Edited Press Release
After a clean sweep of the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Regional Championships a day earlier, California native Nick Haness returned to the winner’s circle on Friday in the Highstreet Arena to take the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby title.
Haness, who hails from Temecula, CA, piloted a very seasoned mount in HH Elmo, owned by Lindsay Maxwell, to the top spot. The pair sat in third before the handy, sitting on a classic round score of 90.5. With points to make up, Haness and HH Elmo climbed to the top on a second score of 93 for a total of 183.5 on the board.
“What an animal he is,” said Haness of the Dutch Warmblood gelding. “He’s shown all over the world. He has more stamps in his passport than I do.”
Beginning his career in Europe as a jumper and climbing through the ranks with British show jumper Tim Wilks, HH Elmo has competed at some of the largest horse shows in the world up to the five-star level. In his second act, the gelding has proven multi-ring talent and quickly became a forever horse for owner Lindsay Maxwell and a special mount for Haness.
“He’s won a lot of great classes in his hunter career,” mentioned Haness, who took over the ride in 2019. “Most memorable for me—he was the first horse I ever won a [WCHR] Hunter Spectacular on.”
Now 16, HH Elmo leads a life of low stress. “He lives a very chill life with us. At home, he lives next to my rescue camels and goes out for hacks to stretch his legs. Lindsay lives in Europe now, so she’s told us to have fun with him and here we are.”
Following a point behind Haness was Courtney Lenkhart of Bartonville, TX, riding Allegretto, owned by Lori Mathews. The pair finished on a 182.5 with a classic score of 90 and handy score of 92.5. Closing out the top three was Tiffany Morrissey of Wellington, FL, aboard Cullighan, owned by Claudia Millstone, with scores 92 and 90 to total 182.
In addition to winning the derby title, HH Elmo was also named the Platinum Performance Hunter Horse of the Week.
For complete results of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.
