Updates continue at the HITS Desert Horse Park for 2012 Desert Circuit
  By all accounts, the 2011 HITS Desert Circuit was the single best season of show jumping since 2007 when the new show grounds in Thermal debuted. Circuit discounts for permanent and tent stabling, coupled with the appeal of four World Cup qualifiers, 16 qualifiers for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, and five Devoucoux Hunter Prix qualifiers for the first-ever Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, helped to attract large groups of returning customers, as well as scores of new comers. The maturation of the show grounds brings the property to life, with customers seeing first-hand the vision and promise that the HITS Desert Horse Park holds for becoming the top winter show destination in the country. Property updates that added atmosphere and color to the show grounds had an immediate and positive impact on trainers, exhibitors, owners and spectators, alike.

  For 2012, HITS management plans to once again expand upon property enhancements with some major renovations that came right from the suggestions of top riders and trainers who have been loyal to the circuit for years. Thousands of new trees and desert-friendly shrubs are taking root. We are building new berms that will create enhanced sightlines and atmosphere. Hunter riders will be happy to see the new row of maturing palm trees going in along the berm facing the airport on the east end of the show grounds.

  Three new rows of permanent barns will soon be added to the property behind the vet building to provide additional inventory for exhibitors interested in permanent barn accommodations. Foundation work for that project will be underway this month.

  The $200,000 Grand Prix of the Desert returns next year and all Grand Prix, including the four World Cup qualifiers, and all Devoucoux Hunter Prix will once again qualify riders for the Pfizer Million and Diamond Mills Hunter Prix final in September of 2012.

  HITS recently held a call with the West Coast Trainer & Rider Committee to discuss additional plans and priorities for the 2012 season. If you have an idea or something to share, please see a member of the Committee, listed below, or email danette@hitsshows.com.

  The prize list for the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit is in development and is expected to hit the post office in mid-October. To request a prize list, visit HitsShows.com or email info@hitsshows.com.

Renovation photos courtesy of HITS.

2012 HITS Desert Circuit Trainer & Rider Committee Tracy Baer, John Bragg, Shelley Campf, Archie Cox, Lori Derosa Rich Fellers, John French, Joie Gatlin, Karen Healey Susie Hutchison, Rudy Leone, Guillermo Obligado

West coast riders come east for Pfizer Million Weekend; HITS bids to bring Olympic Trials to HITS Desert Horse Park
  As the summer show season nears its end, the excitement and anticipation for this year's Pfizer Million Weekend is gaining momentum. Exhibitors are clamoring to get their qualifying classes in and add to their winnings to ensure their place in the Rider Rankings for both the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. After the Desert Circuit it was clear that riders from the west coast were serious about ensuring they'd make the cut for these two monumental events. And with the grand finale weekend just about a month away, west coast riders are making their plans to come east for their chance at show jumping history – the opportunity to compete for $1.5 million in prize money!

  The group of High-Performance riders coming east includes a mix of both returning and first time qualifiers with John Pearce, Helen McNaught, Duncan McFarlane, and Saer Coulter, while young phenom Lucy Davis, who took the Desert Circuit by storm when she won the last four Grand Prix at the Thermal including the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini of Newport Beach, is making her first trip to Saugerties.

  The crop of Hunter riders making their plans to show in Saugerties is equally as impressive with top professional riders John French, Hope Glynn, Nick Haness and Jenny Karazissis each committed to show in the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final. Amateur riders Erin Bland and Avery Hellman, who both train with Ned and Hope Glynn, will also be on the scene, as will Archie Cox with a group of his students.

  "I am very excited to be coming to compete in the [Diamond Mills] $500,000 Hunter Prix," said Cox. "Cruise, owned by Jessica Singer, has already proven himself from coast to coast and I am anxious to add a top placing to his resume."

  Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida will set the courses for the Hunter Prix and Olympic Course Designer Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida will set the track for the Pfizer Million. Olympic Course Decorator Flora Baptiston of Brazil will bring her magic touch to the courses.

  There's quite a buzz about the weekend throughout both the equestrian and local communities, as VIP tables are selling quickly and ticket sales for Motown legends The Temptations are picking up momentum. Adding to the ceremony of the day will be an appearance by the West Point Equestrian Team and a special 9/11 commemoration ceremony with members from the local fire, police and emergency service workers. Plans are also in the works for a special head-set rental program for round-by-round commentary for both the Hunter Prix and the Pfizer Million.

