Marshall & Sterling Insurance Derby Program Kicks-Off Week One
The new Marshall & Sterling Insurance Derby Program welcomed the first of five USHJA National Derbies during Desert Circuit. Karli Postel and Highseas walked away victorious in the Professional Division, while Peyten Seltzer and Que Creme were crowned Champion in the Junior/Amatuer Division in their first National Derby. The Desert International Horse Park will host the first of three International Derbies of Desert Circuit during Week II.
Karli Postel and Highseas Claim Champion Title in USHJA National Hunter Derby – Pro
Photo © ESI Photography
Karli Postel (Thousand Oaks, CA) and Highseas emerged victorious in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Pro Division sponsored by Balmoral Farm claiming the title of Champion with a combined score of 187. Nick Haness (Temecula, CA) aboard Saphir, owned by West Coast Equine Partners LLC, were crowned Reserve Champion with their final score of 182 after the handy.
The class welcomed 22 pairs to challenge the course. Postel and Highseas, owned by Laura Wasserman, were unbeatable claiming the highest scores in both rounds of competition.
The West Coast rider, who works for Archibald Cox at Brookway Stables, shared that she enjoyed the courses set for the Derby and that the course still offered some challenges in the handy round: “They were really fun [courses] today. The first round rode really nice and I thought the Handy kicked it up a notch, with some harder turns and jumps on tricky angles so that was nice to have.”
Peyten Seltzer and Que Creme Claim Champion Title in her First USHJA National Hunter Derby – JR/AM
Photo © ESI Photography
Making her debut in her first USHJA National Hunter Derby, Peyten Seltzer (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) and her own Que Creme finished on top in the USHJA National Hunter Derby – JR/AM, sponsored by Balmoral Farm, with a combined score of 168.5 after the Handy. “This was actually my first National Derby, so I was very excited,” Peyten shared. Carlee McCutcheon (Aubrey, TX) and MTM Farm’s Halo received Reserve Champion honors earning a final score of 166.
About the Desert International Horse Park
With about 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering 10 weeks of world-class competition, eight during the Desert Circuit from January – March and two during the Sunshine Series in November, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.
.