“Old Soul” Freedom Wins $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open

Katy, TX – April 12, 2025 – It was a busy day for hunter derbies at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Katy, TX, on Friday, April 11, during Pin Oak Week 3. The USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Olde Oaks Farm and The Hunton Group, was split into two divisions to create both an Open and a Junior/Amateur class.

The first derby win of the day went to Jennifer Alfano and Freedom in the $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open with a score of 189.5 (90 + 4, 91.5 + 4). Owned by Rachel Miller, Freedom is an “old soul” in a young body. At only 6 years old, the North American Warmblood only just started his competition career in 2024, but he displays the confidence of a much older horse.

“He is the definition of an old soul,” Alfano said. “He has the best brain of any young horse. If I told you he was 15, you would totally believe me. He’s not green, not one little bit. He’s brave. He aims to please. He tries to do his best to answer every question you throw at him.”

“He went in and was smooth, and he felt great,” said Alfano, describing her first round. “I was a little nervous about the handy because there were a lot of high scores, and there were a lot of us bunched together at the top. It’s a tough decision to do a lot of hard stuff with a young horse, but he just stepped up and said, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’”

Freedom was clearly quite proud of his win – so proud that he wanted to hold his ribbon himself. “He stood out there and reached down and ripped his ribbon off his neck. He was holding the ribbon in his teeth, like he was so proud of himself,” Alfano said.

Originally, Freedom was sent to Alfano to find a new home, but all it took was one winter together before Alfano decided she wanted to keep the gelding in her barn. 

“They sent him to me in October of last year to sell, and I fell in love with him,” she said. “This winter, I was actually considering buying him myself, because I loved him. One of my customers saw him and also loved him, so she bought him. He’s been a great horse. He’s funny. He has the best personality.”

Alfano was closely followed in the Open division by Natalee Haggan and MTM In Love with a score of 188 (88+4, 92+4). Haggan previously won the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open on April 5. Belynda Bond and Kimberly Guthrie’s SWS Gotham City took home third with a score of 187.5 (89.5+3, 91+4), half a point behind Haggan.

Ellie Goodfriend Gets Victory in $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Junior/Amateur

In the $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Junior/Amateur, sponsored by Olde Oaks Farm and The Hunton Group, 16-year-old Ellie Goodfriend and her own RSH Kallahan Z stormed to the top of the leaderboard with a score of 188 (90+4, 90+4). It was an extra special win for Goodfriend, who is competing at the Pin Oak Charity Show for the first time, after missing last year’s competition due to brain surgery.

“I started having seizures, and I had the surgery last year to help prevent it,” Goodfriend said. “So far so good; I haven’t had any since, and hopefully that continues. I’m excited to be here this year and, so far, I really like it here.”

Goodfriend got the ride on RSH Kallahan Z, or “Muffin,” just under a year ago. At first, she was uncertain of the Zangersheide gelding, and while she now enjoys riding the 9-year-old, her score on Friday still took her by surprise.

“When I first showed him, he was a little green, and he wasn’t the most friendly in the barn,” Goodfriend said. “You have to be nice, light and soft, but he’s really fun. I came into today prepping for the junior hunters, so it was really exciting to have a good outcome.

“During the first round, my stomach was in knots,” Goodfriend said. “I was going around, and I could feel myself trying to make the wrong decision. I kept calm, and it worked out. Once I got my score, I was definitely in shock.”

Goodfriend’s original goal was simply to make the callback for the handy round. Having achieved that, she decided to go big or go home. “I definitely wanted to show off for the handy,” Goodfriend said. “I took some of the turns. He was game for it. Afterward, I was very happy with him.”

Caroline Oliver and her own Penelope OPL followed Goodfriend on the leaderboard, taking second place with a score of 174 (80+4, 86+4). In third place, Shannon Davidson and her own Styled finished out the top three, with a score of 173 (82+4, 83+4).

For more information on the results of the $15,000 Open USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here. For more information on the results of the $15,000 Junior/Amateur USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.