Edited Press Release
Lexington, KY – May 11, 2025 – World Champion Hunter Rider week at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show came to a close with the biggest event of the week in the Stonelea Ring. Top horses and riders gathered to showcase their skills during the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by All Bizness Insurance, on Sunday morning. Hayley Barnhill proved that Axel had all the brilliance to be the best, topping the leaderboard with a score of 375. Madison Stewart took home second with two beautiful rounds aboard Small Kingdom, while Erica Quinn and Small Promise claimed the third-place honors.
“It’s super exciting to win today,” expressed Barnhill after leading the lap of honor. “Axel belongs to a junior hunter rider of Cara Cheska, and this is the second derby I’ve done on him. We always thought he’d be really good at it. He was super in the last one, and today he came out like a professional derby horse.”
The day began with the classic round, which included a natural split rail fence, an in-and-out and a three high options. Riders then returned for the handy round where they could showcase their mounts. Riders cantered directly to one of the high option oxers and continued with a high option oxer near the gate. They then trotted a natural log fence and finished with the in-and-out.
After a smooth and flowing classic round, Barnhill was the last to return for the handy round, leading the class with a score of 181 with Axel, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Isa Johnson. They were able to take the inside options and make very handy turns to finish with two scores in the 90s, and returned to the ring to accept the winning honors at the end of the class.
“Axel is so scopey – the jumps are so easy for him,” explained Barnhill. “It’s nice in the derbies with the bigger jumps, a little more impressive – he rises to the occasion. I knew that I did not need to do anything too risky during the handy, so I stuck to my plan and it worked out. If you stay out of his way and let him do it, then he’ll give you everything.”
The team is now aiming for the 2025 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in August, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park once again. Barnhill has been competing at the incredible venue for many years, and was happy to be back, concluding, “It feels like home, everybody’s friendly. The Horse Park is beautiful. They do a great job, so it’s always nice to be back.”
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Watch the Winner
Cathleen Driscoll and Flotylla Capture $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix
Lexington, KY – May 11, 2025 – The $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, presented by Sterling Equestrian and Forest Hill, was the final event of the day in the Rolex Stadium during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Cathleen Driscoll bested an 11-horse jump-off with Don Stewart’s Flotylla as the first to clear the jump-off track in 38.286 seconds, setting an unbeatable pace. Kady Abrahamson came the closest to catching her with Martini VDL, but was just shy of the winning time with a fault-free effort in 38.599 seconds. The last pair to show took home third as Luis Pedro Biraben and Vasco 109 broke the beam in 39.160 seconds with all the rails intact. Driscoll returned to accept the top prize and close out the first week of the Kentucky Spring Series at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Jake Endicott and Jacks O Jump to $15,000 U25 Grand Prix Victory
Lexington, KY – May 11, 2025 – Top up-and-coming athletes gathered to compete in Sunday’s $15,000 U25 Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, where 13 combinations advanced to the jump-off. Charlotte Murray and Magnum Z were the day’s pathfinders, setting the pace to beat in a clear 36.255 seconds that would hold up for third place. Ariana Marnell was the first to pull ahead of her aboard Jikke-Cara, leaving all the rails intact as they stopped the clock in 35.485 seconds. Her lead did not hold up for long though, as Jake Endicott and Jacks O entered the Rolex Stadium next. Their fast gallop and inside turns were good enough to claim the day’s victory as they dashed across the finish line in 34.673 seconds to eventually lead the lap of honor.
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