The first World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week of the 2025 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit was filled with top-tier hunter competition from start to finish. Showcasing the finest in hunter excellence, the week offered riders the chance to earn valuable points toward national WCHR standings. Friday’s action-packed schedule on February 7featured the highly anticipated $5,000 ClipMyHorse.tv Classic Qualifier, alongside the prestigious $20,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby, and the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby.
In the $5,000 ClipMyHorse.tv Classic Qualifier, Augusta Iwasaki and Small Love delivered a standout performance to claim victory, securing their spot in the 2025 $200,000 ClipMyHorse.tv Classic Final at HITS Hudson Valley in September.
Seventeen competitors entered the Main Hunter Ring, each aiming to impress in a single classic hunter round, but only the top three finishers would earn qualification for the prestigious $200,000 ClipMyHorse.TV Classic Final. The beautifully designed course, crafted by Tim Hott, Brian Post, and Doug Russell, emphasized elegance and precision, with every jumping effort of paramount importance. Judges Robin Swinderman Mitchell and William Sparks presided over the event, ensuring top-caliber standards were upheld.
Amateur rider Iwasaki guided Small Love, Iwasaki & Reilly’s 12-year-old Hanoverian mare (Chacco Blue x Silvio I), to an impressive top score of 88, earning the lion’s share of the prize money.
“She’s just been such a special horse for me,” enthused Iwasaki, who rides for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. “I love her more every day.”
The duo has been competing together for just over three years, and Iwasaki continues to praise Small Love’s consistency and style.
“I think she’s just a classic hunter,” shared Iwasaki. “Her jumping style is so smooth, and she jumps every jump the exact same, which I think makes her great to do in a classic like this one.”
Though Iwasaki has built an impressive career in the derby ring, this class holds a special place in her heart.
“I remember almost seven years ago when I first started doing derbies, I did the $100,000 Hunter Prix, and then worked my way up to the $500,000 derby class at HITS Hudson Valley. I just remember how fun it was and what great competition it was, so I’m so excited to be qualified and go back to Saugerties and do this Final.
“I think it’s really special to have a one-round classic like this with such great prize money,” she continued. “There’s more pressure for everybody with it being a one-round class. You can’t make a big jump up the leaderboard in the second round, which I think will make it very exciting to watch.”
The competition remained tight, with Erica Quinn piloting Magic In The Making, Redfield Farm’s nine-year-old Selle Français gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Orlando), to a close second-place finish with a score of 87.5. Havens Schatt and Cascartini, Julia McNerny’s 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion (Casall x Cartani), claimed the final qualifying spot, finishing in third with a score of 87.
In the $20,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby, amateur rider Haley Waters-Wear delivered an outstanding performance, securing the top spot aboard Malcomme. Out of a competitive field of 48 entries, Waters-Wear impressively qualified two horses for the handy round, which saw the top 12 return for winning honors.
With Malcomme, an eight-year-old KWPN gelding (Comme Il Faut x Vingino) owned by Chuck Waters, Waters-Wear set the bar high in round one, earning a score of 87, plus four bonus points for taking the high options, placing them at the top of the leaderboard. Maintaining her precision and consistency, Waters-Wear replicated her success in round two, scoring another 87, plus four bonus points, achieving a remarkable two-round total of 182.
“He is so reliable and brave,” said Waters-Wear of the flashy grey that she started showing in the derbies over the summer. “I was coming back on top, so I tried to be a little conservative in the handy. I opted to go around in some places and stay out in the bending lines, and he was great.”
Waters-Wear expressed her appreciation for the class and its generous rewards, highlighting the benefits for both riders and horses.
“It is so nice to have a junior/amateur derby for this much prize money,” she noted. “The ring looks beautiful, and my horses love the footing.”
The competition remained intense until the very end, with the top finishers delivering thrilling performances. Iwasaki tallied her second top placing as she guided Small Love to a close second-place finish with a total score of 179.50. Rounding out the top three was Kendall Casaccio aboard her own Freya D’Ambel, a 10-year-old Selle Français mare (Padock du Plessis HN x Cardero), with a final score of 176.
In the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, Collin Shippam and his own Farewell delivered an outstanding performance, earning a two-round total of 170 points to claim the top honors. Sydney Cummings guided Rabbit Hill Farm’s Clovermeade Prince Charming to a strong second-place finish with a combined score of 160, while Evelyn Sigler Benson and her own Southwind Beau Regard secured third with a final tally of 159.
As the Ocala Winter Classic concludes, the 2025 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit continues with even more excitement as riders prepare for the many events still to come. The action resumes on Wednesday, February 12, with the start of the Ocala Tournament, promising another thrilling week of top-caliber competition.
