Last Updated on September 27, 2025 by adminahb
Theresa Tolar and Eagle Rare K Z ©Chelsey Somohano for Natalie Suto Photography
Mill Spring, NC – September 26, 2025 – It was a clean sweep for local rider Theresa Tolar (Forest City, NC) during the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. There were ten trips to complete the Seth Clayton (Lakeville, MN) course, and Tolar claimed the top three spots with her three separate mounts. The excitement of Tolar’s tricolor achievement had not yet set in, but she expressed, “I’m just proud that all three of those horses gave their all today!”
First in the order-of-go and first in the class with a score of 168 was Eagle Rare K Z (Joly Spot K Z x Carafree K), owned by Stephanie Easler. Still new to the derby world, the 2017 Warmblood gelding surprised rider Theresa Tolar the most. “He’s done a handful of derbies, but that was definitely his best one! For him to hold the lead the whole time was really impressive,” she shared.
Friday’s derby was Tolar’s first time showing Ahron EP (Acorado’s Ass x Seven Wonders) in the hunter ring. Recalling her performance with the Laura Leigh Lewis mount, Tolar noted, “That was probably my favorite trip of the day! He is really handy and jumps really well.” The 2014 Rhineland gelding scored the highest handy round score of the class, with 91 points, and earned reserve honors.
“Every class is fun on that one,” is how Tolar described her partnership with Stephanie Easler’s Vanilla Ice (Light My Fire X Korinna). The “reliable” 2017 Hanoverian gelding earned third place after their 165-point performance, just one point behind Tolar’s other mount, Ahron EP. “I’d like to extend a big thank you to their [Eagle Rare K Z, Ahron EP, and Vanilla Ice] owners, because I really had a lot of fun today, and I appreciate them letting me ride their horses!” Tolar concluded.
GSS Marketing $3,000 Open Jumper Stake Win Goes to Fabian Herrera aboard Accelerator
September 26, 2025 – Fabian Herrera (Charlotte, NC) and his own 2012 Warmblood gelding Accelerator (Accelerator x Bazylia) jumped for the win with the fastest dash for the cash in the jump-off round, stopping the timers at 31.968 seconds. Earning second place aboard Stella Stinnett’s 2017 Dutch Warmblood gelding, VDL Morning Star (Carrera Vdl x Unknown) was rider Flip De Wandel (Mechanicsburg, PA). Also stepping onto the podium during the Fall 1 GSS Marketing Open Jumper Stake, Amelia Nowicki (Inman, SC) piloted her 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding, Oh Say Can You See (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Miss Independent), to a yellow ribbon.
Andrea Torres Rides Picara Polka Amouretta to the Top in the LeMieux $15,000 Welcome Stake
September 25, 2025 – Competing fifth out of the eleven entries and maintaining their lead in the LeMieux $15,000 Welcome Stake was Andrea Torres (Wellington, FL) aboard Picara Polka Amouretta (Kannan x Wolinda). Producing one of only two double-clear rounds, Torres claimed the blue. Filip De Wandel (Mechanicsburg, PA) rode the Five Way Farm LLC 2018 Belgian Warmblood gelding mount Strongbeau (Mosito Van Het Hellehof x Jennatrice DW) to the second double-clear performance of the afternoon, receiving the reserve honors title. Completing Thursday’s podium was the Ponce Tidwell Jr. entry 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, Ballon Bleu (Amaretto D Arco x Papilon), and rider John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) with the fastest of the four jumping fault rounds.
Happy to have the 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare by her side for the past three years, Andrea Torres shared some insight to their partnership. “She’s always been so amazing, so competitive, so quick off the ground, and a very very careful horse. She’s just one that goes in there and wants to do her best!”
With their goal of “stepping up to the FEI level,” Torres commented on her performance, “ I just tried to go in there and be as smooth as possible. I saw that the jump off combination was causing a lot of issues, so I made sure that we got there just right, with a little bit of patience.” Torres continued, “She was fantastic, as she’s naturally quick! At the end I relaxed, and everything came around right on stride – it worked out for us!”
Explaining her Tryon International experience as her “favorite show in the U.S.” and “is absolutely refreshing,” Torres concluded that “we always stop on our way up to New York, and it’s just the perfect place to just set up the horses for a fantastic summer. On the way back from New York, we always stop for the Fall, and it’s just incredible. My favorite shows are in the fall!”
Learn more at www.Tryon.com.