The grounds of HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, came back to life during the week of December 8-14, 2025, as competition officially kicked off the venue’s Holiday Series. Local competitors and long-distance travelers alike returned to the iconic property for yet another exciting season. Show jumping sport came to a head on Saturday afternoon, December 13, as 27 horse-and-rider combinations vied for the top call in the week’s marquee event, the $24,500 FarmVet Grand Prix. Following a string of impressive jump-off rounds, the win ultimately went to Morgan Ward-Knowlton, seamlessly navigating her new mount, Qornet vd Bisschop, to an unbeatable time.
FEI Level 3 course designer Oscar Soberon (USA) was in charge of configuring the challenging track, which tested a variety of duos ranging from veteran pairs to up-and-comers. Ward-Knowlton’s performance with the stallion newly acquired by Gowe Farms came late in the lineup and stole the show with a double-clear score, stopping the clock on the short track in 34.967 seconds.
“I saw him go at Harrisburg with Canadian rider Carly Campbell-Cooper,” explained Ward-Knowlton of how she came to partner with the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Cornet Obolensky x Kashmir van Schuttershof).”She and I are good friends, and I had spoken to her previously about potentially needing another jumper. She said, ‘This is your ride,’ and I jumped two jumps, and we bought him this week.”
Ward-Knowlton is often known for dominating in both the hunter and jumper rings at HITS Ocala, and Qornet vd Bisschop looks to only increase her odds at a win in the Grand Prix Ring.
“He’s just awesome,” she enthused. “He’s got unlimited scope; he’s super careful, and he’s very game. I can kind of kick him up to anything and give him the room, and he just loves to go fast.
“Everything connected super smoothly today and I was able to ride off of his big gallop,” continued Ward-Knowlton of her decision to debut the partnership at the HITS Ocala venue. “I decided to take this week off from my other jumper so that I could just try focus on him, which was the best decision. I’m hoping to learn more about him this week and hopefully next week before we start doing some bigger classes and FEI stuff on him.”
Ben Merritt and Centino Blue TW, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Centadel and owned by Isabella Dean, landed just off the mark in 35.056 seconds to finish in second place. Charlie Jones once again found himself in a HITS Ocala lap of honor as he and Casirado 3, Risen Eq Holdings LLC’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, rounded out the top three with a time of 35.559 seconds.
HITS Ocala’s opening week of the Holiday Series concludes on Sunday, December 14, with riders from the Cross Rail division to the open jumper level taking to the venue. For full results, please visit showmanagementsystem.com.
