Under a picturesque Florida sky, the atmosphere at the HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, sizzled as horses and riders geared up for the week’s main event, the $24,500 John Deere Grand Prix. Boasting two weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition, the 2025 HITS Ocala Holiday Series saw athletes from across the country return to the iconic venue to freshen up their skills as they prepare for the 2026 winter season. Headlining competition in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Ring on Saturday, December 20, Morgane Qualls captured the day’s biggest victory as she piloted Favorite D’Armanville to the win..
From hometown heroes including Jared Petersen and Hayley Waters Wear to Olympic veterans like Sharn Wordley, as well as up-and-comers, the afternoon’s event featured a breadth of qualified talent hoping to secure the top position following the two rounds of show jumping action. Course designer Ken Krome (USA) set the finishing touches on the first-round track, which would see a total of 26 horse-and-rider combinations doing their best to deliver a clear-round performance and advance to the deciding jump-off.
With carefully placed fences and technical, but fair, questions, Krome whittled the number of jump-off contenders to just four pairings. Featuring fast-footed duos, the class counted on speed and accuracy to get the job done, both of which Qualls brought to the table. As the last to contest the short course, she laid it all on the line with the 10-year-old Selle Français mare by Cap Kennedy, beating out the previous leading time of Vicente Guillen by mere tenths of a second to finish in an unbeatable 39.746 seconds.
“Every time she just gives you 110 percent,” enthused Qualls. “She absolutely loves it. She knows when she’s done well and she knows when she’s had one down, and she really thinks about it. She processes it and she tries every time to be better and better, which over the years has just turned her into this amazing horse.”
The partnership has been one of longevity for Qualls after the two came together early on in the mare’s career.
“I actually got her when she was a six-year-old and she really hadn’t done much,” she explained. “She was supposed to just be an investment horse, but she just became everything that I love.
“Since I went last today, we talked about how I could go slow and clear or I could try to go fast, potentially have one down, and be fourth,” continued Qualls. “We decided to try and go for it, which we usually don’t with her. Her stride is so big, and she’s so game that I knew if I caught jump two right and asked her for six strides, she could cruise up there no problem.”
Just off the mark and stopping the timers in 40.138 seconds, Guillen and Evolene de Carles, Karina Marquez’s 11-year-old Selle Français mare by Kannan, earned the second-place position for their efforts. Hot off a successful win in the $10,000 Alliant Private Client Cup on Thursday, December 18, Jared Petersen rounded out the top three with a time of 40.399 seconds with Kawir MS, Jordan Petersen’s nine-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Comme Il Faut.
The HITS Ocala Holiday Series will conclude on Sunday, December 21, 2025, as junior and amateur riders hope to take home top ribbons during “Classic Sunday.” For a full list of results, please visit showmanagementsystem.com.
