Hunters Take the Stage on Day Three of the Menlo Charity Horse Show

Hunters took center stage this evening at the Menlo Charity Horse Show on the beautiful Grass Hunter Field for a chance to win the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by Dr. Daryl K, Hoffman. Festivities kicked off before the class, with a nod to the tradition of the International Hunter Derby and the Hunter discipline. Celebrations included a parade of the Red Rock Hounds of Reno, Nevada, and Color Guard made up of members from the Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County.

Red Rock Hounds. Photo © Alden Corrigan Media

$25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by Dr. Daryl K, Hoffman Won by Tangled Up In Blue, Ridden by Lisa Wall 

Lisa Wall and Tangled Up In Blue. Photo © GrandPix

Lisa Wall celebrating her big win. Photo © Alden Corrigan Media

The Derby kicked off with top Hunters and riders exhibiting breathtaking efforts through both rounds. The fences spanned from 3’6″ to 4 feet, with high-option fences up to 4’3″. The first round was a classic Hunter round, where horses showcased their quality, pace, and scope to the panel of judges. Riders picked up the pace in the handy round, opening their horse's stride and galloping to the fences, and taking tighter turns to showcase the horse's boldness. One mare and rider stood out in both rounds, and the pair came home winners with a score of 377; Tangled Up In Blue, ridden by Lisa Wall. The Dutch Warmblood exhibited a lovely expression and stayed on rhythm beautifully through the classic round. The crowd quieted down in the handy round, watching as they galloped to victory. 

Rider Lisa Wall shared her thoughts on this evening's class, "She jumped great today. She picked up the canter and was all business. This was only her third International Hunter Derby - she's showing in the 3'6" Green. She was third in her first International Hunter Derby at Thermal, then we won a Derby at Blenheim last month, and then we brought her here. She did very well in the handy, she really rose to the occasion. She's an incredible mare... a once in a lifetime horse, for sure." Lisa continued, "Menlo has been a really fun horse show. The attention to detail is wonderful, and it’s great to be a part of the 50th Anniversary. The people are so nice… we’ve just loved being here this week." 

Lisa Wall and Tangled Up In Blue. Photo courtesy of © GrandPix

Class sponsor Dr. Daryl K, Hoffman stated, "We're just so happy to have the horse show back. We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Menlo, and for a worthy and much-needed charity, the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired." 

The class was commentated by Carleton Brooks and Patrick Seaton. View the individual USHJA International Hunter Derby rounds here.

The Menlo Charity Horse Show, a 501 (c) (3) organization, was honored with the designation as a USEF Heritage Competition in 2012. Recognized as one of the finest equestrian events in the United States, Menlo is unique in that its origin and legacy is one of philanthropy. Menlo has a tradition of providing outstanding equine competition while raising much needed funds for numerous charities. Our current charitable partner, Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Vista), was founded in 1936 and is the premier resource for individuals with vision loss in San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. Vista Center helps clients reach their highest potential through programs that promote independence and improve quality of life. During our partnership, Menlo has raised over six million dollars for Vista Center. 

For those that can't make it to the show grounds, live streaming is available at https://menlo.showgroundslive.com/live-channels/. For more information on the Menlo Charity Horse Show, please visit https://www.menlocharityhorseshow.com/.

Published August 11th, 2022, written by Alli Lambert for the Menlo Charity Horse Show