Derby Days

So I'm very behind on ride updates, but instead of doing that, here's a recap of a hunter derby that I did not even ride in and only attended to be a photographer and moral support. This can also be a little peak into what my photos look like prior to editing as I'm writing this post same day as the derby. I rarely share raw files anymore. Consider this a treat.

One of the local circuits holds a derby a couple times per year. It has three sections that run both a first course and a handy with big ribbons each time. This is in contrast to how the derby was run when I was younger; we had an open card throughout the whole season. You could go at 2'-6" or 3'-0" with options set 6" higher than the rest of the course. There was always a high point for the day, both horse and pony, but you had to accumulate enough points to qualify for the finals, which were held the same day as all the medal finals. This circuit runs without a derby final, which bummed me a bit. It was always fun to build points throughout the season and come out in your best habit for finals. Plus, derbies take forever. It took four hours for all the sections to go. And then the actual show started after that. The older I get, the more naps I need; I am not compatible with this method.

I only watched the section that Trainer T and one of her students were showing in. It was 2'-6" with the high options at both 2'-9" and 3'-0". The performance of the section overall was . . . questionable. It seemed like everyone was just having an off day, even horses that I've seen perform very well over the past two months. Lots of refusals and horses just being very backed off of the fences. The stark majority of the scores were below 50, and that's between both courses. The highest score for an individual round was in the 70s, and the second-highest was a 51. The judge definitely was not showing any ounce of leniency.

Destello went first in their section and just seemed a little out of character. Like others, he was backed off and just seemed overwhelmed by the experience. He had a combined score in the 80s. Don Julio went last in the section to avoid a timing conflict. After schooling like the absolute beast he is, something snapped when he went in the ring, and he was not having it. He refused the first three fences and had to be excused. Trainer T was super bummed, especially since it was extremely out of character for Don Julio who usually eats up courses.

Vali actually put in what I considered the best course of the day. She had one refusal in the first round but came back for the handy with more forward and more consistency. They put down a solid course, enough to snag them third place overall.

And, considering the performance of the overall pack, Destello was able to come out in fourth place. Trainer T didn't even believe me when I insisted that she had placed, despite how much attention I was paying to the scoring.

After a rough start, everyone also came through and performed great for the rest of the day. Don Julio won all of his jumper classes and carried his young rider to a win the crossrail medal. Vali kept her motor on and put in beautiful hunter rounds.

And Destello bit me.