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Nicky Galligan emerged as a notable winner at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, showcasing exceptional talent in a four-star speed class. The athlete, based in New York, clocked in at 61.9 seconds on VDL Nikita van de Leeuwerk, narrowly surpassing the previous target of 62.23 seconds set by Nayel Nassar from Egypt.

On Friday morning, 31 horse-and-rider combinations participated in the $75,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby under sunny skies at the World Equestrian Center - Ocala. Many competitors had previously achieved notable success in the series, demonstrating their skills on the course.

Tracy Fenney once again proved why she’s a force to be reckoned with on the jumper circuit, capturing the win in the $24,500 HorseFlight Jumper Classic at HITS Ocala Championship X. Aboard her veteran partner S & L Cesana, Fenney delivered a lightning-fast jump-off round, stopping the clock at an unbeatable 35.69 seconds.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on March 21, 2025, that it is further delaying the effective date of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) final rule to February 1, 2026. APHIS has opened a public comment period regarding this postponement.

In Ocala, Florida, Augusta Iwasaki and her 12-year-old Hanoverian mare, Small Love, known as "Honey," triumphed in the $37,500 USHJA National 3’ Amateur Hunter Derby, competing against 27 other participants. Iwasaki, who is a student at Southern Methodist University, utilized her spring break effectively, delivering two commendable rounds that led to her victory.

Riding on a wave of success in the Junior Hunter ranks, Lilly Geitner and Banks Mill clinched yet another victory at the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series, taking the blue in the $37,500 USHJA National 3’ Junior Hunter Derby. This marks the pair’s sixth hunter derby triumph together, underscoring their consistent dominance throughout the winter circuit.