Tag Archives: Marshall & Sterling League

Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

Children’s Working Hunter Riders Earn National Titles during Marshall & Sterling League National Finals

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©ESI Photography. Kayla Ryan and First Dibs on course.

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 17, 2012) – Children’s Working Hunter riders, their horses and their ponies were the center of attention in the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium this weekend during Marshall & Sterling League National Finals at HITS-on-the-Hudson. While year-end award winners were crowned during the annual awards ceremony at Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern, Children’s Working Hunters took to the saddle and rode for even more ribbons over two days.

Children’s Working Hunter – Small Pony

Kayla Ryan of New York, New York led the charge as she and Lochmoor Stables’ First Dibs clinched the small pony title. Ryan rode to an impressive score of 80 to finish second in the first over-fences class. She also piloted First Dibs to second place under saddle to rack up enough points for Champion honors.

Sophee Stenbeck of Clarksburg, New Jersey used a high-score of 82 over fences to win the first class and ride to Reserve Champion. She and her own Coconut Creek also earned fifth place in the stake and were third in the under saddle.

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

BJ Ehrhardt and Woodrow Ride to Top Honors in the Adequan Working Hunter Division

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©ESI Photography. BJ Ehrhardt and Woodrow on their way to a win in the Adequan Working Hunter division

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 14, 2012) – Whirlaway Acres, LLC’s Woodrow was only imported from Europe a year ago, but has delivered several Champion and Reserve Champion titles to rider BJ Ehrhardt since, including yesterday’s Adequan Working Hunter Championship at Marshall & Sterling League National Finals. After a successful season at HITS-on-the-Hudson, Ehrhardt of Goshen, New York capped her summer season with a Championship on the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding.

“He hasn’t been in the country very long, but he is doing wonderfully,” said Ehrhardt. “He is super brave with a big stride, so this ring suits him. He is always pleasant to the jumps and performed perfectly.”

After a third-place ribbon in the Adequan Working Hunter class on Wednesday, Ehrhardt and Woodrow returned to the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium to put up a score of 85 in the stake class. She also rode to second place under saddle to secure the Championship.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

HITS Working Hunters Kick Things Off at the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals

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©ESI Photography. Heather Caristo guides Splash to a HITS Working Hunter – Professional Championship

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 12, 2012) – The first day of the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals at HITS-on-the-Hudson hinted at an exciting week forthcoming. Competition got underway this morning in the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium as HITS Working Hunters, both Professional and Non-Professional strutted their stuff.

Heather Caristo comes off a big week to win the HITS Working Hunter – Professional
After riding in last week’s Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final at HITS Saugerties, Heather Caristo of Saugerties, New York didn’t slow down one bit, returning to the ring today to take Champion in the HITS Working Hunter – Professional division.

Caristo pocketed a pair of 84s in each of two over fences classes and rode to first place in the under saddle to sweep the blues and easily earn championship honors. She piloted Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo’s six-year-old Hanoverian gelding Splash to the top spot.

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

The 22nd Annual Marshall & Sterling League National Finals Roll into Saugerties This Week

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© ESI Photography. Taylor Willever and Zedulan accept first-place honors in the Marshall & Sterling Children's Medal Final and the Best Junior Rider on a Horse award

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 12, 2012) – On the heels of HITS Championship Weekend at HITS-on-the-Hudson, another wave of horses and riders arrived in Saugerties, New York this week for the 2012 finale of the Marshall & Sterling League. The Marshall & Sterling League National Finals will celebrate its 22nd year as qualified riders of all ages – professionals, amateurs and juniors alike – will compete this week at HITS-on-the-Hudson for year-end champion titles.

After its inception in 1991, The Marshall & Sterling League is thriving as a grassroots league which takes pride in developing what some consider the future of the hunter/jumper discipline. Competition gets underway today in the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium as Marshall & Sterling riders take to the same ring where equestrian stars from around the world jumped Olympic-level spreads just days before.

“People are so excited to be here – the show was buzzing well before 8am yesterday as riders prepared for the week,” said Joe Norick of Marshall & Sterling Insurance. “We are thrilled to be here and experience the National Finals with riders from all over the country.”

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

Marshall & Sterling League National Finals Prize List Now Available

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© ESI Photography. Taylor Willever and Zedulan accept first-place honors in the Marshall & Sterling Children's Medal Final for horses and the Best Junior Rider on a Horse award

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 31, 2012) – As summer show jumping action picks up at HITS Saugerties, attention will soon turn to September for HITS Championship Weekend and the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals. The prestigious grass-roots League, now it its 22nd year, will return to HITS-on-the-Hudson September 12-16, 2012.

Highlighting the schedule at the Finals will be the popular HITS Hunter and Adequan Working Hunter Divisions, as well as the Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic. Children’s Hunter Pony and Working Hunter Horse divisions will also crown new champions. For jumpers, Child, Adult and Junior/Amateur riders will compete for top honors. Lastly, equitation riders will go head-to-head in the Marshall & Sterling Children’s Horse Medal Final, Marshall & Sterling Children’s Pony Medal and Farnam Adult Medal Final.

In addition to naming 2012 champions, leading rider awards will also be presented during the National Finals. The Best Junior Rider on a horse, Best Junior Rider on a pony, Farnam Best Adult Rider and Grand Hunter Champion will be revealed.

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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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Contributors/Press, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Products/Services, Show Jumping

HITS Launches Social Networking Pages on Facebook and Twitter for the Marshall & Sterling League

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© ESI Photography. Ashley Prusak and Vendelier on course in the $7,500 Children's Jumper Classic at the 2010 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (May 11, 2011) — HITS is pleased to announce that it has launched social networking pages on Facebook and Twitter for the Marshall & Sterling League, the United States’ most popular grassroots equestrian league. HITS will employ the power and reach of these two social media platforms to further its kinship with the League’s more than 1,300 member shows and its members, currently numbering over 1,900 individuals.

“Although we’ve only scratched the surface of potential for social media tools, we’ve had great success utilizing these innovative platforms for our horse shows,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “We are excited to implement this form of outreach and communication for the members of the Marshall & Sterling League. The technology is evolving daily and we are excited to explore the various new ways that we can engage and interact with our members and horse show customers. In the near future, we expect to provide additional tools, applications, and resources for members through our presence in social media to help enrich their experience as League members.”

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