Tag Archives: Thermal

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

Chris Pratt Cruises to Victory in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Thermal to Kick Off Horsepower Weekend

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©Flying Horse Photography. Chris Pratt and Indigo Farms LLC's Cruise captured their first Grand Prix win of the season at HITS Thermal

THERMAL, CA (March 10, 2012) – As the final days of the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit approach, Chris Pratt of Lake View Terrace, California shifted things into high gear when he and Indigo Farms, LLC’s Cruise beat out 54 other starters to take the top prize in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Pratt’s victory is his first of the season after he and Cruise finished fourth in the $53,000 Chartis Grand Prix CSI2*-W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, last week. Friday’s win was the launch for the season finale at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California with the festivities for Horsepower Weekend officially underway.

For the third year in a row, the show grounds in Thermal have been invaded by luxury speed-machines courtesy of sponsor Lamborghini of Newport Beach. Lining the berms of the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix arena are the very best in sports car technology and design. This year’s line-up includes a couple of very sleek McLarens, the Fiskar, which pairs electric technology with the power of a sports car, and a reproduction of a late 1950s Porsche that has the eye of several exhibitors and even members of the HITS Staff.

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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, 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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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.”

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