As a designated World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) week, HITS-on-the-Hudson VI attracted numerous top hunter competitors to HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York. Among them, Jordan Gibbs, 17, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Checkpoint stood out, taking home the winning honors in the $2,500 USHJA National Junior Hunter Derby, presented by Equestrian Gardens.
Checkpoint, the six-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Chacoon Blue x Casall), also known as “Checkers,” was purchased by Dana Vollbracht in March 2024 after Jeff Gogul, of Flagship Farm, imported him from Europe. Gibbs and Checkers started their partnership under guidance from top hunter rider John French, who has been showing Checkers in the 3’3” Green division. Gibbs took over the ride for the $2,500 USHJA National Junior Hunter Derby, presented by Equestrian Gardens, earning their first major win together.
“He is the sweetest horse,” shared Gibbs. “He continues to impress. He really loves his people. He loves to give kisses and is very calm and easy. He’s been a joy to work with.
“Training with John has given me a good understanding of how to put everything together,” she continued. “He’s been amazing at helping me. He’s just the best there is.”
The derby course was a hunt-and-go style track designed by Danny Foster (CAN) and included four high option fences as well as a trot fence. Gibbs and Checkers scored an 87 in both phases of the course, plus added all four high option points, achieving the highest total score of 178 out of the 36 starting pairs.
“I have been showing more jumpers recently, so it’s just nice to get back in the hunter ring and be able to take a breath between fences and take a moment to think about the horse, how I can cultivate the best possible jump and the smoothest canter, and just keep everything nice and cohesive,” explained Gibbs, who also competes in the jumper arena under the guidance of U.S. Olympic gold medalist Leslie Burr Howard and top Lebanese rider Jad Dana. “Derbies are always fun, whether it’s a hunt-and-go or a traditional format, and the course today was very nice. The jumps were very inviting and pretty, and the course just flowed. I really enjoyed it; it was really fun to ride.”
Gibbs has made her first visit to HITS Hudson Valley a positive and winning experience. After spending three consecutive weeks at the venue, she praised the facility’s recent updates, including new rings and improved footing.
“I heard they made a lot of improvements, and you can see how amazing everything looks. The footing in the Hunter Stadium and in the Grand Prix Stadium is great. I’ve been showing a lot of jumpers here as well and I’ve had the best time.”
Eleanor Pieters, 15, of Chepachet, Rhode Island, and Graf, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Samba Hit I owned by Peter Wylde, secured second place with two scores of 86, plus four high option points, totaling 176. Lily Sonneborn, 16, of Washington, DC, and Juan Carlos, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casall owned by Andesite Equestrian, took third with a final score of 175, having tallied an 84 in the classic phase and an 87 in the handy phase with all four high option points.
Friday’s derby action kicked off with the $2,500 USHJA National Open Derby. Geoffrey Hesslink and Paisley Park, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, emerged victorious from the starting 32 horse-and-rider combinations. Hesslink delivered an impressive performance, scoring an 89 in the classic phase and a 92 in the handy phase, combined with four high option points, for a total score of 185, securing the top spot on the leaderboard.
John French and Kornets Touch, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cornet Obolensky x Untouched) owned by Arriana Boardman, finished closely behind Hesslink. French, who won the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during HITS-on-the-Hudson V, scored 184 total in the $2,500 USHJA National Open Derby, just one point behind first place. Colin Syquia and Banks, a seven-year-old Westphalian mare by Coronet Obolensky owned by Eurasia Inc., claimed third place with a total score of 180.
The day of derbies came to a close with the $2,500 USHJA National Amateur Hunter Derby, presented by Equestrian Gardens, where Callie Seaman and Moonshine, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding by Untouchable owned by Hallowell Lane Farm, led the class. Their scores of 87 and 89 with four high option points, totaled 180 for the win.
Cara Garito and her own mount, Tangelina, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve, finished in second with a final score of 176. Rounding out the top three was Aubrey Borgesi and her own Pappy van Winkle, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Caleandro, with a score of 170.
Children’s riders and their ponies were in full force across the HITS Hudson Valley facility in preparation for the Children’s Pony Hunter Finals, with classes held on Friday, August 2, and Saturday, August 3. The Finals splits ponies into classes by small, medium, and large sizes, where placings in each section, judged separately, determines the overall champion and reserve champion. Luca Tai, 9, of Short Hills, New Jersey, excelled, taking both the overall champion and reserve champion titles with Bit a Country and Clovermeade Revelation, respectively.
Tai and her ponies are gearing up for the 2024 USEF Pony Finals, with their debut in the HITS Children’s Hunter Pony Finals serving as key preparation. While it is the young rider’s first pony finals experience, the early results are already very promising. Tai rode her champion mount, Bit a Country, in the small section and earned first place in the model, second in undersaddle, and first in the over fences class.
“He is a really good pony and he’s a really good mover,” commented Tai of her seven-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding by Cadlanvalley Buzby.
With Clovermeade Revelation, a 16-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding by Clovercrofts Hero of the Heart owned by Addison Blumenthal, Tai continued her winning ways in the large section, scoring second in the model, first in the undersaddle, and first over fences.
“‘Clover’ really likes to jump,” said Tai, who trains at Redfield Farm in Califon, New Jersey.
After an exciting week, Tai has made the most of her HITS Children’s Pony Hunter Finals experience.
“I love it because it gives you an experience before Pony Finals, and I like that there are more competitors,” Tai said of the packed week at HITS Hudson Valley.
The $5,000 USHJA Hunter Team Challenge Final continued the hunter extravaganza on Saturday, August 3, and Sunday, August 4. Fourteen teams competed, with the Yellow Team emerging as the winner. Yellow Team members included Tai and Odyssey representing the Children’s Pony section, Gabrielle McKay and The Great Zar representing the Low Child/Adult Hunter section, Macy Rutledge and Knock Knock representing the Children’s Hunter section, and Kendall Casaccio and Freya D’amble representing the Adult Hunter section.
Members of the Yellow Team enjoyed the team challenge format and the chance to collaborate with other riders in the sport. Beyond competing, participants also decorated themselves and their horses in their team colors, with many adorning colored ribbons and sparkles.
“My favorite part of the challenge was getting the chance to meet new people and make new friends,” expressed Rutledge, 14, of West Simsbury, Connecticut, who trains at Folly Farm in Simsbury, Connecticut.
“I absolutely loved the team challenge,” added McKay, 16, of Barkhamsted, Connecticut, who trains at Fox Crossing Equestrian in Morris, Connecticut. “I got to meet a bunch of new people and find decorations for our horses, and it was a total blast!”
The $5,000 USHJA Hunter Team Challenge Final concluded hunter competition for HITS-on-the-Hudson VI. Competition will resume at the end of August for the HITS Hudson Valley Fall Series.
