expectations about winning anything in this class. Our goal was to have fun. I was thrilled to get an 87!” she said.

According to Butler, she bought Soldier when he was six. He was only under saddle for about 2 months when she got him and about three weeks later, she took him to his first horse show.

Lainey and Soldier have had a successful year showing in the low adults this season and are excited about the potential of moving up to the adult amateur division in the future.

Butler trains with Ashley Holsinger of Memory’s Hill Farm. “I appreciate Ashley’s help. We couldn’t be on this journey without her,” she said.

Second place was awarded to Jessica Chandler and her own Anton 825. Third place was awarded to Sarah Vagnoni’s Malvern Hill, ridden by Elizabeth Vagnoni and fourth was awarded to Streett Moore’s Guess Again, ridden by Brooklyn Tan.

Asland, owned by Karen Bruce and ridden by Elyssa Harris earned a fifth-place finish and Isabelle Baldwin’s Brigadier, ridden by Chapin Smith finished in sixth place.

Seventh was awarded to Oakfields Adele, owned and ridden by Josie Galvin and Adrian Ford’s Verena, ridden by Natalie Paley earned an eighth-place finish.

Blue Label, owned by Sabrina Daniels and ridden by Chloe Welsh finished in ninth place and Samantha Jurick’s Victorious, ridden by Melissa K Jurick earned a tenth placing.

Coming Up Tulips, owned by Lisa Hammerschmidt and ridden by Violet Anderson placed eleventh and Simpatico, owned and ridden by Elizabeth Powers wrapped up the class with a twelfth place.

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

Thirty horse and rider teams competed in the Anderson Coliseum vying for the VHSA/EMO Children’s Medal. Fifteen-year-old Huffman, of Hydes, Maryland trained by her cousin Selina Petronelli earned the win. Huffman had placed second last year.

“I thought the course was not that difficult, but it asked a lot of questions and I felt prepared,” commented Huffman.  

“It’s great to train with my cousin,” said Huffman. “It can be a little ‘tough love’ at times, but she knows me so well and that level of connection is great. I am so thankful for her help.”

Her aunt, Denise Petronelli of Claddagh Manor in Churchville, Maryland commented, “When she was a little girl, she would come over to the family farm and I would lead her around on a Shetland pony. She would take naps on that pony,” she laughed. 

Huffman got her new mount, ‘Conto’ about a year ago. She said, “He was an equitation horse and from Wellington. When we got him to the farm, he wasn’t used to getting turned out. Well, about two months after he got to us, he got kicked in the field. He recovered and we’ve been showing him ever since.”

“We only turn him out with the small ponies now,” commented her aunt, Denise Petronelli.

“I don’t think he was used to just being a horse, getting turned out and just living on a family farm,” said Huffman. “We’ve had a year to bond, and we hack around the property which he loves. Now 'Conto’ nickers to me when I come to the barn.”

Huffman has been showing in the Junior Hunters as a warmup for her equitation classes. “He did so well, we qualified and actually won ninth overall in the Junior Hunter Finals a couple of weeks ago,” she said.

Second place was Kelly Kiser of Smithfield, Virginia, trained by Sulu Rose-Reed and Peyson Parker, trained by Chris Wynne finished in third.

Martha Morales of Woodbine, Virginia is trained by Kim Williams earned a fourth-place finish and Nada Soueidan of Williamsburg, Virginia, trained by Tara Best finished in fifth.

Ava Sleeme of Richmond, Virginia, trained by Katherine Schmidt Butler finished in sixth and Daisy Ballantine of Alexandria, Virginia, trained by Ian McCartney finished in seventh. Saana Chappelle of Owings Mill, Maryland, trained by the McDonogh School, turned in an eighth-place finish.

Friday’s Sandy Gerald Derby Day closed out with the Equitation Freestyle Challenge, presented by Jumps by Fuzzy.

Twenty-five riders each had 2.5 minutes to show off their best equitation skills to their music of choice. Riders needed to throughout their round complete the following: Jump at least 8 jumps of the 10 provided in either direction in order to best show off their skills as well as demonstrate a trot circle, both sitting and rising, counter canter change of lead (both flying and simple) and trot a jump.

Frankie Falise and Broadwater Farms, LLC’s Freedom G were the last to go in the class. They showed their best to her favorite Taylor Swift song and won with a score of 87. “I have never done a class like this before and it was so much fun!” she said. Her blue ribbon awarded her trainer Patty Foster of Rolling Acres a package of four tickets to the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas, as well as a custom jump sponsored by Jumps by Fuzzy and a check for $1,000.00. “I’m super excited about going to Vegas with them,” she said.

Second place rider was Samantha Aisenberg and Haley Rediford’s Ballon. The pair earned a score of 86.5 and her trainer Fiona Turner won a check for $750.00.

Isabelle Greer and her own Quelle Carte finished in third place with their score of 83, awarding her trainer Lynne Gebhard, a check for $250.00. 

For the complete list of ribbon winners, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

Jumps by Fuzzy

Jumps by Fuzzy sponsored the VHC Equitation Freestyle Challenge and donated a custom jump to the trainer of the winning rider. [Patty Foster and Rolling Acres].

The Community Junior Graduates Send Off party took place alongside the Equitation Freestyle where all high school graduates were celebrated as they move on to their next chapters. The mood was festive as families and their children reminisced on all the good times and friendships made at the Virginia Horse Center over the years. 



“All of these kids and families are part of our VHC family. We wish them well on their next phase and we look forward to hearing about them and welcoming them home at future events,” said CEO Glenn Petty.

Today featured the $25,000 Grand Prix in the Dee Dee Arena and the reception on the Concourse during the Junior VHSA/EMO Medal Finals. Stay tuned for tomorrow special event recap.