  More exciting news pertaining to live-webcasting and TV coverage along with other plans will be announced soon, so stay tuned. For more information about VIP or general ticket information, please visit HitsShows.com.

HITS bids to bring Olympic Trials to HITS Desert Horse Park
  For the second time in two years, HITS put in a bid to host a USEF selection trial competition at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California. In the summer of 2009, HITS bid to host the USEF Show Jumping Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). The proposal included unprecedented prize money, $775,000 to be exact, and a commitment to waive the entry fees for all Selection Trials classes for horses competing in every leg of the Trials. This time around, HITS submitted another extraordinary bid proposal to host the USEF Selection Trials for the 2012 Olympic Games and National Championship.

  The highlights from the Olympic Trials bid included $200,000 in prize money to be divided among the winners, waived entry fees and complementary accommodations for all exhibitors participating in the trials. News came in early August that the selection committees had met and voted to award the bid to another management company, despite the innovative package prepared by HITS.

  When news of the decision came, HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri offered his insights on the vote. "If there's a bright side to this, we've got our bid packet fine tuned! Perhaps more importantly, these Trials will not take place during the Thermal Circuit, so customers can enjoy their regular circuit schedule with us in the Desert and still have the opportunity to travel for the chance to compete on the Olympic Team in Florida at the end of March."

  Struzzieri was pleased to have the opportunity to submit a bid and was pragmatic about the outcome. "I can't say that I disagree with the decision of the committees, geography has to play a big role in this type of decision. We will continue to stay in this process and hopefully we will be awarded this type of event in the near future."

  In the end, Struzzieri believes, "Our bid had an impact in raising the stakes for the competition. As it turned out the other bid was modified to match what we had offered and include free entries for the riders, so that's another positive outcome for the exhibitors. Having just completed hosting the East Coast Junior Hunter Finals here in Saugerties, I feel strongly that HITS has a product to offer that will ultimately be the right one for trials of this nature and we'll keep going after it... for us, our customers and the sport."

Photos by Flying Horse Photography.

BY JACKIE FREUNDLICH, INTERVIEW BY SELENA FREDERICK

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Motherhood and Medals
  Life as an international professional rider and trainer is physically and mentally demanding. Once you've been #1 in the world, the pressure to keep your name at the top of that list is always at the forefront, meaning you need to stay focused, fresh and keep a solid string of talented horses. So what does this intensely competitive, first-ever #1 ranked female rider in the world, three-time World Cup FEI World Cup Champion think about adding motherhood to the mix?

Markus Beerbaum and Brianne Photo by Cheval Photos

  "I LOVE being a mom!" exclaimed Meredith without hesitation. When out of the saddle Meredith is often seen with 18-month-old Brianne in her arms. Uncharacteristic of a world champion? Apparently not so for this uniquely talented, focused and determined mother.

  Since her equestrian goals still include Olympic aspirations, she and partner Markus have a plan and have considered every aspect. Already an extremely successful equestrian power couple, Meredith often mentions how Markus is a key to her success. As rewarding as her career with him at her side has been to date, and apparently continues to be, they now potentially have the ultimate reward, a family.

  Becoming a mom may have changed Meredith's perspective, but it hasn't slowed her down -- she made the German team only weeks after giving birth to Brianne in February 2010, something she hadn't anticipated. It was "a nice surprise" and a memorable year, as Meredith competed on Checkmate in the German Championships in Munster and then headed to the states to represent Germany at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in October 2010. Her clean ride on Checkmate clenched the Gold Medal for Team Germany.

	Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Kismet 50 place 4th in the 2011 $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, Presented by Lamborghini of Newport Beach. Photo by Cheval Photos.

  "I never would've dreamt that was possible, it is one of the highlights of my career," said Meredith about her return to intense competition as a new mother. And the victories continued into the fall season, as she collected a World Cup Qualifier win in Lyon and the Mercedes German Masters in Stuttgart. Alll before Brianne was one.

Thermals Aren't Needed
  Hosting several indoor World Cup Qualifiers as well as outdoor grand prix events each week, the HITS Desert Winter Circuit is a destination for show jumpers from both coasts and around the world. A California native, Meredith came from Germany to spend a warm winter in the Palm Desert. Leaving the chilly winter indoor European competitions behind, Meredith and husband Markus brought baby Brianne, and a few of their up and coming mounts, out to the sunny desert. Shutterfly and Checkmate remained at home, where Meredith would return to compete in the spring.

