Victoria Colvin and Paradigm set their 2025 standards high by winning the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday during opening week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Wellington International in Wellington, FL.
In classic derby format, two panels of judges tallied their scores for the first round to determine which twelve riders would return for the handy test. Colvin, a Wellington native, piloted her Meredith Lipke-owned gelding to the second highest score of 181 in the opening round.
The handy track included a series of high options, a trot fence and ample opportunity to show off tight turns, which Paradigm mastered to draw a score of 201—nine points higher than the closest challenger.
“He’s a super fun and handy horse,” said Colvin of the 12-year-old Warmblood, who was named USEF National Horse of the Year in 2023 and is the former ride of fellow top hunter rider John French. “This is only our third show together, but he has his own record. He’s particularly good in the derbies so we wanted to set him up for success and have some fun.”
As the penultimate pair to tackle the track, Colvin and Paradigm left no stone unturned. Their total score consisted of a pair of 94s, plus additional points for handiness and high options. Totaling at 382 over both rounds, Colvin and Paradigm secured victory over Florida-based Jennifer Bliss riding Poker Face, owned by Harris Hill Farm.
“There were a lot of inside turns, opportunities to hold a big gallop and lots of options,” said Colvin of the handy course. “The first round was nice as well; perfect for a long, big gallop but the handy especially had some good inside turns.”
Bliss’ reserve honors came with scores of 178 and 191 to total 369. Closing out the top three was Haylie Rolfe of Wellington, FL, and Michigan ODF, owned by Leslie Coolidge, on scores of 172.5 and 183 totaling at 355.5.
Colvin plans to point Paradigm at all the derby offerings throughout the WEF season while she also brings up several young horses through the ranks. At the conclusion of the afternoon, Paradigm was presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Hunter Style Award by Laura Fetterman.
Colvin also collected the first championship ribbon of the WEF season on Thursday in the Green Conformation Hunter division. She piloted Southern Night to two victories over fences to christen the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival.
For complete results from the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click HERE.
Derby day at Wellington International continued on WEF’s Pony Island with the season’s first USHJA Pony Hunter Derby. Taking place weekly, pony riders put on their best bows and ties on Friday morning for their single round hunt & go derby.
Of an impressive 30 entries, Lilly Herzog of Pepper Pike, OH, and Won Wish, owned by Rivers Edge, took top call. The pair bested the rest with a total score of 178. Following in second was Cisy Zhou of New York, NY, and her own Fortnite, who earned themselves a 173.25. Closing out the top three placings was Kenzie Smith of Shoreham, NY, and On Tour, owned by Charlotte Kelly, with a solid 170.
