HITS Hudson Valley VII, held August 27-31, 2025, picked up right where the HITS Hudson Valley Jumping Tour® weeks left off, delivering another round of top-tier sport to the scenic showgrounds in Saugerties, New York. Tucked in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, the venue once again lived up to its reputation for exceptional footing, a welcoming atmosphere, and the kind of charm that keeps riders and spectators returning season after season. Among the week’s highlights was the HITS Adult Equitation Championship, where Brooke Taylor took home the top honors.
A field of 21 horse-and-rider combinations took on a thoughtfully designed course by Chris Collman of Cave Creek, Arizona, in this four-phase adult equitation challenge. Spanning two days, riders began with a classic-style equitation round in phase one, followed by a flat phase in phase two. Phase three brought a handy hunter equitation round, with the top four ultimately returning for a thrilling ride-off in the final phase.
On Friday, August 29, horses and riders stepped into The Ring for the first phase of the exciting class, where Mariel Saccucci delivered a beautiful round aboard Tibri’s Kantos, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding (Kannan x Glorieux) owned by Tibri LLC, to earn the top score of 88 and take home the honors. From there, riders moved on to the flat phases, where style and fundamentals took center stage. In Section A, Willow Vince impressed the judges aboard Hardwell, a 13-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding by Dignified van’t Zorgvliet owned by Summer Stone Farm, to claim the top spot. In Section B, Molly Calhoun and Tibri’s Rain King, her 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Cumano, brought home the blue with a standout performance.
Saturday, August 30, marked the final phases of competition, judged by the distinguished panel of Rachel Kenedy and Allison Sweetnam. After an impressive handy-hunter-style equitation round, Brooke Taylor surged to the top of the leaderboard, maintaining her poise and her rhythm to finish strong in the four-horse ride-off.
“I was really, really nervous,” admitted Taylor, the amateur rider from Kittery, Maine. “I knew I had the horse under me to win, so I just kept telling myself to take it one jump at a time. I was excited for this class because there are multiple phases, so I didn’t let myself get too upset if something went wrong in one of them.”
Taylor has had the ride on Corso, Abigail Taylor’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Indoctro, for several years, competing in the adult equitation under the guidance of Monty Kelly and the team at Stepping Stone Farm in Albany, New York. When reflecting on her partnership with Corso, Taylor became emotional: “He is the most caring, magnificent, and goofiest horse. He’s truly become a member of the family, and I am endlessly thankful he came into my life this way.
“HITS putting on this type of class for amateur riders is fantastic,” she continued. “Because of all the phases, it gives everyone a chance to showcase their strengths. The courses were all wonderful, and I just had a blast out there.”
Casey Zuraitis claimed second place aboard Intrepid, Maria Zuraitis’s 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Toulon x Randel Z), while Willow Vince and Hardwell rounded out the podium in third.
The excitement continued with the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, where professional riders took over the spotlight. It was a familiar duo in the winner’s circle as Michael Desiderio rode Cocolores, Debbie Bianco’s 11-year-old Warmblood gelding (Casiro I x Raphael), to top honors with a two-round total of 185. Desiderio also claimed second aboard Imperial’s High Altitude, Debbie Bianco’s seven-year-old Selle Français gelding (Tresor x Olargo-B), earning a combined score of 183.50. Hannah Isop and Lisonas Gold, Maarten Huygen’s six-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Stakkato Gold x Obos Quality 004), rounded out the top three with a total of 178.50.
Wrapping up the week, the $2,500 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby gave junior and amateur athletes their time to shine. Cynthia McGrath topped the class with a two-round total of 175 aboard Laxton, Wynnwood Farm LLC’s nine-year-old KWPN gelding (Gaspahr x Colino). Paige Nyren took second with Haribo Blue, her eight-year-old Selle Français gelding (Plot Blue x Captain Paul I), finishing with 173. Junior rider Mila Nechaev and SLS Decado, her seven-year-old Warmblood gelding (Dakato x Forever), rounded out the podium with a combined total of 170.
As HITS Hudson Valley VII comes to a close, the excitement only grows as everyone sets their sights on Championship Week, kicking off September 3.
