Category Archives: HITS

Championships, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Culpeper, Virginia Is the Next Stop on the Road to HITS Championship Weekend

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CULPEPER, VA (March 7, 2012) – As the countdown to HITS Championship Weekend is well underway, East Coast riders will look to HITS Culpeper for  pivotal qualifying opportunities. Weekly $40,000 Grand Prix will give High-performance riders the chance to punch their ticket for the third annual Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. In addition, HITS Culpeper will host five $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, all of which will qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and five $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix as qualifiers for the all-new $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final. All three big-ticket classes will meet at HITS Championship Weekend at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York September 7-9, 2012 to crown their champions.

The HITS Culpeper Show Series will get underway when the Commonwealth National kicks of hunter/jumper competition April 18-22. Riders return on July 6, with two consecutive weeks of competition during the Showday National, July 4-8, followed by the Cavalier Classic, July 11-15. August brings two more weeks of competition with the Winston National, August 15-19, and the Constitution Classic, August 22-26. HITS will close out the 2012 season Virginia during the Culpeper Finals September 26-30 while introducing the first qualifying opportunities for the 2013 Pfizer Million.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Emma Sullivan Tops the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic as HITS Wraps Up the Ocala Tournament at Post Time Farm

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Emma Sullivan aboard Thinkslikeahorse’s Elder on course in the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic. Photos ©ESI Photography.

OCALA, FL (March 7, 2012) – Emma Sullivan of Lafayette, Louisiana rode to victory under the lights on Saturday in the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper classic at HITS Ocala. She and Thinkslikeahorse’s Elder were the winning pair out of 65 who showed over International Course Designer Jack Robson’s first and second round tracks.

“I was so excited when I won – it was unbelievable! I really love this horse and he has been so much fun to ride,” said Sullivan. “It was a really difficult course and I saw some really fast rounds, so I knew the last turn to fence four had to be tight enough to win. You always risk a rail, but luckily we did it. I’d really like to thank my trainer, Aaron Vale, for everything and letting me ride this great horse, and my parents for being there.”

Robson, of Coronado, California presented 12 obstacles in the first round and repeated six in the jump-off with plenty of challenges in between.

Continue reading Emma Sullivan Tops the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic as HITS Wraps Up the Ocala Tournament at Post Time Farm →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Win Reserve Honors at HITS V

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Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy won the High Performance Working Hunter Reserve Championship at HITS V Ocala Tournament. Photo By: Aly Sanderford/PMG

Ocala, FL – March 5, 2012 – The HITS V Ocala Tournament saw nothing but success from SBS Farms as Jennifer Alfano scored high ribbons and championship honors aboard horses throughout the hunter divisions. Jersey Boy came out at the top of the field in the High Performance Working Hunter division, taking home the reserve championship honors during his second week showing at HITS Ocala.

The talented duo earned the first and second place ribbons for their efforts over fences, as well as the first place finish for their picturesque handy round. Alfano is gearing up for the $10,000 USHJA International Derby in Ocala, FL, this Saturday, March 10. Shortly after their appearance in Ocala, the team will head to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, for the Winter Equestrian Festival where they will compete as the defending champions of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

Nick Haness Brings Home Three Top Ribbons in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

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©Flying Horse Photography. Nick Haness and Carolyn Mittler’s Cristiano cruised to victory in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix during Desert Circuit IV

THERMAL, CA (February 28, 2012) – Nick Haness of San Clemente, California had a tremendous afternoon on Sunday at HITS Thermal when he piloted three horses to ribbons in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, including the blue aboard Carolyn Mittler’s Cristiano to cap an action-packed week for hunter riders during Desert Circuit IV.

Haness was impressive in the popular hunter prix that featured more than 50 horse-and-rider combinations in the first round, over a course set by Rian Beals. The seasoned hunter rider brought home a score of 92 in the first round and set the stage for some tight competition. In the second round, Haness and Cristiano nailed down the victory in the Devoucoux class when they scored an 89 for a total score of 173 and the blue ribbon. More importantly, Haness looks like he will be a “shoo-in” to return for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this fall. Last year, the rising star finished in second place aboard Jessica Singer’s Cruise and collected $90,000 in prize money.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

Mary Lisa Leffler and Gerona 92 Capture the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

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©ESI Photography. Mary Lisa Leffler and Gerona 92 on course in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

OCALA, FL (February 27, 2012) – Rolling Acres Farm scored a huge victory on Sunday when professional rider Mary Lisa Leffler and Rolling Acres’ Gerona 92 captured the win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at the Ocala Masters. A returning Diamond Mills Hunter Prix rider, Leffler is well on her way to qualifying for the 2012 Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

Forty-six horse-and-rider combinations prepared their Sunday best to compete over a first round course set by Ocala’s Doug Russell. After a first round score of 85 and a second round score of 84, Leffler, of Brookville, Maryland secured the win with a total of 169 points.

“This is one of the best classes offered each week in my opinion,” said Leffler, one of the most consistent and talented High-Performance riders to show in both hunters and jumpers. “It’s just a fun event for everyone – the riders, owners and the people that come and watch – everyone seems to enjoy it.”

