February 13, 2026, Myakka City, Florida. Drawing first in the order of go is often a disadvantage, particularly in a class featuring 42 of the world’s top riders looking to claim a place in tomorrow’s Grand Prix and a win in the $32,000 Howard Leasing 1.45m FEI Welcome Speed.
But Samuel Parot (CHI) and his mare Tiffany De Olid defied those odds. He set a blistering pace and made numerous tight, inside turns in a round that ultimately proved untouchable. Their time of 59.61 seconds secured the win and set a standard right from the start that no one else could quite match.
Several riders came impressively close with clear rounds just fractions of a second behind the winning pace. Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Cornwall stopped the clock in 60.29 seconds, followed closely by Kent Farrington (USA), a three-time Olympian, who piloted Diakatisa to a time of 60.32. Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) and Cyramo Z also challenged the leaders, finishing in 60.39 seconds in a tightly contested class decided by mere tenths of a second.
Samuel Parot is an experienced international show jumper for Chile, with appearances at major championships and top-level venues worldwide. Tiffany de Olid is a 2012 Selle Français mare known for her speed, careful jumping, and competitiveness in Grand Prix and FEI-level classes.
Parot and Tiffany de Olid have earned multiple notable victories together on U.S. soil, and their partnership continues to strengthen as they gain mileage. Early FEI successes at competitions such as Split Rock marked a turning point, as Parot noted that the connection with the mare was beginning to come together. That progression has translated into consistent results, including a $25,000 Grand Prix victory at Tryon in 2024, where Parot credited Tiffany de Olid’s speed and ability to turn tightly as the deciding factors in the jump-off.
With a competitive field of 42 FEI riders contesting today’s class during the opening week of the TerraNova Winter Series, the atmosphere at TerraNova Equestrian Center reflected the depth and international reach expected of a CSI2*. The high level of talent and intensity set the tone for what promises to be an exciting five-week circuit, underscoring the growing prominence of the series on the winter calendar and TerraNova’s continued commitment to hosting world-class competition.
“It’s incredible to see such a deep field of FEI riders in our first week,” said TerraNova Enterprises President Molly Oakman. “The level of sport we witnessed in today’s Welcome Speed speaks volumes about the enthusiasm and support we’ve received from the international show jumping community. This kind of participation builds tremendous momentum as we kick off our five-week series, and we’re thrilled to provide a venue where top athletes and horses can shine.”
Show Manager, Mike Belise, who has been involved with TerraNova Equestrian Center since its inception, also recognizes the steady growth in both the national and FEI arenas over the last several years. “TerraNova has become a strong FEI platform not just for top sport, but for developing the next level of horses and riders. That’s what’s fueling this continued growth,” Belisle said.
Competition continues with the $65,000 Equestrian Services International FEI CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix, set to begin in the Lakeside Arena at 11:15am. Tune in LIVE at www.terranovaequestrian.com/streaming presented by Magellan Jets.
Cayden Hill and Gaston Sweep Both Rounds to Win the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Sponsored by SWFL Camping Rentals
In the two-round $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by SWFL Camping Rentals, a competitive field of 11 horse-and-rider combinations left no margin for error. With scores from both rounds combined, every point mattered, and just a single point ultimately decided the win.
Cayden Hill and his twelve-year-old 17.3-hand gelding, Gaston (Arezzo VDL x Ariane), affectionately known around the barn as Squish, received the highest score of the first round. Gaston’s floaty, consistent stride and scopey jump produced a seemingly faultless first round, earning a base score of 86. The pair confidently took on the higher, optional fences to add four additional points, solidifying their position at the top of the leaderboard in the first round. They finished just one point ahead of Keri Lee Guanciale and Quintero (Cornets Iberio x Valparaiso), who earned 89 points in the first round.
In the second round, Hill and Gaston once again delivered a consistent and impressive performance. The pair earned another base score of 86 and added four high-option points to finish the round on a 90. With the one-point advantage they carried from the first round, Hill and Gaston ultimately secured the victory with a combined score of 180, edging out Keri Lee Guanciale and Quintero, who finished just behind them on a total score of 179.
Guanciale also claimed third place with her second derby mount, Blue Harbor (Chacco Blue x Regina Gold). The pair scored an 84 in the first round and followed up with an 88.5 in the second, finishing only a few points off the leaders with a combined score of 172.5.
But perhaps what’s even more impressive than sweeping both rounds was how new Hill and Gaston’s partnership is overall, and that this was their first derby together.
“I’ve only been riding him for about six weeks,” Hill says. “He’s a lovely horse and a lot of fun. I remember the first time I rode him, I thought, ‘This horse is meant to be a derby horse.’ I’ve wanted to do a derby with him from the start, and today was our first one together. Everything just felt so natural, like that’s exactly what he’s meant to do. I had a great time!”
The thoughtfully designed course played directly to Gaston’s strengths, allowing Hill to focus on Gaston’s rhythm and flow. The track they rode proved pivotal in their winning performance.
“The course rode really well,” Hill says. “All of the lines were perfect for the striding and the tempo I wanted to carry, which made it easy to find a smooth, consistent pattern. In the handy round and over the high options, he has so much natural scope, especially from a quiet distance. I didn’t feel like I had to ride the scope into him. When I walked the course, I knew the height would be very much in his favor. As long as I kept him in a good canter and found a reasonable distance, he was more than happy to take care of the rest.”
One of the most vital elements of a successful hunter derby round is the track to each fence, particularly in the handy round, where accuracy is tested just as much as scope.
“I think the trot fence is something a lot of people don’t practice until they get to a show and suddenly see it in the ring,” Hill says. “Then they realize it’s probably something they should be working on at home. Kelly and I develop a lot of young horses, and as part of our program, we do a lot of trot fences, trot gymnastics, and trot rails. Even for horses that didn’t start in our program, it’s something they learn quickly through the training we do at home. Because of that, it feels very natural when we ride trot fences in the show ring.”
For Hill and his program, TerraNova has become an intentional part of the winter season, a destination that offers both quality competition and the opportunity to bring the entire barn from Wellington.
“This is our second year at TerraNova, though our barn has been coming up for a few years now,” Hill says. “Last year, we competed in a few of the two-star weeks, with week five as our finale. This year, we brought the majority of our client base up from Wellington. We have about 20 horses here for the first two weeks, then we’ll head back to Wellington for a short break before everyone returns for week five.”