  "I'm really enjoying myself here," Meredith said of the desert. "It's great to be with people that I haven't seen in awhile. I've received such a warm welcome and I love the weather!" The desert sunshine and palm trees are a welcome change from the cold, late night indoor winter circuits in Europe. For Meredith, Markus and Brianne, who celebrated her first birthday in February, Thermal offered sunshine and a place to call "home" for the winter. With a reasonable show schedule, they were able to have some "remnants of family life."

Lancaster at the 2011 HITS Desert Circuit Photo by Cheval Photos

Horses and Clients
  Thermal also proved to be a good circuit for the string of horses they brought over. The good footing, indoor and outdoor grand prix schedule along with the spacious show grounds allowed for horses like Kismet 50, a 10 year old Belgian mare to move up the ranks. "Kismet's been the second horse in Europe," said Meredith. "This circuit is her time to step up – she's been consistent and is a very talented mare. I have a lot of faith in this horse."

  Lancaster is a German bred gelding and another up-and-coming prospect. "We decided to keep him in the outdoor because he's SO big, (17.2h) and he's done really well. We are very proud of his performance out there." The Beerbaums also brought two 8 year olds over, whom Meredith believes to be "the best young horses in the world."

  Joining the Beerbaums in the desert were professional Gaby Salick, also a mother of a young daughter, Eleanor, and students Lucy Davis, Saer Coulter and Christi Israel. Developing these riders into international contenders also influenced the decision to start the season at HITS Thermal. Seems that Lucy, who is college bound in the fall of 2011, may follow in Meredith's footsteps. An accomplished equestrian when she met up with the Beerbaums in the summer of 2009, the uniquely focused and talented rider has excelled under their tutelage.

  Directly after Lucy won four grand prix classes in a row, including the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, Meredith was off to Doha, Qatar to compete on the Global Champions Tour. Immediately back in form with Shutterfly, the pair was 3rd in the Grand Prix of Qatar.

  The horses and the clients joined the Beerbaums in Europe this summer.

Shutterfly retires at Aachen Photo © CHIO Aachen

Brief Update
  Competing in five Global Champion Tour events since spring, Meredith has earned close to 100,000 euros. She recently won the 'Preis von Europa' (Prize of Europe) at the prestigious CSIO 5* in Aachen, Germany on her horse of a lifetime Shutterfly. Now 18 years old, the Beerbaums decided that victory would be Shutterfly's last and held his retirement ceremony in front of 40,000 fans before the jump off of the Grand Prix a few days later. What an amazing experience to win and then retire the world's best horse at the world's best show.

  Thank you Meredith for your time. We wish you all the best with your continued quests and with your family. And happy retirement to 'Petey'!

	INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MEREDITH
	EQSOL: If you weren't a top equestrian, what would you do? MMB: We always laugh about how I would have gone into politics - because I attended Princeton - I love politics and I probably would have chosen that field. EqSol: What horse would you ride if you could ride any? MMB: Shutterfly - because he's the best in the world. EqSol: What's playing on your iPod right now? MMB: Coldplay – I listen to them a lot. I like classical and classic rock – I also have a play list called 'Brianna's favorites' - they are lullabies and songs that Jewel did for babies. EqSol: What's your favorite movie? MMB: Haven't seen many movies lately; all time favorite – probably Fried Green Tomatoes. EqSol: What is an inspiring quote or mantra that you appreciate? MMB: I heard someone say in a clinic once, 'The beauty of perfection takes time' – it's very true. We're always striving in this sport for perfection and it's important to understand that it takes time.

BY SELENA FREDERICK

Hope and Hunters Head East
  We had a chance to speak with professional Hope Glynn, who owns Sonoma Valley Stables (SVS) with her husband Ned in northern California. Once they realized there was an opportunity to compete for a large purse on hunters, the hunter clan at SVS made it a goal to participate.

  They've qualified three riders for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and plan to head east for a series of shows, including the Hampton Classic and Saugerties for HITS on the Hudson with the much anticipated finals on the weekend. The parents are thrilled, not only with the prize money offered, but with all the pomp and circumstance of the entire event. The collective group feels that even if you don't make the Top 20, you can still have a great experience both on and off the horse – awesome prize money, a new venue, great competition, the east coast, an adventure to the Big Apple, the Pfizer Million – that and more await the northern California competitors and their families.

