With summer competition heating up across all HITS venues, the Vermont Summer Special on July 2-6 kicked off six thrilling weeks of sport at HITS Vermont for the 2025 HITS Vermont Summer Festival. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Green and Taconic Mountains in Manchester, the action-packed week drew top competitors from across the country. Among the highlights were the $24,500 CWD Grand Prix and the $5,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, both showcasing standout talent.
In the jumper ring, Amy Shafmaster and Infante SK topped a seasoned field of 19 horse-and-rider combinations to capture the $24,500 CWD Grand Prix. Riders gathered Saturday, July 5, to take on a challenging track designed by Mark McGowan of Nantwich, United Kingdom. Shafmaster, an amateur rider from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, produced a clear first-round effort that ultimately held up for the win.
“I’m just starting my fourth year showing Infante SK,” shared Shafmaster of her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cannabis Z. “He’s careful, scopey, honest, and very fast. He takes good care of me.”
Although she mostly competes in the amateur jumper divisions, Shafmaster occasionally gets extra confidence from Infante SK to step up to the next level.
“When I’m feeling brave, I’ll do a bigger class with Infante SK,” she explained.
That bravery paid off as she and trainer David Jennings of Full Circle Farm in Ocala, Florida, were the only two pairs to deliver clear first rounds. After Jennings opted out of the jump-off, Shafmaster secured the victory.
“I thought the course was great,” she enthused. “Mark McGowan did a fantastic job.”
For Shafmaster and the Full Circle Farm team, Vermont is a staple on their summer schedule.
“I’ve been coming to these Vermont shows for 30 years, and I love it,” she added. “The venue is beautiful, the horses love it, and HITS runs a great show.”
David Jennings took second aboard Bionce des Monts, Hillview Farm Sporthorses’s 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Ravage de Mars x Cenaze du Hil), while Jonathan Corrigan rounded out the podium with Twin Oak Ventures LLC’s Ritual Vitseroel, a Belgian Warmblood mare by Cornet Obolensky out of Cicero Z van Paemel.
The week also shone a spotlight on hunter riders with Friday’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on July 4. The competition delivered plenty of fireworks as professional rider Morgan Ward swept a competitive field of 38 to claim the win with Comissario, her 20-year-old Warmblood gelding by Calido. Amateur rider Caitlin Buckley followed closely in second aboard Mr. Wonderful, her own Hanoverian gelding by Los Angeles. Rounding out the podium in third was professional rider Jennifer Wright with Decklin, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Emerald van’t Ruytershof x Querlybet Hero) owned by Gable Gering.
As the first week of the HITS Vermont Summer Festival wraps up, anticipation is high for even more thrilling sport as the Manchester Summer Festival kicks off on July 8.
