When Olivia Aul reflects on when she first acquired Cheers! three years ago, she says a hunter derby set on the spacious Grass Field at the Desert International Horse Park may have been “a little bit much” for the gelding at the time. Today however, it’s an event where the now 11-year-old Holsteiner truly thrives, as was evident on Friday, January 17, as Aul rode Cheers! to victory in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, sponsored by Monument Global Estates.

Olivia Aul and Cheers! Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
With scores of 90 and 84.5 for a 174.5 total, Aul and Cheers! easily rode away with the win. However, for the 18-year-old high school senior, winning was just the cherry on top.
“It was so much fun to go and ride out there [on the grass field],” said Aul, who trains with Dustin Goodwin at Goodwin Horses. “I was super happy with the results, but more than that, it was just so much fun!”
Aul continued, “It’s a big setting, but he just stepped around so beautifully today. He’s developed so nicely. I love working in big arenas. It’s just so nice to be able to take a breath.”

Olivia Aul and Cheers! Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Finishing in second place with a total score of 171 (86 and 85), were Jayme Omand and her own Edesa’s Donovan. Third place with scores of 85 and 81 for a 166 total went to Dane Anson and Bel Ragazzo, owned by Andrea Downs. Find complete results of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, sponsored by Monument Global Estates, here.