Hudson Valley VIII, the final week of the 2025 HITS Hudson Valley Summer Series, marked a truly grand finale on the summer calendar with its designation as a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) event. Held at the HITS showgrounds in Saugerties, New York, the week featured a full schedule of elite hunter classes and drew top riders from across the country.
One of the highlights was the $40,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Great American Insurance Group, held Saturday, September 6. John French and Incognito delivered a standout performance to take the win. Meanwhile in the $20,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, Laena Romond was victorious aboard Forsini in Section A, while Tori Colvin rode Gabriel to the top of Section B. In the $20,000 Junior USHJA National Hunter Derby, Adriana Forte rode to the blue ribbon with Blue Symphony, and Augusta Iwasaki claimed the win in the $20,000 Amateur National Hunter Derby with Small Love.
With the added prestige of WCHR recognition throughout the week, international derby riders entered The Ring to navigate a thoughtfully designed course by Kerry Kocher of State College, Pennsylvania. The esteemed group of Richard Slocum, Steve Wall, Tucker Ericson, and Don Stewart was divided into two panels of judges, with each panel providing a score. The class began with a flowing classic round and continued with a handy round contested in reverse order of merit, rewarding boldness and precision. Riders from across divisions brought forward their best efforts in what proved to be an exciting and competitive class.
French and Incognito entered the handy round in the pole position after earning a first-round score of 186.50, which included an 88.50 from panel one and a 90 from panel two, plus four bonus points from each for high options. In the handy, they delivered again, earning scores of 92 and 90, plus four high-option points and seven handy bonus points from the panels, bringing their total to 383.50 and securing the win.
“There were a lot of inside turn options that a few people tried,” explained French. “Coming back on top, I just wanted to be tidy and smooth, and it paid off.”
French has had Ellie Sadrian’s 12-year-old Anglo European Sporthorse gelding (Twister De La Pomme x Corland) in his program for several years, first campaigning him in the green hunters before Sadrian took over in the junior hunters.
“He was a jumper until a few years ago,” noted French. “He’s really good at making those tight turns and paying attention in the handy rounds.”
Though French is no stranger to the winner’s circle, this week’s class was something of a late decision. After some time off following the Baran Hunter Classic in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, he decided to bring Incognito to HITS Hudson Valley.
“He actually wasn’t supposed to come this week, but then I thought this is a big-money class, and he won a derby here last year,” he recounted. “I called the owners and said we should send him. He only arrived a few days ago, so I gave him a jumper class to warm up, and he was fantastic today.”
Alongside his Team KPF colleague, world number one show jumper Kent Farrington (USA), and the rest of their crew, French has made HITS Championship Week an important stop on their show schedule. With the WCHR designation as well as an FEI CSI3* division, the week provides opportunities for both hunter and jumper riders.
“This is a great venue, but especially this week, there are so many derbies — the junior and amateur derbies, the International Derby, and the ClipMyHorse.TV Classic,” explained French. “It’s great for the hunter industry to have a venue like this, especially with the prize money these classes are offering.”
Havens Schatt followed close behind with a two-round total of 382 aboard Cascartini, Julia McNerney’s 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Cartani). Laena Romond rounded out the top three with Fellow Z, Heritage Farm Inc.’s nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding (For Pleasure x Clinton), scoring 381.50.
The hunter excitement carried on with the $20,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, which drew a strong field of 56 entries. The class was then divided into two sections. Riders contested a classic round on Friday, September 5, with the top twelve combinations from each section returning on Saturday, September 6, for the deciding handy round.
In Section A, Romond notched yet another impressive placing, this time claiming the top spot aboard Forsini with a two-round total of 379.50. Jennifer Jones piloted Lord Almé, a nine-year-old KWPN gelding (Comme il Faut x BMC Sam R.), to a close second with a 372 total for owner Jonna Esser, while Michael Desiderio and Imperial’s High Altitude, a seven-year-old Selle Français gelding (Tresor x Olargo-B), rounded out the podium with 362.50 for owner Debbie Bianco.
“He has a wonderful gallop,” said Romond of Lexi Maounis’s nine-year-old Warmblood gelding (For Pleasure x Cassini II). “He’s really fun in the handy because you never have to slow down — you can just keep galloping all the way around.”
In Section B, it was Tori Colvin who topped the leaderboard with her longtime partner, Gabriel, earning a remarkable two-round total of 380.50. Finishing just fractions behind, Patricia Griffith claimed second aboard Divine Romance, Hallowell Lane Farm LLC’s talented eight-year-old mare by Casallco, with a total of 380.25. Havens Schatt and Designated, Caroline Moran’s nine-year-old Mecklenburg gelding (Action Breaker x Locato), completed the podium with a strong score of 375.50.
“He’s just a soldier,” shared Colvin of JT Farm’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Azteca VDL x Burggraaf). “He came in the ring and just felt great. I think this was one of the handiest rounds we’ve ever done.”
The $20,000 USHJA Junior National Hunter Derby saw Adrianna Forte guide Blue Symphony, First Blue LLC’s seven-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Bamako De Muze, to victory with a two-round total of 355. Victoria Valiquette and her 10-year-old Holsteiner mare by Balou du Rouet, Charolette, finished a close second with a total of 353.50, while Reagan Jarrett piloted No Secret, Allrsfarm LLC’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (RMF Cadeau De Muze x Vigo D’arsouilles), to third place on a score of 351.50.
“He’s only seven, so he hasn’t been doing this for very long,” said Forte, a junior rider from Water Mill, New York. “I think he has a really bright future ahead because he just wants to be a good horse and put in the winning rounds.”
In the $20,000 USHJA Amateur National Hunter Derby, Augusta Iwasaki dominated the leaderboard, taking the win aboard Small Love with a two-round total of 376. Iwasaki also secured the runner-up spot aboard Ontario, Elizabeth Reilly’s six-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Diamant De Semilly x Quest For Fame), with a score of 374. Reynolds Cole and Labalou, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Luchador out of Kannan GFE owned by Iwasaki & Reilly, rounded out the podium with 369.50.
“Her quality is just so amazing,” said Iwasaki of Iwasaki & Reilly’s 12-year-old Hanoverian mare by Chacco Blue. “She just goes out of her way to do it right, and she has an idea of when things are important.”
WCHR competition continues through Sunday, September 7. The fall installation of the 2025 HITS Hudson Valley Circuit, Hudson Valley Fall Classic I, begins Tuesday, October 7, bringing more top sport to Saugerties, New York.
