Despite a rain delay this morning, the skies cleared up and all were treated to a nice spring day at the Virginia Horse Center.

Today’s main event was the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by the Heisley Family Foundation. Twenty-three horse and rider teams took to the Wiley Arena over the well decorated course designed by Joe Carnicum.

Not to Worry, owned by Sabrina Hellman and ridden by Tiffany Cambria of Upperville, Virginia took top honors with their combined score of 179.

The Hellman family sent Not to Worry to Tiffany Cambria and her husband Guy a couple of months ago. Cambria commented, “He’s a bit of a new ride for us. He is a very fun horse to ride, very straightforward and sweet. He’s just a beautiful, nice horse to ride.”

“For the Handy round, I kind of had a game plan and knew what I needed to do. Guy and I had a strategy and I just kind of played to my horse’s strengths and knew where I could be a little handier,” said Cambria.

"Joe [Carnicum] did a great job and set a nice course, but it had its challenges. The show did a beautiful job with all the flowers and the jumps. That is not an easy ring to set up nicely and the derby looked great. The footing wasn’t too bad. Once we got in there it felt sure footed and the more you rode on it, it just got better. Considering all the water we had the footing was pretty decent,” said Cambria.

Lee Cesery’s Hela, ridden by Megan Young of Jacksonville Beach, Florida took second place honors after earning a combined score of 178.500.

Mahalo, owned by RFC, LLC and ridden by Ashley Foster-Worthington placed third with their combined score of 176.500. First and Goal, owned by Karen Robinson Dickman and ridden by Jessica Gulden earned a fourth for their combined score of 176.

Amy Squier Perez’ Figure of Speech, ridden by Guy Cambria of Upperville, Virginia earned a fifth place finish for their combined score of 169.500 and Maximo, owned and ridden by Jan Bitzberger of Midland, Virginia placed sixth with their score of 164.

Jinter Van Het Hagehof, owned and ridden by Sally Ives of Durham, North Carolina earned a combined score of 163 which placed them seventh overall. Girl Crush, owned and ridden by Tillie Hall placed eighth for their combined score of 148.00.

Ninth was awarded to Cronos Du Leon, owned and ridden by Isabella Salas of Oakton, Virginia and Jane Gaston of The Plains, Virginia rode her own All On to a tenth placing.

M2 Equestrian’s Countryside, ridden by Melissa Marshall of Middleburg, Virginia, earned an eleventh placing and Advocat, owned and ridden by Krysia Nelson of Keswick, Virginia wrapped up the class with a twelfth place.

Pictured below: Leading Trainer Guy Cambria and Leading Groom Rosendo Gavilla 

For more information, visit horseshowsonline.com.

About the Heisley Family Foundation

The Heisley Family Foundation was created as a legacy to the Heisley family and is deeply rooted in Virginia equestrian tradition and sport. Mr. Heisley’s deep and enduring love of Virginia and his family is why the Heisley Family Foundation supports the Virginia Horse Center and The Festival of Champions. The Heisley Family Foundation is committed to the promotion of the care and wellbeing of our equine partners and the history of the equestrian sport tradition.

Jessica Gulden Wins the Hollins University Leading Junior Rider Award

Jessica Gulden aboard Karen Robinson Dickman’s First and Goal won the Hollins University Leading Junior Rider Award in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by The Heisley Family Foundation.

The fourteen-year-old has been riding since she was three years old and has been riding First and Goal for about two years. Gulden rides with Chris Wynne and says the biggest challenge about being a junior rider and a student is ‘that school just take up a lot of time’. Gulden doesn’t seem to mind. “It’s all just so much fun,” she said.

About Hollins University

The Leading Junior Rider Award is sponsored by Hollins University.

Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Hollins University unites excellence in liberal arts education with experiential learning opportunities and career preparation to help students lead lives of consequence. 

With decades of individual and team National titles and amazing horses, coaches, and staff, the university’s riding program has long earned its standing among the nation’s best. 

The riding facilities are only a short walk from the center of campus, making it easy for students to pursue academic and athletic excellence. Riding at Hollins is a life-changing opportunity for undergraduates with any level of experience. To learn more, visit hollins.edu or follow Hollins University Riding on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

David Matisz piloted David Matisz, LLC’s Fuego to the win today in the $1,000 1.30 m Open Jumper today in the Dee Dee Arena.

With a second-round time allowed set at 42 seconds, Matisz and Fuego were the first to go in the class, turning in a double clear round in a time of 32.118 seconds which set the time to beat.

“I thought the footing was actually really good. I wasn’t sure about that this morning after all the rain we got here last night, but it held up great and the drainage was good. Other riders agreed with me too.”

“He’s [Fuego] only 7 and a nice young horse. He’s one of my better up and coming horses. He jumped very well, and I was happy,” said Matisz. “I bought him as a 6 year old and we started doing the 7 year old jumpers in Florida. He’s going well and he feels like he has a good size jump in him,” he added.

Haddon Frost aboard Thinkslikeahorse’s Cargolot PS was the next to advance to a second round opportunity, but their fault free time of 35.994 seconds would see them sitting in second place. That was short lived when Gene Frank and his own Isaak VDL turned in their clear second round time in a time of 32.93 seconds, moving them into second place and Frost and Cargolot PS into third.

Brooke Kemper placed fourth and fifth with CM Sporthorses, LLC’s Seaview Demonstration and Orland Van Klapscheut, respectively.

Queen Bee Z, owned and ridden by Ragan Roberts placed sixth and Kama Godek rode her own Chelsy 25 to a seventh placing.

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

Congratulations to Grace Gallo and Jubilee. The pair won the Pony Schooling Hunter Championship. The division had 24 entries and according to Gallo, “The competition was great!” 

Gallo and Jubi [Jubilee] have been a team for less than a year. Gallo commented, “She’s a great teacher, loves to jump and horse show with me.”

Gallo and Jubilee, a small Welsh pony, usually show in the small ponies and do the Schooling Pony Hunters as a prep for the smalls. “She’s just awesome,” said Gallo describing Jubi. According to Gallo, Jubi enjoys all treats and has never turned one down. “She likes everything including pickles and pizza crust.” 

Gallo’s favorite thing about showing at this time is when lining up after the hack, ‘high fiving’ her friend Lee. 

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

Hospitality is Back!

Everyone had a great time in the hospitality tent today thanks to the generous support of our donors. Stop by tomorrow for some breakfast, lunch and a barbeque dinner and cash bar during the $35,000 Grand Prix. 

The Lexington Spring Premiere is underway and wraps up on Sunday, April 30th. Immediately following is the Lexington Spring Encore, the second installment of the Virginia Festival of Champions, May 3-7th. Entries are still being accepted and you can enter online.

The final installment of the Festival of Champions is the Lexington National August 9-13, so mark your calendars now.

Sponsorship opportunities and vendor applications are available. Vendors-reserve your space soon before they are all gone! 

The Festival of Champions benefits the Virginia Horse Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.