HITS LLC

HITS LLC, the leading producer of hunter, jumper, and dressage competition in the United States, is proud to support The League presented by Marshall & Sterling Insurance, an organization for goal-oriented riders at various stages of expertise. The League demonstrates HITS’s commitment to providing opportunities for riders at all levels to participate at first-class competition venues and showcase their skills in exciting class offerings. The League offers competition in 26 divisions with fences 2’ to 3’6” across hunters, jumpers, and equitation. Feature classes include Hunter Derbies – the Tiny Bit O’ 2’ Hunter Derby and the Bit O’ Straw 2’6” Hunter Derby, the all-new Low Child/Adult Hunter Classic, as well as two additional Junior/Amateur Jumper Classics - the 1.05 m and the 0.90 m. The League provides its member riders a unique opportunity to compete year-round and to qualify for the prestigious National Finals at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY.

Hunter derby action at HITS Chicago in Wayne, Illinois, kicked off on Friday, June 7, during the first week of the Lamplight Spring Spectacular Series with the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby — one of three derbies scheduled for the weekend. An impressive field of 23 horse-and-rider combinations aimed for top performances, but it was Danielle Urban of Omaha, Nebraska, who took home first place with Gabrielli in the highly competitive class.

The $20,000 Alliant Private Client Cup was the feature event at HITS Chicago on Thursday morning, June 6. Linda Radigan showcased her winning partnership with Balveneur Z, galloping straight to the top of the leaderboard for the victory. 

“‘Luron’ jumps so fast and he’s so careful,” said de Pfyffer. “In the ring, he has tons and tons of energy and loves to fly at the jumps. He only has one speed, which is very fast. If I can get him in between the jumps and leave it up, he’s hard to beat.”

The penultimate day of competition during the third week of HITS-on-the-Hudson brought a buzz of activity to the venue as the week’s feature event got underway. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Hudson Valley, the series is a favorite in the area and offers top-level hunter, jumper, and equitation competition for any and all ages. Saturday’s competition produced extra excitement as 20 athletes prepared to contest the track for the $75,000 SummitMax Grand Prix in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium. At the class’s completion, as has been the case many times before, the win ultimately belonged to Laura Chapot (USA) and her longtime partner, Chandon Blue. 

During the $35,000 Great American Grand Prix on Saturday, June 8, 2024, Taylor Land navigated Kim Land’s 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Caballero (Casall), to victory. The pair also took home second in Thursday’s $20,000 Alliant Private Client Cup. Land and Caballero generated one of four double clears of the day, securing the win with an impressive jump-off time of 39.003 seconds. Thursday’s $20,000 Alliant Private Client Cup winner Linda Radigan captured second on her 16-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Balveneur Z (Balougran Z), after crossing the timers in 40.512 seconds. Shannon Sullivan rounded out the top three with her own 17-year-old Polish Warmblood, Downtown’s Main Event, finishing close behind Radigan with a time of 40.551 seconds.

The $25,000 Alliant Private Client Cup was the feature class in the HITS Hudson Valley Grand Prix Stadium on Thursday, May 30th, during HITS-on-the-Hudson II in Saugerties, New York. It was Colombian amateur rider Joseph Bluman and President Van De Oostdijkhoeve that led the class for the win. German course designer Martin Otto set the track consisting of 12 obstacles and 15 efforts. In a field of 24 top horse-and-rider combinations, only six went clear to advance to the short course. Out of those six, only four duplicated their fault-free performance. Joseph Bluman and his own, President Van De Oostdijkhoeve, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Corydon x Couleur Rubin) were the fastest, finishing the jump-off in 39.18 seconds. https://lnkd.in/ewPzYtvv

Braided manes and polished hooves buzzed across the grounds of HITS Hudson Valley on Friday, May 31, during HITS-on-the-Hudson II in Saugerties, New York. as riders prepared for the week’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Ultimately, it was professional rider Michael Desiderio and Cocolores who ended at the top of the list in both the classic and handy rounds for the overall win. Out of a total of 29 horse-and-rider pairs, Desiderio completed the course on four mounts and returned to ride the handy course on three of the four. https://lnkd.in/edYx27GN

Competition during Hits-on-the-Hudson II at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, came to a close on Sunday, June 2, with the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic. Thirty-two horse-and-rider combinations aimed for the top prize, but it was  Diego Perez Bilbao and Mystic Lindenhof that finished victoriously. Mystic Lindenhof has been Perez Bilbao’s  part-time mount for two years. The Spanish athlete shares the ride with U.S. amateur  Catherine Kubiak, and together they have competed the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Over Fences Farm LLC in a variety of classes, including the high amateur jumpers, two-star grands prix, as well as national grands prix. https://lnkd.in/euH7-eTw

The Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, was abuzz with excitement on the morning of Saturday, June 1, as athletes geared up to give it their all in the week’s $75,000 CWD Grand Prix. The day’s highlight event was the second in a series of weekly grands prix throughout the 2024 Hits-on-the-Hudson spring and summer circuit, but already saw many top-tier horse-and-rider combinations, including U.S. rider Megan McDermott, who piloted Nintendo to the victory. Martin Otto (GER) designed an intricate first-round track that managed to only advance seven of the original 23 pairings into the jump-off. McDermott and Counter Balance LLC’s gelding earned the lion’s share of the prize money as they crossed the finishing timers a blazing two seconds ahead of the closest competitor in 43.90 seconds. HITS LLC https://lnkd.in/evVdCqtN