Thermal, Calif. – Fridays are hunter derby days at Desert International Horse Park, and on December 5, at Desert Holiday 1, the day belonged to Shauna Pennell, India Kulkin and Geneva Saunders.
Aboard Across the Universe, Pennell took home the win in the $10,000 Cavalor USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open. The pair earned dual scores of 90 for a 180 winning total. Pennell also finished in a close second place with a score of 178 (89.25 + 88.75) aboard Everything, owned by Kristine Floyd.
Of Across the Universe, Pennell said, “He is delightful to work with and a fast learner. He had only jumped a few single jumps before we got him; he now came here and is in the program to do this. He loves derbies! He seems to think that those are the best.”
Before the 6-year-old Warmblood gelding joined up with Pennell, he was in Ukraine, where he was found by owner Leslie Scharf and trainer Wendy Carter.
“This horse came from Ukraine in the middle of the war,” said Carter. “We watched his videos. We vetted him; we bought him. We bought him about a year ago, but then it took us four or five months to get him out of Ukraine.”
In the $10,000 CALLIDAE USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, it was India Kulkin’s turn in the winner’s circle aboard Magic Moment. They earned scores of 89 and 85.5 to take the win with a 174.5 total.
The win was particularly impressive, given that it came during Kulkin’s first show with the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.
“It’s my first day showing him!” said Kulkin, 13. “When we did the [junior hunters] this morning, we were still kind of learning each other. So, I had really no expectations. My only goal for the derby was to not add in the lines because I was doing that this morning! He’s a really good horse. He’s super sweet.”
In the final derby of the day, the $5,000 San Marcos Training USHJA Hunt & Go Derby, the win went to Geneva Saunders and her large pony Newsflash.