HITS Del Mar concluded its dressage season on October 17-19, 2025, with the HITS Del Mar Dressage Howl-O-Ween Show. This frightfully fun event featured a thrilling casino night party, creative costume exhibition classes, and special recognitions that had been accumulating throughout the 2025 HITS Del Mar Dressage season. The Putnam Family presented the Dressage Circuit Champion Award, a $2,500 prize given to each rider from six different divisions who competed in at least four of the six HITS Del Mar Dressage Shows and earned the highest average scores from those events.
Flinn Johnston was among the illustrious list of riders earning accolades at the HITS Del Mar Dressage Howl-O-Ween Show. Representing the USEF Junior/Young Rider division, Johnston and Milton, affectionately known as “Meatball,” her own 10-year-old New Forest Pony gelding by Lucky Longshot, showed marked improvement with each competition, delivering noteworthy performances for an average overall score of 72.011%.
“One of the reasons I love HITS Dressage is because they are so generous and everything about HITS is so amazing,” expressed Johnston. “The horsepark is just so beautiful. I love it here!”
For college athlete Audrey Allen, receiving this award was an honor that made her recent move to Southern California all the more special. Representing the FEI Junior/Young Rider division with Hugo, her thirteen-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Armani x Hofnar), the pair enjoyed a successful show season with an average score of 68.695%.
“The reason that we keep coming to HITS Del Mar is because it’s such a beautiful facility; the people here are so kind, and they make these shows feel really home-y,” enthused Allen. “Being able to compete here and have a dressage community has been so nice. It’s a great place!”
Allen also went on to obtain her USDF Gold Medal by the show’s end on Sunday, October 19, with a performance in the FEI Grand Prix Junior/Young Rider class, truly putting the icing on the cake for this up-and-coming dressage star.
Congratulations are also extended to the other recipients for the 2025 season:
- FEI Open — Guenter Seidel and Bogart with an average score of 70.743%
- Training to Fourth Open — Steven Paulson and Dark Dance with an average score of 73.651%
- FEI Amateur — Rebekah Decker and Mozart with an average score of 63.254%
- Training to Fourth Amateur — Sierra Trigg and Ontario Q with an average score of 71.989%
With the conclusion of the 2025 HITS Del Mar Dressage Series, HITS extends thanks to all the exhibitors, sponsors, staff, and families that have supported this tremendous season, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back down centerline in February 2026. For complete results from the HITS Del Mar Dressage Howl-O-Ween Show, please click HERE.
