Category Archives: HITS

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

Andres Rodriguez Picks Up 2nd Victory of the Week in $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Ocala

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© ESI Photography. Andres Rodriguez and Caballito captured their second Grand Prix of the week at HITS Ocala when they beat out 37 starters in Sunday's $50,000 HITS Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 20, 2012) – Venezuelan rider Andres Rodriguez had an unbelievable week at HITS Ocala. On Thursday, he won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and came back three days later to take first again in Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Both wins came aboard Caballito, owned by ARAO Enterprises LLC. Rodriguez seems to have his sights locked on making it to this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix.

Rodriguez, now of Wellington, Florida, was one of 37 competitors to navigate the course designed by International Course Designer Martin Otto of Munster, Germany.

Reigning Pfizer Million champion Andre Thieme of Plau am See, Germany and his own Quonschbob were first to show and posted a beautiful round leaving all the fences intact. Unfortunately, they suffered one time fault to the crowd’s disappointment, which kept them from advancing to the jump-off.

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

Andres Rodriguez and Caballito Win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Ocala

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©ESI Photography. Andres Rodriguez and Caballito edged out Tracy Fenney by a split second to win Thursday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 17, 2012) – Andres Rodriguez and Caballito, owned by ARAO Enterprises LLC, won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health on Thursday at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala to kick off a weekend of action-packed show jumping. High-Performance riders were out in full force yesterday as International Course Designer Martin Otto of Munster, Germany made his debut designing courses in the Grand Prix field at HITS Ocala.

Rodriguez, originally of Venezuela and now residing in Wellington, Florida, was one of 16 to make it to the jump-off from the original 39 horse-and-rider combinations.

“The course was friendly,” he said. “Everyone wants to see a jump off with people going as fast as they can and I’m glad there was a jump off that the crowd could get into, because that’s what makes this sport exciting”.

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

The Ocala Winter Classic Wraps Up Another Week of Non-Stop Hunter/Jumper Action as the 2012 Winter Circuit Rolls On

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©ESI Photography. Andre Thieme and his own Cesar on their way to a victory in last week’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 16, 2012) – Last week’s HITS Ocala Winter Classic was another exciting serving of show jumping competition at Post Time Farm as hunter and Grand Prix riders alike made big strides towards the 2012 HITS Championship Weekend.

Grand Prix action paves the way on the road to the Pfizer Million

Germany’s own Andre Thieme returned to HITS Ocala in style during week II, riding to victory aboard his own Cesar in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The reigning Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix Champion is now well on his way to banking the necessary qualifying classes and is $7,500 closer to earning a spot on the Pfizer Million Rider Rankings to find himself at HITS-on-the-Hudson this fall.

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

Daniel Geitner and Living Color Top the Field of the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

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©ESI Photography. Daniel Geitner and Living Color on their way to winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala.

OCALA, FL (February 14, 2012) – Not only did Daniel Geitner enter the hunter ring at HITS Ocala this weekend with the biggest horse, he left with the biggest prize. He and Robin Hughes’ Living Color took one giant stride towards September’s Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final with a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Post Time Farm.

Living Color – standing at 18 hands tall – carried Geitner to a high-score of 87 in the first round and duplicated that score in the second round for an overall score of 174. Aside from beating out 57 competitors on Sunday, Geitner also piloted Living Color to a High-Performance Hunter Championship this week at HITS Ocala.

“This course was really nice. Sometimes it’s hard for him [Living Color] to navigate the smaller rings, but he handled it well,” said Geitner, who hails from Aiken, South Carolina. “He is handy for a big horse, has a great temperament and Robin [Hughes] takes it slow with him, so he is ready for just about anything.”

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

John Bragg and Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill Are Two-For-Two at HITS Thermal

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©Flying Horse Photography. John Bragg and Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill banked another Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final qualifier on Sunday as they cruised to victory in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

THERMAL, CA (February 14, 2012) – John Bragg of Laguna Beach, California continued his roll at HITS Thermal when he posted the top score in both rounds of the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill to capture the feature class for hunters on Sunday at Desert Circuit III.

Bragg was impressive in the popular hunter prix that featured 40 horse-and-rider combinations in the first round on a course set by Rian Beals. The seasoned hunter rider brought home an 88 in the first round and set the stage for some tight competition. In the second round, Bragg and Castle Hill nailed down their second consecutive victory in the Devoucoux class when they scored an 85 for a total score of 173 and the blue ribbon. More importantly, Bragg earned valuable leverage in an effort to qualify for the Diamond Mills 500,000 Hunter Prix Final that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this fall.

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

Jill Henselwood Sets Her Sights on London 2012 with Another Grand Prix Victory at HITS Thermal

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©Flying Horse Photography. Jill Henselwood is hoping to jumper her way into the 2012 Olympics and is off to good start at HITS Thermal, adding another win in Thursday’s $32,000 HITS Desert Classic to her resume.

