With the sun beginning to set on the final action-packed Saturday of the 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Series on March 21, the stadium lights shone brightly over the Main Hunter Ring as the final few touches were finished off ahead of testing for the Arion Sellier Equitation Championship. HITS Ocala’s Championship Week was the culmination of 10 intense weeks of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition at the iconic HITS Post Time Farm. Following a morning heavy with show jumping action, all eyes turned to the up-and-comers of the sport, as top equitation combinations prepared to vie for the class’s prestigious prize, a brand-new custom saddle provided by Arion Sellier. In the final few moments of daylight, Ivy Lampert of Hugo, Minnesota, was named the ultimate victor following a four-person testing phase.
Under the highly trained eyes of judges Ginny Edwards and Julie Winkel, a starting field of 21 horse-and-rider pairings contested the opening round, which featured artfully designed fences against the backdrop of the stunning grandaddy oaks that the venue is known for. At the completion of round one, all athletes were invited back to walk phase two, a course of challenging gymnastics exercises, including two bounce combinations as well as multiple related distances and rollbacks. Pairings had their scores combined from the two phases to determine which four riders would advance to the final test. When all was said and done, the back numbers of Brooke Rubio (Milton, Georgia), Madison Ramsey (Palm Harbor, Florida), Eleanor Pieters (Chepachet, Rhode Island), and Lampert were called to return.
With a two-round total of 175.5 points, Pieters returned in the pinnacle position, but with a tricky test to perform still ahead, the win was anyone’s game. Knowing her steadfast partner, Jouret W, Lampert felt confident she could complete the task well.
“I knew that I could execute the test because I have a very broke horse who is extremely handy and has one of the greatest hand gallops I’ve ever sat on,” she explained of Arbor HIll Farm, Inc’s 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Etoulon VDL. “I knew I could really send it to jump one, especially since I was going to do the inside turn, and I knew I could make the turn back after that. Then, I decided it would be best to do the simple transition for the change of lead, because he has phenomenal brakes.”
Ultimately, the pair’s handiness and partnership paid off, earning the victory with a three-round total of 227 points. Finishing just one point behind, Pieters and Tibri LLC’s eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cicero, Tibri’s Purple Rain, claimed the reserve championship title. With a three-round total of 216 points, Ramsey took the third-place finish with the Ashfield Stables’s eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve, Phoenix Park, while Rubio and her own Churchill 56, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by PR.H. Cornet’s Call Out, finished fourth on an overall score of 210 points.
“The biggest thing we’ve worked on is consistency,” noted Lampert. “My entire goal and plan for this class was to ride each part of the track like their own, and to be patient and stay consistent over the three rounds.”
For Lampert, the win was not only a reflection of hard work in the ring, but also of the team and strategy she has behind her.
“I ride with my mom at Arbor Hill Stables, and she has taken me from leadline to this,” she explained. “I work with Chris Strucker and Val Renihan, too, who have been amazing additions to the team. I also work with a sports psychologist, who is extremely helpful, and I would recommend that to every single equestrian and athlete.
“I’m a little new to the equitation because I’ve only been doing it for a couple of years, and this is my first time doing the 3’6” height,” she added. “Tonight was huge, not only for the win, but for the consistency and the pieces I put together; the scores mean a lot.”
The 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is a wrap, but HITS Post Time Farm is proud to be the official host of the 2026 Classic Company Spring Horse Shows. For a full list of upcoming events, please visit https://www.hitsshows.com/hits-events/hits-ocala-winter-circuit/.
