Tag Archives: HITS

HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Ocala Hunters Take It to the Top in Week III

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(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY. Hunt Tosh and Casanova.

Ocala, FL (February 8, 2017): Horses and riders descended on HITS Post Time Farm for a shot at winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix or the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. It was the third week of competition at HITS Ocala and riders were hungry to place atop the best of the best.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Hunt Tosh of Alpharetta, Georgia grabbed his second win in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the 2017 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Last week, Tosh won the class aboard Gotham, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, in addition to a third place prize with Wiser, owned by Ceil and Kenny Wheeler.

This week, Tosh claimed the victory with Casanova, another winning ride owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. They won the class with scores of 86 and 89 for a total of 175. Tosh would claim another ribbon with Wiser, this week in sixth place.

Second in the ribbons went to Amanda Steege of Bedminster, New Jersey riding Loxley, owned by Finale Partners, LLC. They were awarded a first-round score of 87 and a second-round score of 85 for a total of 172. Steege also took home fifth place with Zidane, owned by Susan Darragh.

Aiken, South Carolina equestrian Daniel Geitner brought home the third-place prize riding Sky Pilot, owned by Allison Wolfe Mills. The judges gave the pair scores of 84 and 85, respectively, for a total of 169.

Fourth place was Caitlyn Shiels of Hampshire, Illinois riding Cassius, owned by Don Stewart. They earned scores of 84 and to secure a total of 167.

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

A supremely talented crop of riders turned out to challenge the course and prove who the ultimate in hunter style was.

(C) ESI Photography. Melissa Marshall and Valiant

Melissa Marshall of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania won aboard her own mount, Valiant. The pair received eighth place in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix during Week II and they jumped their way up the standings to claim the blue ribbon victory in Week III.

Marshall and Valiant took the lead in the first round with a score of 83; combined by a second-round score of 79, they brought the win home with a total of 162.

The second-place prize belonged to Lauren Lindner of Warren, New Jersey and Quantonius, owned by Nicole Peterson. They earned a 79 in the first round, improving to an 81 in the second round to total 160.

Williston, Florida equestrian Samantha Perlman piloted Willow Bay, owned by Ann Cohen Farm, to the fourth place ribbon. The earned a total of 159, combined by scores of 80 and 79, settling them just behind Lindner.

Fifth place belonged to Grafite, owned and ridden by Madison Pan-kita. Their scores of 80 and 77.5 earned them a total of 157.5 to round out the top five.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
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Competitions, HITS, Show Jumping

Dorothy Douglas Wins $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at Ocala Week III

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(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY. Dorothy Douglas and S & L Elite.

Ocala, FL (February 7, 2017): Dorothy Douglas topped a field of 33 in the grand finale of the Week III at HITS Ocala. Riders and horses descended on Ocala Horse Properties Stadium in search of the top spot on the leaderboard and hopes to take home the biggest slice of the $50,000 prize purse.

Douglas and S&L Elite won the class in a four-horse jump-off that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. The top two brought home the only clear rounds of the jump-off and were separated by a mere fraction of a second.

Australian equestrian Scott Keach was the first to challenge the abbreviated course piloting Fedor, owned by Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC. They had an unfortunate rail at the third fence on course, finishing the jump-off with four faults in 41.952, proving how quickly the course could be ridden. The time would ultimately be good enough for third place.

Following Keach was Fernando Cardenas of Colombia riding Quincy Car. The pair won the $7,500 U Dump Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic during Week I at the Ocala winter Circuit, but they finished the week in the big leagues in Sunday’s class.

Cardenas and Quincy Car crossed the timers in 44.827 with four faults after a heartbreaking rail at the final fence for the eventual fourth place.

The jump-off course had yet to be mastered until victors Dorothy Douglas and S&L Elite stepped in to compete. They powered through the course, conquering each fence as they flew to the finish. They crossed the timers fault-free in 41.051 for the eventual win.

Following Douglas as the final competitor in the jump-off was Derek Braun riding Lacarolus, owned by MM Family Corp. They chased down Douglas’ time as the crowd cheered them on to the finish line. The clock stopped at 41.521, just a half of a second away from overpowering Douglas’ time on the leaderboard. Their valiant round would settle them in second place.

The top five rounded out with Aaron Vale and Carlo, owned by North Face Farm. They narrowly missed the jump-off round by one time fault in the first round.

