HITS Culpeper’s summer series continued its July competitions over the week of July 9, 2025, during the venue’s Cavalier Classic. The week brought a variety of hunter, jumper, and equitation classes for all age ranges. Competitors brought their best forward, with top rounds taking place in all the arenas. Featured competition in the hunter ring reached a high pointon Thursday, July 10, with Jason Berry of Verona, Virginia, leading the victory gallop in the $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, presented by CWD.
Contending against a field of 22 competitive entries, Berry piloted the Willow Wind LLC’s seven-year-old Westphalian gelding by Cascavelle NT, Overruled, to a well-deserved win after two rounds of sport.
“Overruled is a horse that I bought as a four-year-old,” explained Berry of his partnership with the young gelding. “I’ve had him three years now, but we competed him in the jumpers for a while to bring him along. He has just started doing the hunters and this is only his fourth hunter show.”
Overruled’s jumper background proved beneficial over Dina Mazzola’s handy track as the pair secured their victory with another well-executed performance.
“Overruled is really good at the turns,” stated Berry. “He’s brave, so you can turn as sharp as you want; he’s also super brave at the jump, so the more you can dare him in the handy, the better he is.”
Danny Mahon and Joseph Melnik’s seven-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Verdi, Valandraud Clarion, came closest to catching the top duo and accepted the runner-up ribbon for their efforts. In the irons of his own 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Uno Dinero, Ethan Maye rounded out the top three.
The spotlight then shone on the $24,500 FarmVet Grand Prix on Saturday, July 12, as the highlight event of the week. Dominating in yet another jumper class at the venue, Grace Long punched her ticket to victory aboard Sandra Ruiz’s 10-year-old KWPN mare by F-One USA, Keina. Nikolaus von Gumppenberg jumped to second place with Bud, while Wilhelmina Horzepa and Mac Mittens rounded out the top three.
Competition at HITS Commonwealth Park resumes on July 18 with the fourth VHSA & The League Show, while the 2025 HITS Culpeper Show Series returns on August 13 for three more thrilling weeks of competition kicking off with the Winston National. For full results, please visit showmangementsystem.com.
