The second World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week of the 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit delivered top-tier hunter competition from start to finish. Featuring some of the best in the sport, the week gave riders the opportunity to earn valuable points toward national WCHR standings. Saturday’s action-packed schedule on March 14 included the highly anticipated $2,500 ClipMyHorse.tv Classic Qualifier, where junior rider Madison Stewart and Lantos delivered a standout performance to take the win, securing their spot in the 2026 $300,000 ClipMyHorse.tv 3’6” Open Classic Final at HITS Hudson Valley in September.
Ten competitors entered the Main Hunter Ring, all aiming to impress in a single classic hunter round, but only the top three finishers would punch their ticket to the Final. The beautifully designed course, crafted by Tim Hott, Tom Urban, and Kerry Kocher demanded elegance and precision, making every jump count. Stewart and Lantos, her 10-year-old KWPN gelding (Vigo D’Arosouilles x Cantos), earned the high score of 89 from judges Robin Swinderman Mitchell and Dee Walker, claiming the lion’s share of the prize money.
“I’ve had Lantos for about three years now,” shared Stewart. “He’s grown so much, and I’ve learned so much from him. He really shines in the bigger classes like this one.”
With only one round to impress the judges, Stewart approached the class with a clear plan.
“This is actually my third attempt at qualifying for this class,” she laughed. “I know the drill now. I just wanted to be as smooth and consistent as possible since I didn’t have another horse to fall back on. My horse jumps so slow and high, so I wanted to make sure I could really let him shine.”
Stewart will join the NCEA Division I equestrian team at Southern Methodist University this fall, but she has already set her sights on making the trip to Saugerties, New York, to compete in the Final.
“I’m really excited about the Final,” she said. “I think it’s really cool that it’s just one round and you have to go in and give it your all. A hunter class with this much prize money isn’t something you see very often, and it’s a class I’ve really been striving to qualify for.
“I’ve shown here since I was eleven, doing the junior hunters and equitation,” continued Stewart of the home-field advantage she feels when competing at HITS Ocala. “Everyone here is so friendly—it’slike my home away from home. The show is run so well, and it’s such a nice environment for the horses. I love showing here.”
Brady Mitchell piloted the Rein Family LLC’s Sicario, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding, to second place with a score of 88. Eleanor Kunsman and Corzico Melloni Z, Brody Sporthorses’s nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cornet Obolensky x Calla Millor), rounded out the podium with a score of 86.
As the Ocala Winter Celebration wraps up, the 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit charges ahead into its grand finale. The action resumes Wednesday, March 18, with the start of the Ocala Championship, setting the stage for a thrilling last week of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. For complete results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