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HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Lisa Goldman Takes the Lead in Week III JHT Welcome at HITS Ocala

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(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY. Lisa Goldman and Morocco.

Ocala, FL (February 3, 2017): The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is in full swing and Week III kicked off with the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome. Riders and horses turned out for a shot at scoring the first featured win of the week, but only one could lay claim to the victory.

The team to beat was Lisa Goldman riding Morocco. They would claim the win with a lightning-fast round by a full two seconds in a six-horse jump-off. The course was designed by Mark McGowan of Kilmarnock, Great Britain.

“Morocco is my tried and true ride, and he is incredibly fast across the ground,” said Goldman. “The course rode quick; I thought it was well designed and it was a nice course for a shorter, speedier horse, like ‘Cowboy’.”

Grand Prix titan Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida was first to return to the jump-off. He set the tone for the remaining field with a quick, clear round aboard Darling GR, owned by Troy Glaus. They stopped the clock at 37.892, a time that would hold up until Goldman entered four rounds later; they would ultimately go home with second place.

Following Vale was Tracy Magness of Baltimore, Maryland piloting Intenz Van HD. They put down a valiant ride, chasing Vale’s currently leading time. They clocked in fault-free in 38.750, eventually giving them the third-place prize.

Milford, New Jersey equestrian, Morgan Ward, was next to test the abbreviated course. She and Diacord, owned by Daniel Bluman, powered through the course to finish in 39.385, ultimately settling them in third place.

Goldman was the fourth to test the jump-off, and she knew she’d have to put the pedal to the metal to overtake Vale’s quick time.

“Cowboy is naturally fast, but I have to keep things level-headed,” said Goldman. “We took 1, 2 and 3 quickly and shaved off a few strides in a few different places on the course to save time.”

They finished in a speedy 35.530 for the eventual win. None would surpass the time including fifth place finisher, Brandie Holloway riding Dublin, owned by Hays Investment Corp. They suffered an unfortunate rail at the second fence on course. The final contender in the jump-off was Debbie McCarthy Connor and Zim, owned by Connor & Ebetino Jumpers, LLC for sixth place.

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FEI, HITS, HITS, Show Jumping

Seven Teams Confirmed for the 2017 FEI Nations Cup™ CSIO-4* at HITS Ocala

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(C) Scott Miller – FEI.

Ocala, FL (February 2, 2017): HITS, Inc. is pleased to officially announce that seven teams from across the globe will turn out for the 2017 FEI Nations Cup™ CSIO-4* at HITS Ocala, February 14-17. The seven teams: U.S.A., Mexico, Canada, El Salvador, Ireland, Venezuela and Colombia will battle it out for global fame in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium at HITS Post Time Farm, and the prestigious event is not to be missed. Click here for tickets to the Friday, February 17, FEI Nations Cup™.

“We are looking forward to the third consecutive year of the FEI Nations Cup™ at HITS Ocala being the best yet,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “The setting for the event, the Horse Capital of the World, could not be more fitting. The Ocala/Marion county community is rallying behind the honor to host the FEI Nations Cup™, and several community events are lined up to create the atmosphere of global sportsmanship.”

Ocala Main Street, Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) are coordinating “Jump Downtown”— a special event featuring the Inaugural Parade of Nations Horse Celebration on the Downtown Square in Ocala on Wednesday, February 15th at 6 PM.

The Parade of Nations will honor and welcome this year’s seven teams from around the world that are in Ocala to compete in the extremely prestigious Nations Cup, and showcase many of the breeds that make Ocala the Horse Capital of the World. Sponsored by the City of Ocala, this family-friendly event is free and open to the public, making it a can’t-miss opportunity to cheer on world-class athletes and enjoy the equine side of the community.

“They say the third time’s the charm, and we are certain the 2017 event will live up to the expectation of excellence that HITS is recognized for,” said Struzzieri. “We are looking forward to witnessing which team will be the winner this year.”

Throughout the Nations Cup Week at HITS Post Time Farm, HITS will offer an upgraded hospitality experience in the Overlook VIP Club featuring ringside seating, as well as beer and wine service and the culinary art of Executive Chef Giuseppe Napoli of The Tavern at Diamond Mills in Saugerties, New York. VIP tables are expected to sell out and reservations are encouraged.