Hope Glynn and Woodstock Photo by Gail Morey

EqSol: Tell us about your plans for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final this coming September in Saugerties? You're qualified on Woodstock, but you have the option to select another mount.
HG: My highest placing horse was Woodstock and I'm definitely planning on riding him in the Finals. For me, he's one of my most consistent mounts and I know him very well. I feel very confident riding him in the class. He will also have done the International Hunter Derby Finals in Lexington with me, so I'll have had that experience under my belt. It will be good preparation for us.

EqSol: Describe Woodstock for us...
HG: His barn name is Woody - he came from Brandy Hollway in Kansas. He also competes in the Low A/O Hunters with Amateur rider Olivia Hellman. He has a lot of personality, he's a horse that is easy to like - he jumps great every time you bring him out, he's easy to work with at home and if he has a fault it would be that he may jump and try too hard, which is a good problem to have as a rider. He's consistently one of the best jumpers I've ever ridden, which is really important when you're doing a big class like these prestigious hunter finals.

EqSol: You and two of your students, Avery Hellman and Erin Bland, are making the trip to Saugerties. Can you tell us more about them?
HG: Both riders are 19 years old and they are very excited about the competing at the hunter prix finals. This is the highlight of their riding careers.

  Avery Hellman is riding her 7-year-old Westphalian gelding Rococco. He was the Circuit Champion in the 2nd years at HITS (Thermal). Avery rides on her high school equestrian team. She's also a very good student and doesn't miss school. She rides on the weekends and during show season, she typically leaves school Friday, gets to the show and heads into the show ring. She's been training at Sonoma Valley Stables for nine years. She's actually more excited to do these finals than indoors.

  Erin Bland lives in Carlsbad, CA and trains with Liza Applebaum at home and does the A-Shows with us. Her mount for the finals is Weatherly, an 8-year-old WB gelding. This is her first year competing as an Amateur -- she and Weatherly competed in the A/O Hunters and were Reserve Circuit Champions at Thermal and she was also Champion at Del Mar National this past May. As for academics, she currently attends Mira Costa College and she'd like to transfer to Sonoma State this next school year, so she can ride and attend college. Erin is extremely excited about the Finals, mainly because she feels like it's a class where amateurs, juniors and professionals can compete at an equal level. To her, it's more than just a hunter class back east - it's an event!

Shelley Campf and Hope Glynn Photo by Gail Morey

EqSol: Tell us about SVS "Team" coming east...
HG: I have a fantastic group of horses that I get to ride and the clients are excited to watch them go. We have about 25 people coming to support SVS at the Hunter Prix Finals; between CA barn mates and family on east coast - people are excited to come. Like any big money class, this final draws a significant amount of attention. Honestly, no matter how well they do, they just want to see how the horses go. For us, it's difficult to get people to travel down south, but because of the prestige of the class, the beautiful and exciting venue, they are traveling from CA to the east coast JUST to watch. As a barn, to have three competing is truly an honor.

EqSol: Since the pressure will be on at these finals, how do you help your clients handle it?
HG: With our riders, we really feel that positive reinforcement and hard work are key ingredients to their success. Most of these kids are extremely critical of themselves, so we try to teach and maintain a holistic picture: the goal is not "I want to win this hunter prix" - we all aim to win, it's why we compete, but it's not just about winning. It's about what each student wants to achieve as a rider and as a horseman.

EqSol: You had to qualify your horses at HITS Thermal – how did you find the circuit this year?
HG: Classes were big and quality was good. The facility has developed into a premier place to be on the west coast during the winter circuit. I was particularly pleased with the footing. Footing, in both the show and warm up rings, is paramount to me above everything else. I also like HITS because there is so much space to ride your horses. A lot of barns have great show rings but not good warm up areas. At HITS they have great practice rings available all day.

  Since we spend a lot of time in the hunter rings, we also really enjoyed the improvements they made to the Hunter Berm and the hospitality tent. It provided another area for people to watch and enjoy it.

Avery Glynn (center) with Hope (right) and Avery's grandmother Priscilla Hobday (left) Photo by Gail Morey

EqSol: It's been a good year for SVS. Can you share some of your personal highlights, aside from the success?
HG: I truly LOVE horses and I LOVE being around them, so I'm lucky that they are in my life everyday. Even when I'm old and retired, I will still have horses because being around them brings me happiness.

