After the Win — Cellestino Turns Silver into Gold at Hunter Derby Finals

From Reserve Champion to Winner at the Kentucky Horse Park

Making the jump from the 2025 reserve championship to this year's title was not simply a matter of repeating a formula. Hannan acknowledged walking into the Kentucky Horse Park carrying the weight of expectations after last year's results, but she also knew the team had come a long way since then. That first round stood out as a turning point. From the moment she left the arena gate, everything felt smooth and balanced — the kind of round where you ride out and realize very little needs correction.

Then came the weather delay, the kind of interruption that tests a competitor's composure as much as their skill. When Hannan was asked whether she had made any special adjustments to reset after the pause, her answer was straightforward: focus, relaxation, and commitment to the plan. There was no elaborate routine or hidden strategy. She simply made sure those fundamentals were locked in, trusting that preparation and a bit of fortune would carry them through.

Good horse photography almost always gets easier when the plan gets simpler.

How a Partnership Tightens Over Time

The road to the winner's circle was far from instant. Hannan described the previous season as a valuable learning year, one that helped both horse and rider understand their shared capabilities. This season, however, marked a shift from growth to consistency. The rhythm between them stabilized, and the confidence that had been gradually building became something dependable. What emerged was a partnership that could deliver round after round without the earlier uncertainty.

That consistency did not happen by accident. It came from deliberate choices about how to manage Cellestino's schedule during the show season. He bases his home with the MeadowView Farm team in New York, and Hannan visits once a week during off weeks to ride or school him. When the horse shows begin, the plan is carefully structured: one or two warm-up classes leading into the derby, with a full rest day in between. No extra schooling or prep work gets added on top of that routine — the system is simply that well rehearsed.

What Their Training Routine Looks Like Behind the Scenes

On the days Hannan does ride him at MeadowView Farm, the work stays deliberately simple. A mix of gymnastic exercises and placement poles makes up the bulk of the program, designed to support his natural jumping ability and refine his getaway stride. The philosophy behind it is easy to state: Cellestino performs best when he is moving forward, so the training centers on encouraging that forward motion. He is naturally straight, which means the exercises are mostly about sharpening his jumping style rather than correcting flaws.

His stride length has always been one of his defining physical traits, and Hannan confirmed it gives him a clear advantage in hunter derby classes. While she noted that regular hunter classes can feel a bit more manageable at a slower pace, Cellestino truly shows what he is capable of when galloping. Bigger rings and larger fences play directly to his strengths, making the derby format the ideal stage for his particular gifts.

The Personality Behind the Performance

Beyond the strides and scores, Cellestino has a personality that stands out. Hannan does not hesitate to call him a bit grumpy, especially when it comes to sharing space with other horses. He tolerates the occasional mare but generally makes it clear he wants everyone else out of his bubble. That intensity, however, flips when people are involved — he clearly adores his handlers and the humans who care for him daily.

There is also a showman quality to him that Hannan finds impossible to ignore. He does not just participate in big events; he rises to meet them. When the stakes are high and the arena is full, that is when he brings his best forward. It is that combination of temperament and competitive fire that makes him the kind of horse a rider can build a championship campaign around.

What Hannan Teaches Her Students Before They Compete

Those lessons Hannan passes down to her riders follow the same principle she applied herself: keep it personal and keep it simple. Before every class, she meets with each student individually and identifies two or three specific points they should carry into the ring with them. It is never a long checklist. The goal is clarity, not volume, and she always finishes by wishing them good luck.

She carries that same mindset into her own preparations with Cellestino. The Riggio family, who own him, have built a program specifically designed around hunter derby competition, which means every decision from training to travel supports that singular focus. Their plan is clear, their execution has been consistent, and the results speak for themselves.

What Comes Next for the Champion Pair

For now, Cellestino is done. Hannan confirmed he will enjoy a substantial break after the Kentucky performance, following a pattern she established last year when she pulled his shoes and gave him several months of flatwork to recover. He will not be back in the show ring until Florida, and until then, he is officially on vacation.

The Kentucky victory marks a full circle for a partnership that began with questions about direction and ended with a championship. What started as an experiment in hunter derbies after a sale at Harrisburg has matured into one of the most reliable teams in the sport, proving that patience and the right approach can turn silver into gold.