Karli Postel and Full Moon Fever are First in $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Las Vegas National

Las Vegas, NV – November 12, 2024 – With Karli Postel in the irons, Full Moon Fever looked as though he could jump the moon on Tuesday, November 12, earning the pair the win in the $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open at the Las Vegas National Horse Show.

Postel and Full Moon Fever were one of 46 entries to contest the hunt & go format course in the first of two National Hunt & Go Derbies offered during the Marshall + Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, held as part of the Las Vegas National at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, NV.

When the pair entered the ring as one of the final entries to jump, the score to beat had been set at 181 by Katie Taylor-Davidson and Simply Spectacular, owned by Kate Parker. Early on in the order, judges Mike Rosser and Steve Wall had awarded Taylor-Davidson scores of 88 and 89, plus all four high-option bonus points. Those scores would ultimately hold up for second place for Taylor-Davidson, with only Postel and Full Moon Fever breaking through to top the leaderboard.

With the 12-year-old Westphalian gelding Full Moon Fever jumping in top form, Postel earned scores of 92 and 88, plus all four high-option bonus points, for a 184 total and the win. Finishing in third place behind Postel and Taylor-Davidson was Kendall Bourgeois who rode Tic Tac Toe to a total score of 177.75.

“Oh my gosh, it was so much fun!” said Postel of her Hunt & Go ride. “The course was awesome. [Full Moon Fever] came around, he took a breath on the way to [fence] one, and I kind of settled in. He just cruised around the whole thing and gave me some really nice jumps.”

Postel continued, “At the end of the day, I was just thrilled for him to jump like that under this kind of setting. We haven’t done that with him yet, so that was a win for me!”

Postel just began working with Full Moon Fever this summer, and prior to that time the gelding was a jumper known as Balounito.

“His owners are big believers in the animal communicator,” explained Postel. “Last week, they did a session, and [Full Moon Fever] said he wanted to let go of his jumper past and wanted a new name. So just last week, they decided to change his name from Balounito to Full Moon Fever, and I guess he appreciated it!”   

For full results of Tuesday’s $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open, click here.

Competition at the Las Vegas National continues through Sunday, November 17. For a full schedule of events, and to learn more about all events managed by the Desert International Horse Park, visit www.DesertHorsePark.com.