For Overlook VIP Club information and bookings, contact Chris Mayone at Chris@HitsShows.com. Day VIP will also be available for purchase which includes reserved, ringside seating, lunch with beer and wine service. To purchase Day VIP, please contact HITS at 352-368-2449.

The Ocala Winter Circuit runs for 10 weeks, January 17 – March 26. The week immediately after Nations Cup will be FEI CSI-2* on February 21-26. The Circuit culminates with the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on Sunday, March 26.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

Competitions, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

Week II Hunters Grab the Spotlight at HITS Ocala

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(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY. Hunt Tosh and Gotham.

Ocala, FL (January 30, 2017): The second week of qualifying opportunities for hunter exhibitors in Florida commenced with the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. Both classes are qualifiers for the ever-prestigious hunter events of the season at the HITS Championship in September: the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final and the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Hunt Tosh was victorious in Saturday’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard Gotham, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. They topped the field the highest scores in both rounds, a 90 and an 89, respectively, for a winning total of 179.

Not only would Tosh take home the blue ribbon, but the third place prize as well aboard Wiser, owned by Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. Their total of 170, combined by scores 84 and 86, would score just behind second place earner, Harold Chopping piloting Celtic Gold, owned by Meg Valnoski.

Chopping rode Celtic Gold to a first-round score of 85, improving to an 86 in the second round for a total of 171.

Fourth place belonged to Ehrin Rittmueller and Chicago, owned by Christine Braeutigam, with a total score of 168, and the top five rounded out with Cassandra Kahle riding Applause, owned by Nevergreen Farm, LLC, with a total score of 166.

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Erin Brody brought home the win in Saturday’s $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix with Z, owned by Heritage Farm, Inc. They took a score of 83 in the first round, combined with their second-round score of 85 for a total of 168.

(C) ESI Photography. Erin Brody and Z

Second place was awarded to Carla, owned and ridden by Cara Garito. They garnered the highest score in the first round, an 86, and combined with their second-round score of 81.5, took the prize with a total of 167.5.

Third in the ribbons was Amy Lloyd Thomson riding her own Paramount. The received an 82 in the first round from the judging panel, and with a second-round score of 83.5, raked in a total of 165.5.

Alexa Bayko, winner of several Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala, finished fourth on Whisper, owned by Monica Hunt. The top five rounded out with Leigh Gallagher riding Eternity, owned by Tibri, LLC.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Lisa Goldman Conquers the $50,000 Equioxx Grand Prix at HITS Ocala Week II

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(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY. Lisa Goldman and Hindsight.

Ocala, FL (January 30, 2017): Elite competition resumed in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium on Sunday with the $50,000 Equioxx Grand Prix. Thirty-seven riders turned out for the grand finale of Week II, and everyone had their eyes on the prize.

Oscar Soberon from Monterrey, Mexico designed a challenging course for Sunday’s crop of riders, comprised of 16 jumping efforts. Nine would advance from the first round to the jump-off where only two would go clear in contingency for the win.

Lisa Goldman of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois garnered the blue-ribbon victory aboard Hindsight, marking the horse’s first Grand Prix win. They entered as the first competitors the jump-off and laid down a solid round that would stand the test of the entire class — not an easy feat for a class of this caliber.

“The course was big and technical,” said Goldman. “There are a lot of very good horses and riders here, so I thought [Oscar] designed the course well. The time allowed was tight but the course was the right amount of challenging for the riders here.”

They clocked in fault-free in 44.120 for the eventual win. Eight more followed Goldman, but none could match her speed.

Venezuelan rider Emanuel Andrade immediately followed Goldman in the order, but an unfortunate rail at the B element of the combination would settle them with the eventual fifth-place prize.

The only other clear round of the jump-off would be Manuel Torres of Colombia, riding Christofolini H, owned by Andrea Torres Guerreiro. With many top five finishes and wins at HITS Ocala, as well as several classes competing against Goldman, Torres knew what he had to do to compete — be quick, be clean and shave the time off the clock.

They zoomed through the course as the clock ticked and the crowd cheered.  They powered toward the finish, passing the timers clear with a time of 44.242, just one tenth behind Goldman’s time for the ultimate second place.

Eliza Lehrman of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania took home third place riding Fenom Van Klapscheut, owned by Five Way Farm, LLC. As the final pair in the jump-off, they nearly turned in a clear round, but their time of 51.164 gave them two time penalties.

