On Aug. 10 at the Traders Point Hunt horse show, Kelley Farmer became the first rider to claim $1 million in lifetime hunter earnings, thanks largely to money earned in the USHJA International Hunter Derby series. At Traders Point, she topped the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Mythical for Ken and Selma Garber and Larry Glefke. She also earned second on On Q and seventh on Skorekeeper for Larry Glefke and Quail Run Partners. As of Aug. 13, her lifetime earnings total $1,011,456.

The USHJA Rider Lifetime Money Won leaderboard tracks money earned by professional riders beginning Dec. 1, 2005. 

Farmer, 37 has been a regular derby winner since the series began, winning classes on a dozen different horses like Taken, Red Sky, Praise, Mythical, Skorekeeper, On Q, Clearly and Bases Loaded. She topped the USHJA International Derby Lifetime Rider Money Won leaderboard for the last three seasons, and leads this season as well. She’s dominated the regular divisions as well, and this year she earned the leading hunter rider title at Devon (Pa.)

Farmer’s partner at Lane Change Farm, Larry Glefke, had been keeping track of her winnings in anticipation of the award.

“I was really hoping to get it done this year before [USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships] but either way, it’s a great accomplishment,” said Farmer, Wellington, Fla. “Without the derbies we couldn’t have gotten here. They’ve done wonderful things for the sport. But I have to say, this isn’t just for me. It’s for my owners, for Larry, for the team and my barn. To be the first hunter rider to get there is really an honor.”

Farmer will compete in the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships this week at the Kentucky Horse Park.