Geitner and Walk The Tides Top Competitive Field in $75,000 East Coast WCHR Hunter Spectacular

The inaugural $75,000 East Coast WCHR Hunter Spectacular at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala brought together 34 of the nation’s top hunter combinations for an open-format championship contested at heights of 3’6”, 3’9”, and 4’.

Classic Round Sets the Stage

Daniel Geitner and Walk The Tides, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, delivered a polished opening trip, earning scores of 86.5 and 92 from the two judging panels for an 89.25 average. Their performance placed them second heading into the handy round, firmly positioning the pair as serious contenders.

"This is real atmosphere out here," Geitner said, adding, "These jumps...I don't know how you could decorate them anymore."

Consistency Seals the Win

Returning for the handy, Geitner and Walk The Tides maintained their momentum with another confident effort, earning an average score of 89. Their consistency across both rounds secured the championship title with a final two-round average of 89.125.

A Last-Minute Decision

Geitner said it was sort of a last-minute decision to show the gelding in the class, who is rather green for the level. Walk The Tides had just moved up to the 3'6" Amateur/Owner Hunters with Lynn Seithel, who wasn't going to show over the weekend, and Seithel encouraged Geitner to give it a try.

"He's old school. He looks like a Thoroughbred. You can't hear him touching the ground," Geitner said about Walk The Tides. "You almost can't ride him with too much leg at the jumps; he always holds off at the jumps, and tonight, really, with the lights and the beautiful jumps, I was really able to gallop to the jumps."

Strong Performances Round Out the Podium

Amanda Steege claimed second place aboard Cheryl Olsten’s 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Lafitte De Muze. The pair posted a first-round average of 85.5 before delivering one of the highest-scoring handy rounds of the class with a 92.5, finishing on an overall average of 89.

David Wilbur completed the podium in third place riding Marita Zuraitis’ 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Four Aces. Wilbur opened with a strong first-round average of 89.875 and followed with a handy score of 87 to finish on an overall average of 88.438.

Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.