Tracy Fenney and MTM Reve Du Paradis, owned by MTM Farm, have been on fire at this year’s Ocala Winter Circuit. They returned to Sunday’s class after winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Thursday with another winning goal to set.  Unfortunately. a rail at the second-to-last fence kept them from topping Goldman on the leaderboard, but their speedy time of 43.006 earned them fourth place with the quickest round with four faults.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Competition Continues during Week II at HITS Ocala

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(C) ESI Photography. Tracy Fenney and MTM Reve Du Paradis

Ocala, FL (January 28, 2017): The second week of horse shows at HITS Post Time farm is in full swing and riders and horses are hunting for the win in all of the classes the Ocala Winter Circuit has to offer. On Wednesday and Thursday, riders tested their skills in the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome and the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, but only one pair could go home with the win in each class.

$5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome

David Jennings and Carmina, owned by Woodrun, took home the first, featured win of Week II with a victory in the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome. It was a competitive jump-off, with 12 exhibitors scoring double-clear rounds, leaving the winning round all up to speed.

Jennings and Carmina captured the win with a clear jump-off in 41.157. Following behind in second place was Emanuel Andrade aboard Inne Van De Plantaan. They clocked in exactly .01 seconds behind Jennings in 41.167. Andrade would also garner fifth place aboard U.

Harold Chopping and Basje, owned by Kendra Bullington, were third in the ribbons with a clear round in 42.392 seconds. Fourth place was Francois Lamontagne piloting Chanel Du Calvaire with a clear round in 42.958 seconds.

Tracy Fenney Wins $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

The popular SmartPak Grand Prix proved to be a very challenging class for the 36 horses and riders that were in attendance, and everyone was hunting for a slice of the prize.

Course designer Tim Hott of Cummings, Iowa designed a terrific course of 15 jumping efforts for Thursday’s Grand Prix, but only one would go home victorious – and that was Flower Mound, Texas equestrian Tracy Fenney aboard her winning mount MTM Reve Du Paradis, owned by MTM Farm.

In a 10-horse jump-off, they powered to the finish to win the class with a 39.621-second jump-off round to follow their successful showing in last Sunday’s $50,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix where they placed third.

Manuel Torres and Christofolini H, owned by Andrea Torres Guerreiro, placed second among their peers, stopping the clock in 41.886 with all of the rails up. Third place was Kyle Timm riding Can Fly 12, owned by Apex Equestrian Center. They flew passed the timers in 43.031.

Isabelle Lapierre captured fourth place in the standings with her mare, Cesha M, and rounding out the top five was Juan Manuel Gallego riding Coulash Van De Broy Z.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

Competitions, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Ocala Hunters Take Center Stage

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(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY. Dorothy Douglas and S&L Just A Cobbler.

Ocala, FL (January 22, 2017): The first week of qualifying opportunities for the Diamond Mills Hunter Final and the Platinum Performance Hunter Final, which takes place at the HITS Championship in Saugerties each September, commenced this weekend at HITS Post Time Farm. Horses and riders descended on the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium for a chance to qualify in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Dorothy Douglas of Flower Mound, Texas took home the first Devoucoux Hunter Prix win of the season aboard S&L Just A Cobbler, owned by S&L Farms. They were rewarded with the highest scores in both rounds of the Prix, 85 and 87, respectively, for a winning total of 172.

Second through fifth place were each separated by only one point, proving how high the talent level was in Saturday’s event.

The red ribbon went to Brian Moggre riding MTM Inquisitive, owned by Girling Farm, LLC. Moggre is known best for his success in the Jumper ring, having won the $250,000 Black Barn Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix at the HITS Championship last September. He and MTM Inquisitive scored an 81 in the first round, improving to an 86 in the second round for a total of 167.

Amanda Steege garnered both third and fourth place. Third place came aboard Zidane, owned by Susan Darragh, with a final score of 166. Fourth place was with Loxley, owned by Finale Partners, LLC — they earned a final score of 165.

Rounding out the Top Five was Sarah Barge riding Danturano, owned by Sydney Degrazia, scoring an 83 in the first round and an 81 in the second round for a total of 164.

