Edited Press Release
Following four weeks of top-caliber hunter competition at the Texas Winter Series, Nada Wise and Kelly Lorek are going home from the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX, with the largest hunter rider bonus checks.
A total of $30,000 in hunter rider bonuses was awarded, with $15,000 given during Week III to the top five horse and rider combinations competing at the “international height,” $10,000 distributed during Week IV across the top five combinations at the “national height” and one $5,000 bonus going to the series’ overall high-point horse and rider duo.
Wise claimed the top spot – and a $6,000 bonus check – in the international height hunter rider bonus standings after earning top results in the Performance Hunter 3’6” division with Stevie Ray. Wise and the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Samantha Brown, also finished fifth in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby held during Week III to add to their point tally. Wise additionally finished third in the standings with Chesterfield, owned by Stacey Thompson.
In the national height standings, the top honor and a $4,000 bonus went to Lorek and Tomorrowland, owned by Priya Alvarez. Lorek and the 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding rode to top finishes in the Green Hunter 3’3” division throughout Weeks II-IV to also secure the overall High Point Horse/Rider Award and an additional $5,000 bonus check.
“I’m super excited; I’m going to Disneyland!” joked Lorek, who operates Southern Way Farm out of Austin, TX. “It’s my first time getting to win anything like this, so it’s just been a great feeling. It’s great competition and a great horse show, so it’s fun to do.”
Lorek also finished second in the international height hunter rider bonus standings with CR Ocean Mist, owned Adelaide Shenkir, earning her a total of $14,170 in bonus money.
“It’s awesome to be able to have bonuses like this,” said Lorek. “It promotes clients bringing their horses here and wanting their horses to show. The prize money has been great for all the divisions.”
Points for the international height hunter rider bonus were earned in the Week III $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and in the following divisions during Weeks I-III: High Performance Hunter, Performance Hunter 3’6”, Green Hunter 3’6”, Green Conformation Hunter and High Performance Conformation Hunter.
Points for the national height hunter rider bonus were earned in the weekly USHJA National Hunter Derby classes and in the following divisions throughout Weeks I-IV: Green Hunter 3’, Green Hunter 3’3” and Performance Hunter 3’3”.
Points were computed for first through six place finishes as follows, with derby results receiving double points: 10, 6, 4, 2, 1, .5. Full results are shown below.
$15,000 International Height Hunter Rider Bonus
Ranking Rider Horse Bonus Amount
1 Nada Wise Stevie Ray $6,000
2 Kelly Lorek CR Ocean Mist $4,500
3 Nada Wise Chesterfield $3,000
4 Happy Comly Ginkgo CSH $1,000
5 Trapp O’Neal Parbleu van de Mispelaere $500
$10,000 National Height Hunter Rider Bonus
Ranking Rider Horse Bonus Amount
1 Kelly Lorek Tomorrowland $4,000
2 Morgan Van Nortwick Corduroy $3,000
3 Mindy Coretz Tipsy $2,000
4 Kelly Lorek MTM Limited Edition $670
5 Natalee Haggan MTM In Love $330
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