"Renaissance" Triumphs in the
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

"Renaissance", the former Detroit Equestrian Club sale horse, now owned by the Patterson family of Belton, MO and shown by David Wright of Murfreesboro, TN (pictured left), recently won the $10,000 USHJA 2008-2009 ASG Software Solutions International Hunter Derby.    Held for the first time at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic show series, Renaissance won both rounds of the 2-round class, earning an incredible score of 99 in the second round!

The 17.3 Hanoverian gelding, was imported and shown for 5 years by DEC trainer Christopher Ewing until he was sold to the Pattersons at Christmastime 2007.  "When I first saw Renaissance in Europe, he was this giant, gangly 4 year old that only had about 90 days of training under his belt.  He was basically this giant horse that would just grab the bit and charge the jumps," says DEC owner and trainer Christopher Ewing.  "He was actually being sold as a dressage horse but the seller in Europe free jumped him for us and the jump got to well over 6 feet high and 5 feet wide.  He jumped it like it was a crossrail, and while I wanted him for the Hunter Division because he is a great mover who jumps in perfect form, I figured if he never chilled out enough to do the Hunters, I would at least have a super fancy jumper." 

But Renaissance did "chill out" and he went on to become an outstanding hunter and equitation horse, wining numerous show and Year-End Championships with Christopher, as well as with his owner, Jessica Grines-White.  In 2007, Renaissance began showing in the Regular Working Hunters for the first time, earning numerous placings in the Regulars with Christopher at shows such as the Merrill Lynch Horse Show, The Hampton Classic Horse Show and others.  Ren also won excellent ribbons in the Large Junior Hunters at The 2007 Hampton Classic with DEC junior rider Gabrielle Foxa.   

Now, after only owning him since December 2007, Renaissance's new owners have already been in the winner's circle several times.  Renaissance lives with his owners in Missouri and meets up with David, who lives in Tennessee, only at horse shows.  Besides his win in the Hunter Derby, Renaissance earned the Circuit Champion Tri-color in the Regular Working Hunter Division at Gulfport, was Champion in the Regulars and Reserve Champion in the Large Junior Hunter Division at the St. Louis Festival 2 Horse Show, and more.   Renaissance is already following in the footsteps of other outstanding horses that Christopher has imported, trained and sold that went on to major tri-color victories, including "Debonair", the  Reserve Champion Regular Working Hunter at the 2004 Washington International Horse Show, and "Renoir", the gorgeous Hanoverian gelding that has won numerous tri-colors in the Hunter Ring at many top horse shows, including the Washington Int. Horse Show, The National Horse Show and many others.

For more on Renaissance's win in the International Hunter Derby, "click here".