For the second year in a row, the win in the $75,000 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Southwest Regional Championship is going home to Oregon with Nicole Bourgeouis. On Friday, November 6, at Desert International Horse Park, Bourgeouis claimed this year’s victory aboard her longtime partner Mc Queen, owned by Barbara Lovre.
The class – held as part of National Sunshine Series 2, presented by Frank & Eileen – drew a field of 32 entries to take on the course designed by Kevin Holowack and set on DIHP’s Grass Field.
At the end of the first round, Bourgeois and Mc Queen sat in fifth place – but just three points off the lead held by Jamie Sailor and Kartesio.
“It was a pretty tight squeeze; we were all within a couple of points,” said Bourgeois of her position coming back for the handy round. “To be honest, that’s almost a better spot to be in because it makes you be a little more bold in the handy. I was trying to make up a couple of points since I was behind, and it really paid off.”
A hard inside turn in particular caught the attention of the judges and helped Bourgeois earn a second-round total score from the two judging panels of 188.30. While the top four horses and riders that qualified to come back for the handy round all returned after Bourgeois and Mc Queen, not one of them would come within even 10 points of Mc Queen’s impressive second-round score. So, with a total score 365.80, Mc Queen’s win was secured.
Sailor and Kartesio, owned by Horses of Olympia LLC, held onto second place with a total score of 358.10, and Lindsay Stefanko and Abbey Lane Farm Inc.’s In Theory finished in third on a 354.15 score.
“[Mc Queen and I] have been together for about four years now,” said Bourgeois of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. “So, I think that really helps. We’re both pretty comfortable with each other. We know each other very well. Her owners, Barb and Randy, were here today, which was awesome. They got to experience her win!”
Bourgeois continued, “Both [Mc Queen and I] absolutely love this grass field here. We were successful during the circuit at this very place last year. I think it helps that we live in Oregon, so we have lots of green grass. So, my horses really love it out here.”
Being from the Pacific Northwest, Bourgeois also loves being in the desert for each winter season.
“We are so thankful for Desert International Horse Park and how they continuously upgrade and update,” she said. “This footing is amazing. We’re so lucky to have such a large grass ring with great footing. The horses jump amazing; the jumps are gorgeous, and I feel like they really try hard with the hunter side of things. I’m very thankful for that.”
McQueen now heads home for a well-earned break before returning for the Desert Circuit, where she is expected to start back surrounding Desert Circuit 5’ WCHR week before also targeting the USHJA International Hunter Derby in Week 9 and the $100,000 WCHR Hunter Spectacular during in Week 10.
For complete results from the $75,000 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Southwest Regional Championship, dihp.showgroundslive.