(C) ESI Photography. Taylor Masters and Paisley

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

The team to beat in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix was Taylor Masters and Paisley, owned by Redfield Farm. They scored a consistent 83 in both rounds to take home the win with a total of 166.

Alexa Bayko earned second place piloting Carero. They came in behind Masters with a total score of 163, combined by their scores of 84 and 79, respectively.

Third in the ribbons were Jacquelyn Maggiore and Contina. They received an 80 in the first round and a 78 in the second round for total of 158.

Sydney Degrazia took home fourth place among her peers with Reveille Z. Their combined scores of 85, the highest in the first round, and 72 gave them a total of 156.

Rounding out the Top Five was Maeve O’Donovan aboard India. They received consistent scores of 78 for a total of 155 and the fifth-place prize.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

FEI, HITS, HITS, Show Jumping

The 2017 FEI Nations Cup CSIO-4* at HITS Ocala Is Drawing Near

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(C) ESI Photography.

Ocala, FL (January 5, 2017): HITS, Inc. is pleased to officially announce that the Ocala Winter Circuit will once again play host to the 2017 FEI Nations Cup™ CSIO-4* for the third consecutive year. The inclusive show schedule will continue to give additional opportunities to National and International competitors during February 14-19, 2017, the fifth week of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. The week immediately after Nations Cup will be FEI CSI-2* on February 21-26.

“We are honored to host the Nations Cup for the third straight year,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “It truly speaks for the quality of the event in Ocala for the past two years. We are very excited to have the support of the community to further evolve the event for spectators and teams alike in the Horse Capital of the World.”

Ocala Main Street, Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) are coordinating “Jump Downtown” — a special event featuring the Annual Parade of Nations Horse Celebration on the Downtown Square in Ocala on Wednesday, February 15th at 6 PM.

The Parade of Nations will honor and welcome this year’s teams and equestrians from around the world that are in Ocala to compete in the extremely prestigious Nations Cup, and showcase many of the breeds that make Ocala the Horse Capital of the World. Sponsored by the City of Ocala, this family-friendly event is free and open to the public, making it a can’t-miss opportunity to cheer on world-class athletes and enjoy the equine side of the community.

“With loyal support from Marion County and the City of Ocala, in addition to Ocala Main Street, IHMS and the CEP, HITS will once again welcome show jumping’s biggest players to Ocala to exemplify our continued commitment to growing the sport for exhibitors and spectators alike,” continued Struzzieri.

The Nations Cup Jumping series is equestrian sport’s oldest and most prestigious team challenge, with national teams from around the globe competing for one of the most coveted prizes in this Olympic-level discipline.

Last year, the 2016 Nations Cup at HITS Ocala garnered over 5,000 on-site spectators, as well as an unprecedented figure of national and international media attention. The 2015 event was ranked as the second highest in national and international media interest for its overall division in the official 2015 FEI Nations Cup™ Media Report.

“Now, with two years of experience, we can continue to make Nations Cup Week an extraordinarily special week for both the exhibitor and the loyal spectators of Marion County,” continued Struzzieri.  “They say the third time’s the charm – and we are certain the 2017 event will live up to the expectation of excellence that HITS is recognized for.”

Throughout the Nations Cup Week at HITS Post Time Farm, HITS will offer an upgraded hospitality experience in the Overlook VIP Club featuring ringside seating, as well as beer and wine service and the culinary art of Executive Chef Giuseppe Napoli of The Tavern at Diamond Mills in Saugerties, New York. VIP tables are expected to sell out and reservations are encouraged.

For Overlook VIP Club information and bookings, contact Chris Mayone at Chris@HitsShows.com. Day VIP will also be available for purchase which includes reserved, ringside seating, lunch with beer and wine service. To purchase Day VIP, please contact HITS at 845-246-8833.

The Ocala Winter Circuit runs for 10 weeks, January 17 – March 26. A total of two FEI events will be held, including the Nations Cup, from February 7 – March 5. The week immediately after Nations Cup will be FEI CSI-2* on February 21-26. The Circuit culminates with the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on Sunday, March 26. For the complete schedule, please click here.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Andrew Kocher Dominates in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix and $10,000 Open Prix

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(C) ESI Photography. Andrew Kocher and USA Today.

Ocala, FL (December 19, 2016): As the curtain closed on the two-week HITS Holiday Series at HITS Post Time Farm, riders gathered to compete in the finale of the series, the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix.