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Michelle Spadone Rides Uitteraard to Victory in the $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W at HITS Thermal

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© Flying Horse Photography. Michelle and Alejandro Rodal's Uitteraard on course in Saturday night's $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W

THERMAL, CA (February 26, 2012) – Michelle Spadone seems to have some great chemistry with Alejandro Rodal’s Uitteraard. After just seven shows together, the pair won their first Grand Prix as a team in last night’s $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, before a sold-out crowd in the indoor arena at the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California. Just two weeks ago during Desert Circuit III, Spadone and Uitteraard finished ninth in the $53,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI2*W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

Canadian Course Designer Danny Foster set an exciting 1.60 meter course with lots of twists and turns. Riders faced an early combination (3a-b) at the third fence, a liverpool that caught some by surprise mid-way through the course and a triple (12a-b-c) on the last line towards the finish.

Continue reading Michelle Spadone Rides Uitteraard to Victory in the $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W at HITS Thermal →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Duncan McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy Clean Up in the $32,000 HITS Desert Classic to Open the Second Half of the Season in Thermal

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©Flying Horse Photography. Duncan McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy glide high over the Purina Mills jump in Thursday's $32,000 HITS Desert Classic

THERMAL, CA (February 24, 2012) – The second half of the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit is officially underway and exhibitors are flocking from all corners to Thermal, California. Entries have swelled to 2,700 stalls for the week and Thursday saw nine rings of competition buzzing all day long. Coming off an exciting win in Desert Circuit III’s $53,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI2*-W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Duncan McFarlane and Simone Cox’s Mr. Whoopy picked up right where they left off when they posted the fastest double-clear round in Thursday’s $32,000 HITS Desert Classic (FEI), presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

With the current U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris watching from the sidelines, 25 starters took to the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix field in Thursday’s feature class. Canada’s Danny Foster, who is in town to set the courses for the week, came up with a challenging route that weeded out the competition to just five for the jump-off.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Tracy Fenney Wins Her Third Grand Prix at HITS Ocala to Qualify for the 2012 Pfizer Million

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©ESI Photography. Tracy Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Centano gain momentum towards qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix with a win in Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 24, 2012) – Tracy Fenney banked her eighth Grand Prix of the qualifying season with a win in yesterday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Centano to become eligible for her third appearance in the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. No stranger to Pfizer Million glory, Fenney appeared in HITS-on-the-Hudson’s big ticket class in both 2010 and 2011 with two top twenty finishes to show for it.

Fenney, of Flower Mound, Texas leads the way in the 2012 Pfizer Million Rider Rankings with $43,500 in prize money and has her sights firmly set on September’s offering. She stole first place in the preliminary Rider Rankings from former Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood with two second place finishes in last week’s Grand Prix.

Yesterday’s win was Fenney’s third during the HITS Winter Circuit in Ocala and MTM Centano’s huge stride ate up Course Designer Ken Krome’s tracks. He presented technicality over size to both horse and rider with a water obstacle at fence number four as well as a double and triple combination in the second half of the course.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Jennifer Alfano Rides Maggie May to Top Honors at HITS III Ocala Winter Festival

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Jennifer Alfano rode Maggie May to the High Pre-Green Hunter Championship during HITS Ocala III Winter Festival. Photo: ESI Photography

Ocala, FL – February 22, 2012 – The success within the hunter rings continued this week for SBS Farms at the HITS III Ocala Winter Festival. Professional rider Jennifer Alfano guided numerous horses to the top honors this past week, including riding the young Maggie May to the High Pre-Green Hunter Championship.

Maggie May is a six-year-old Bradenberger mare owned by Billie Steffee, who Alfano showed to the championship tricolor in the High Pre-Green Hunter division. The young mare is always improving, and the pair took two blue ribbons over fences and the second place award for their efforts in the under saddle.

“She has been great; I am really excited about her this year. She keeps getting better and better every week, and she is really growing up a lot,” Alfano explained. “It’s really fun to be a part of her coming along, and being able to watch it all unfold.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

Kate Conover and Peron Win the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

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Caroline Sykes Captures the $1,500 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix

©ESI Photography. Kate Conover and Peron on course in Sunday's $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

OCALA, FL (February 20, 2012) – Kate Conover and Redfield Farm’s Peron captured the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Sunday. Conover, a professional rider for Emil Spadone, finished in third place last September at the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. As one of the most talented riders in the sport today, Conover is once again on the path towards America’s richest hunter class.

Excitement was in the air as 61 entries navigated a first round course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida. The second round featured the 12 top professionals of the day, eager to secure the blue ribbon with the best overall two-round score.

Conover had the lead score in both rounds, posting a pair of 88 points for a 176 total and the win. Second place was awarded to Martien Van der Hoeven of The Woodlands, Texas aboard Augusta Pines’ Black Label and third place went to Claire Kellner of Lutz, Florida aboard Mary McNeel’s Gamaliel.

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