Brad Wolf and 2018 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship winner Private Practice took home the tricolor ribbon in the Palm Beach Equine Clinic Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” 36+ division during Week 2 of WEF.
Private Practice and Brad Wolf. Photo © Sportfot
After ribboning two firsts, two seconds, a seventh and an eighth, the pair were asked to return for a “hack-off” with Becky Gochman and Mythical, with whom they were tied for champion. As both combinations took to the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Field one last time, Private Practice once again displayed winning form as a hunter and sealed the victory for him and Wolf.
Gochman and the Gochman Sport Horses’ 15-year-old Westphalian gelding (by Cornet Obolensky) took home the reserve championship. The duo earned placings of two firsts, two seconds, and an eighth.
While Wolf has owned the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos for several years, the mount is entirely new to him to ride.
“Victoria Colvin had been showing him all of last year and I had never even ridden him until we came down to Florida a few months ago,” Wolf explained. “I am so happy because this is our first time showing at the 3’3” height as well, and he was much easier than I expected him to be.”
Dr. Hilary Clayton of Palm Beach Equine Clinic with Brad Wolf and Private Practice. Photo © Sportfot
Colvin bases out of her family-owned farm in Wellington for the winter months. Wolf looks forward to now being able to share the ride with Colvin throughout the rest of the season with a busy schedule ahead for Private Practice.
“Right now our plan is for me to show him during Week 5 in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” 36+. Tori will then take over the ride during WCHR Hunter Week and show him in the High Performance Hunters to try to qualify for the $100,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular,” stated Wolf, and added that he then plans to show the gelding himself the rest of the winter season.