The rider to beat would be Andy Kocher of Lake St. Louis, Missouri riding USA Today, owned by MKO Equestrian. Kocher won the $10,000 Open Prix the day prior to Sunday’s class, as well as the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix in the first week of the series, along with several other top five prizes.

“I really like the Holiday Series; it’s a great few weeks to practice and get the horses out there, and the prize money is great for even the smaller weeks,” said Kocher. “I thought Ken Krome did a good job all week in designing the courses. He put the jumps in the right spots and utilized the ring well to challenge some rails here and there, but he had a nice number clean in the jump-offs.”

Eight horses and riders would advance over the first round course, designed by Ken Krome of Westminster, Maryland, to vie for the win in the jump-off – where half of the lot would gain clear rounds again.

“This was my first show with USA Today; he’s a really great horse and is a seasoned competitor,” said Kocher. “He’s very experienced and has shown all over the world. I had just sold what was my best horse in the last year or so, so last week I was bummed out, but we brought out our new horses and had a great week, so I’ve changed my outlook for the upcoming winter.”

The first to compete over the shortened course was Christina Kelly of Aiken, South Carolina and The Kingdom, owned by Andrea O’Brien. They flew through the course, laying down a solid, clear round in 37.266 to set the tone for the remaining field. When the class was finished, they would take home the second-place prize.

Next to garner a clear round as the third trip in the jump-off were the victors, Kocher and USA Today. They shaved a full two seconds off of Kelly’s time to move up the leaderboard with a time of 35.070, where the lead would remain.

“The jump-off was fast, and not knowing this horse as well, I just sent him quick to really see what he had in him,” said Kocher. “After seeing Christina go, and she rode really well, I saw her horse had more jump ability then mine but I thought I could be quicker across the ground, so I went for it from the wire to the first jump.”

Ontario equestrian Kim Farlinger entered fifth in the jump-off order to give the crowd another clean round. She piloted Charming Force B, owned by Kim Farlinger Stables Ltd., through the timers in 38.563, a round that would settle them into third place.

Matthias Hollberg, riding out of Middleburg, Virginia, was the final rider in the jump-off and the last to snag a clear round. Hollberg rode Aletta, owned by Hollberg Equestrian, to the finish clocking in at 39.363, just a second shy of Farlinger for fourth place.

The final five rounded out with Margie Engle and Indigo, owned by Gladewinds Farm, Inc. Coming off a victory in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, the two were prepped for success, but a heart-breaking rail at the final fence of the jump-off settled them in fifth in 35.797.

$10,000 Open Prix at HITS Holiday Series

Andy Kocher and Coconut, owned by Eagle Valley Partners, LLC, have been inching their way up the placings over the two-week Holiday Series, and on Saturday, they pulled off the win. Kocher would also grab two more places in the ribbons, fifth and ninth.

“I really like this class and it’s nice if you have a young horse that’s just not quite ready for the Grand Prix,” said Kocher. “Coconut is an eight-year-old that I’ve been producing since he was about six; last year I wasn’t sure if he could be a Grand Prix horse but now I’m thinking he has the potential. He knows where his legs are and is just a very honest horse.”

In a four horse jump-off where all of the trips were clear, Kocher and Coconut sealed the victory as the quickest and most agile team by three full seconds.

First to contend the shortened course was hometown equestrian, Aaron Vale and Stakko, owned by Thinkslikeahorse. They put down a clean trip in 40.260 to set the tone for their peers, ultimately giving them the third-place prize.

Jennifer Jones of Marion, South Carolina followed Vale with Benedetto, owned by Andy Kocher. They shaved two seconds off Vale’s time, stopping the clock with all of the rails up in 38.083, eventually earning them second place.

The rounds kept getting quicker as Kocher entered the ring with Coconut. They zoomed through the course to finish in a lightning-fast 35.254.

The final contenders in the jump-off were Florida equestrian Hayley Waters and Uppie de Lis, owned by Chuck Waters. They mastered the course with all of the rails up, but were not quite fast enough to conquer the trips before them, clocking in at 42.856 for fourth.

Fifth place belonged to Kocher and Carlos, owned by Andrew Kocher & MCM Farm. They were foiled by one mere time fault in the first round.  Kocher also finished in ninth place with E Pleasure, owned by Angelo Danza.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com