Show jumping competition during the Cavalier Classic at HITS Culpeper culminated in the $24,500 Purina Open Prix on Saturday, July 13, 2024. The week was one in a summer-long series of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition taking place at the Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. Previously a winner at various HITS venues, Melissa Strawser produced the winning round in the day’s featured event aboard her longtime partner, Darwin de Mars. 

Strawser and her 11-year-old Selle Français gelding by Jarnac navigated both courses of the class fault-free for a quick run to the top. 

Melissa Strawser stands for presentation. Photo © HITS/ Jordan Atwell

“I was really discouraged that I had had a rail last week in the prix because it’s very unusual,” explained Strawser. “This week, I was extra determined to jump clear going into the first round. The course was rather large today, so I went in there and I just knew that I had to ride strong.”

For a majority of the class, it appeared that Strawser would automatically take the win as the only competitor to find a clear round, but U.S. eventing Olympian Will Coleman, who is slated to compete on the Olympic stage once again in Paris, France, piloted Hyperion Stud, LLC’s nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Comme Il Faut, Comme Again HS, through the timers without fault to inspire a short jump-off. 

Will Coleman & Comme Again HS. Photo © HITS/ Jordan Atwell

“I had to go first in the jump-off, so I had to go fast enough to put the pressure on him,” detailed Strawser. “I needed to not leave the door open but also still leave all the rails up. I put some pressure on myself to go fast and jump clean, and everywhere I wanted to go, Darwin de Mars was right there with me.”  

Madison Kondracki & E Storm Cat. Photo © HITS/ Jordan Atwell

The pressure Strawser put on herself was enough and she edged out Coleman, who accepted the second-place honors. Young athlete Madison Kondracki and her own eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Escudo I, E Storm Cat, galloped into third. 

Melissa Strawser & Darwin de Mars. Photo © Alison Hartwell Photography

Strawser’s success didn’t just come in the Grand Prix. She and Darwin de Mars started off their winning streak in Thursday’s $5,000 Horseflight Open Prix. Strawser bested an even dozen combinations with a win four seconds faster than runner-up rider Laura Gaither Ulrich in a blazing time of 36.58 seconds.

Madison Kondracki & Onyx. Photo © Alison Hartwell Photography

Saturday’s third-place finisher Kondracki managed to best a field of 15 entries in Friday’s $5,000 STX Open Speed with her 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Numero Uno, Onyx. While Kondracki is still second on the STX Series leaderboard to the class’s runner-up Wilhelmina Horzepa, the win gave her valuable points as the series heats up. 

Randall Johnson & Camparo. Photo © HITS/ Jordan Atwell

The week concluded with a variety of junior, amateur, and open classics on what is deemed Classic Sunday. Featured competition came in the form of the $2,500 SummitMax/NAL Junior-Amateur 1.35m Jumper Classic, where Randall Johnson and Greener Pastures Equine LLC’s 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Tampa, Camparo, took the top call.

Peyton Preblick & Blush. Photo © HITS/ Jordan Atwell

Peyton Preblick and Kim Hahn’s 13-year-old Thoroughbred Cross mare by Acorino, Blush, picked up the top honors in the $2,500 Pyranha/NAL Junior-Amateur 1.25m Jumper Classic before Dara Castle and her own 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding by As Di Villagana, As Di Boy,  led the victory gallop in the $4,000 The League/WIHS/NAL Junior-Amateur 1.15m Jumper Classic. 

Dara Castle & As Di Boy. Photo © HITS/ Jordan Atwell