THERMAL, CA (February 10, 2012) – Canadian Olympic Silver Medalist Jill Henselwood came to the HITS Desert Circuit laser focused on punching her ticket to the London 2012 Olympic Games and it showed. In Thursday’s $32,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Henselwood teamed up with Brian Gingras’ IV Ever and beat all other starters to take the top prize, a check for $10,560.

Thursday’s 16-obstacle course was set by Florencio Hernandez of Mexico and was thought to be one of the more challenging courses riders have faced so far this season at the HITS Desert Circuit. Six starters found trouble at a vertical mid-way through the course, while several others had their fate decided by the trickery of Hernandez’ 10ab combination. But like she often does, Henselwood found a way.

“This was the most technical course that we have had yet,” explained Henselwood after the class. “It was really big and the triple combination heading towards the in-gate was tough. To be successful on this course you had to have a horse with great scope.”

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

Desert Circuit II Comes to a Close as Qualifying Heats Up and Competition Peaks at HITS Thermal

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©Flying Horse Photography. Josephina Nor Lantzman and Chello Z on their way to a victory in the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

THERMAL, CA (February 9, 2012) – Josephina Nor Lantzman put an exclamation point on Desert Circuit II when she rode her own Chello Z to the blue ribbon in Sunday’s $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.

In Sunday’s $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Nor Lantzman and Chello Z were the top horse-and-rider team out of a group of 34 starters that challenged the first-round track set by International Course Designer Bernard Cabral of Lisbon, Portugal.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way I finished my two weeks at HITS Thermal,” said Nor Lantzman. “I will be back for the second half of the circuit where I look forward to competing against some of the top riders in the world. I am riding for Brazil and my ultimate goal is to make the 2016 Olympics.”

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

Jennifer Alfano Guides Sting to Comeback during HITS Ocala I

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Jennifer Alfano guided Sting to his comeback in the $5,000 Devoucoux 3'3" Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala I. Photo By: ESI The Digital Place

Ocala, FL – February 8, 2012 – The first week of SBS Farms’ six-week stay at HITS Ocala was filled with nothing but success as professional rider and trainer Jennifer Alfano guided Sting to his comeback. The talented team executed the $5,000 Devoucoux 3’3″ Hunter Prix with consistency and precision, riding to the coveted championship spot. Alfano also rode numerous mounts to the top awards in the hunter divisions, while student Grace Weidner exhibited Castell in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters, leaving the ring with high scores across the board.

It seems as though Sting, after taking some time to recuperate, is finally hitting his stride in the new 2012 year. Alfano and Sting took control of the $5,000 Devoucoux 3’3″ Hunter Prix, taking the course with a smooth ease. “He was really good, the courses were nice and he jumped great,” Alfano described. “It was so nice to have Sting back after having him out for a while. He was really smooth going around, everything matched, he’s such a fun horse and I am so happy to have him back.”

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

Jennifer Alfano and Sting Capture the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

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© ESI Photography. Jennifer Alfano and Helen Lenahan’s Sting earned the top score in Sunday's $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

OCALA, FL (February 7, 2012) – As the Ocala Premier celebrated its first full week of rated show jumping at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, hunter riders were treated with another gorgeous day to showcase the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, New York, one of the nation’s top hunter riders, enjoyed a successful day after she captured the blue ribbon in Sunday’s main hunter event aboard Helen Lenahan’s Sting.

Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida designed a first round course for 35 competitors and welcomed the top 12 scores to return for a second round to determine the overall winner. Alfano and Sting posted the best first round score of 87 to lead the way and followed it with a second round high-score of 89 to earn her the decisive victory.

Alfano is no stranger to the winner’s circle, and throughout her illustrious career has won many top place finishes at nearly every major horse show and year-end finals in the country.

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

After Three Top-Five Finishes, Charlene Graham Wins the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s/Adult Jumper Championship at HITS Ocala

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©ESI Photography. Charlene Graham boasted top-five finishes in three out of the four legs of the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling League Children’s/Adult Jumper Championship. HITS’ Lisa Engel presents her and Capricette with winning honors after earning the $5,000 Bonus and finishing in first place overall.

OCALA, FL (February 1, 2012) – Charlene Graham of Fairport, New York proved this week that consistency pays off as she and her own Capricette collected three top-five finishes to clinch the Marshall & Sterling Children’s/Adult Jumper Championship at HITS Ocala. After four legs of competition and a Bonus award, $20,500 in prize money was awarded to Children’s/Adult jumpers.

Graham sat in second place overall after the first two legs held during the first pre-circuit week of competition, then rode to fourth place in the Friday’s third leg and second place in Sunday’s  final leg to secure the overall championship. She edged Wendy Libert of Hughesville, Maryland and Mr. & Mrs. John Bartko’s Papillion Peanut by just one point for the win with 112 total points.

“This was the first time I’ve seriously competed in the jumper ring,” said Graham. “I got this horse back in July and it’s been so much fun competing with her – she’s been fantastic. The entire series was a blast. I really enjoyed the format and the amount of prize money offered was great.”

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