March 16, 2025, Myakka City, Florida. The 2025 TerraNova Winter Series came to a close on Sunday, March 16, 2025, as national-level show jumping competition took its turn in the Lakeside Arena one final time. The week proved to be the pinnacle of equestrian sport as international competitors vied for the top prize in the final FEI event as part of the Split Rock Jumping Tour, before Sunday competition highlighted the event’s national competitors, especially at the junior and amateur level. Taking the first win of the day, David Blake (IRL) secured a top finish in the $20,000 KB2 Squared Construction 1.35m TerraNova Prix aboard Sade de Rialfo Z.
Switching gears from the previous day to design for national-level athletes, Peter Holmes (CAN) designed a field-appropriate opening track for the 13 combinations set to contest the immediate jump-off format. Blake put forward two good performances in the class, but it was his efficient time of 41.169 seconds aboard the Pine Hollow Farms’ nine-year-old Warmblood mare by Stakkato Gold that proved good enough for the win.
“I don’t really know her that well to ride her in the ring but I know she is naturally quick so I knew if I did all of the right things she was going to be quicker,” Blake explained. “I took a chance to the third last fence jumping into the wall, maybe too much of a chance, but she’s talented enough to figure it out. I think that’s where she did a couple less strides in that turn and from there it set up the rest of it.”
The mare is one of several that has attended the 2025 series at the venue with Blake and partner Amanda Derbyshire, who operate out of Pine Hollow Farm in Wellington, Florida.
“We love it here,” he enthused. “It was great to have five weeks in a row this year. We did three of them because we felt we had enough horses to do three, but we’d do them all if we could. The facility is top class, the show organizers and the staff couldn’t be more helpful, and so we hope it keeps running like this and we’ll continue to come.”
Laying down two fault-free trips with his two separate mounts, Blake’s success continued as he captured the third place finish on the Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Con Air, Cornwall BH, in a slightly slower time of 46.222 seconds. Splitting the difference between his top placings, Dan Geaney rode David Blake’s nine-year-old Oldenburg mare by Vivant, Vogue TW, into the runner-up position with a time of 43.175 seconds.
With the week’s final prix completed, Holmes quickly tackled the task of designing for an afternoon of junior and amateur competition which kicked off with the Ride Every Stride 1.30m/1.40m Junior-Amateur Jumper Classic. Posting two top efforts, Eva Paliouras procured the only double clear finish in the class to take the win with Molly Struve’s 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Dutch Capitol, Dacota, in a time of 43.386 seconds.
Junior-Amateur Jumper Classics Close Out the Final Day
Competition carried on into the $5,000 Reitenright Equestrian 1.20m Junior-Amateur Jumper Classic where Saly Glassman and Kindle Hill Affiliates’ 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Vivaldi du Seigneur, Vemac JJS Z found the fastest way around the track. In the Lakeside Arena, classics concluded with the $3,500 Marsh McLennan NAL/WIHS 1.10m Junior-Amateur Jumper Classic with a victory for Millie Staff and her own 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Quindam, Quinten SB, with their flawless effort in 43.906 seconds.
“It’s very good exposure for those that are learning and rising up the ranks,” explained Staff’s trainer Lynn Clibburn. “It’s a nice introduction to being in the big ring at a lower level, and for me, I think it keeps them hungry.”
“It inspires them,” she continued. “They want to jump the bigger classes and I just think it’s a perfect set up to work towards that.”
With a large field of 16 horse-and-rider combinations, the $1,000 CWD 1.0m Junior-Amateur Jumper Classic held in Jumper 2 was perhaps one of the most competitive of the day, where Brittney Gutierrez and Kathleen Rose’s 15-year-old Warmblood gelding by Lasino, L’Amore 3, emerged victorious.
“We absolutely love TerraNova,” Gutierrez gushed. “We are locals and I knew that we had to come here for the circuit when they announced it. I’ve been partnered with this horse for about a year and he is nothing short of amazing. We’ve just moved up to the meter here, but our goal is to move into the 1.20m or 1.30m in the future.”
TerraNova Reflects on the 2025 Winter Series
“Thank you all for joining us for the TerraNova Winter Series this year,” said Mike Belisle, Director of Sport for TerraNova Enterprises. “It was great to see so many familiar faces and to greet everyone who came to show with us the first time. We all enjoyed having five consecutive weeks, and we hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating purity of sport, harmony with nature, and commitment to excellence at TerraNova this season.”
“This year was a pivotal year of growth for hunter/jumper offerings at TerraNova,” said TerraNova Enterprises President, Molly Oakman. “We’re overwhelmed with the incredible feedback we have received. We are continuously investing in and improving the property and guest experience for both horses and riders. Make your plans now to join us next year!”
Circuit Award Final Results
| Division | Champion | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Young Jumper | Cornet’s Cocio & Cayden Hill | Bit O’Luck & Kelly Soleau-Millar |
| 0.85m Junior/Amateur Jumper | Mirame & Rylee Simmons | Southbound & Avery Clements |
| 1.0m Junior/Amateur Jumper | Catho WP Z & McKenzie Kreilich | Wingman & Ashleigh Strand |
| 1.10m Junior/Amateur Jumper | Inne Van De Plataan & Sara Cloud | Iris E.S. & Paisley Cramer |
| 1.20m Junior/Amateur Jumper | New Dealer & Collyn Smitherman | Labelle VD Middelstede & Catherine Kubiak |
| 1.30m/1.40m Junior/Amateur Jumper | Dacota & Eva Palourias | Seaview Demonstration & Vanessa King |
| Performance Hunter | Quintero (Glenn Ridge & Associates) | Kaaterskill (Hannah Wu) |
| Green Hunter | High Society (Nere Holdings) | Nectarious (River Mountain Farm) |
| Intermediate Hunter | Clever (Sloane Egbert) | |
| Junior Hunter | Kaaterskill (Hannah Wu) | Cooley Stormwater (Lauren Hollis) |
| Adult Hunter | Archduke (Kristen Johnson) | Hundred Acre (Lauren Barna) |
| Children’s Hunter | Melbourne Z (Kai Kobza) | Gigolo Des Forets (Shore Acres Farm) |
| Low Children’s/Adult Hunter | L-Baden CH (Megan Withrow) | CMS Candy Cola (Eva Hurlebaus) |
| Children’s Hunter Pony | Lafayette Park (SVS Equitation Team) | Silver Stilettos (SVS Equitation Team) |
| Short/Long Stirrup Hunter | Calloway 217 (Ashlyn Roberts) | Candy Queen (Emery McLean) |
| Crossrail Hunter | Charmer’s Golden Hour (Anna Jaffe) | Redfield Cordebalou Z (Madison Bonamarte) |
| Overall Trainer | Leslie Terry and Cornerstone Farm South |