  There was one afternoon when Avery rode up with her pony to watch one of high-performance classes I was in. After our final jump, I heard her clapping on the rail screaming "Go Mommy! Go Mommy!" - that takes the cake for me - when you hear your daughter clapping and cheering you on, it doesn't matter what happened in the class.

  She even told me to keep my eyes up and my heels down as I came out of that class at Thermal.

EqSol: Mantra for life?
HG: Integrity sums it up in one word. Living with integrity is the utmost important thing to me in how I run my business and how I live my life.

  Thank you Hope for your time and your insights – we wish you and your students the best of luck in your upcoming east coast adventures!

  For more information, visit SVS on the web and on FaceBook.

BY SELENA FREDERICK & JACKIE MCFARLAND

Ponies, private jets, Lamborghinis & little girls (Oh, my!)
  When the dust settles in this little desert town, are you in Emerald City? Why yes, Dorothy. Surrounded by glittering ponies, grand prix mounts, both of which change colors and collect colorful ribbons, fancy planes and automobiles and all sorts of horse crazy munchkins (large and small), you certainly aren't in Kansas.

  During Week VI of the 2011 HITS Desert Circuit, HITS partnered with its sponsors to raise the bar, enhance the current winter circuit competitor's experience, and continue to entice participants to follow the yellow brick road to this small, sunny, albeit salty town of Thermal.

Lamborghinis at HITS Thermal from Lamborghini Newport Beach Photo by Cheval Photos

Looking Through the Crystal Ball
  Whether you are an equestrian, golfer, rider, shopper or dining connoisseur there's definitely an abundance of world-class course designs, boutiques with sparkly ruby slippers, and restaurants within 30 minutes of the HITS Desert Horse Park. Not to mention the European feel of the facility's indoor arena and the outdoor Oasis Club, with catered VIP. It's a place where sponsors can enjoy some desert time plus network and be a part of the equestrian community.

Donny Gath with his family at HITS Photo by Cheval Photos

  This yellow brick road is perfectly paved for car-crazy dads and their horse crazy daughters to come together and relish in the luxury of fast cars, private planes and fancy ponies.

  One such dad is Donny Gath, owner of Lamborghini Newport Beach. Sponsors of the biggest money class in California, the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, Gath entered this arena because of his 9-year-old, horse-crazy daughter Kendall. Even on school days, this aspiring rider is up at 6am to ride before heading to class by 8:45am. In her second year of competing, Kendall rode in the medium pony division aboard her two ponies at HITS Thermal. Her commitment is paying off - she won a class with 37 entries and earned a Championship. So is her trainer the wicked witch? No, notes the little equestrian, Tracy Baer of Windsong Farm is "really good," says Kendall. "She pushes me and makes me better." No witches on the circuit, only fairy godmothers. Right?

The Vision is Clear
  For many of the horse show competitors, from young Kendall to world class rider Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, HITS Thermal is not only a horse show but a family affair. It is a home away from home where they can while away the hours enjoying what the desert has to offer. With four little girls, and only one who rides, Thermal is a weekend escape for the Gath family. However, the branding and networking opportunities are clear to business owners like Gath and Lamborghini. For the Beerbaums, Thermal means business, a place to build their string and teach their clients plus have a semblance of family life. For both families, this Emerald City called HITS Thermal is a triple crown – competition, family and business all in one.

  Enjoying the outdoors, with gorgeous sports cars adorning the grand prix arena, having lunch with friends while watching top sport horses on a sunny afternoon... There's no place like HITS.

BY SELENA FREDERICK, PHOTOS BY CHEVAL PHOTOS

Stories from Horse Shows in the Sun
  Through my work with EquestriSol I had the privilege of interviewing a number of riders, sponsors and vendors during the 2011 HITS Desert Winter Circuit. Most would agree that with all the improvements, the world-class competition, the hunter prix classes and the World Cup qualifiers, the 20th anniversary year in the desert was definitely one for the books.

  Horse show grounds and facilities can be vastly different; however, ask any rider/trainer and they'll tell you that there are a few key elements that truly make a good horse show.

KNOW HOW
  For riders like Hap Hansen who has competed at HITS Horse Shows since the circuit's inception, the shows close proximity to his southern California home is one but not the only aspect that draws him and his clients out to the desert. A man of few words, when he spoke, I listened. 'Why Thermal?' was one of my questions.

  "There's lots of room and great footing. I've noticed improvements but there is also a more international feel this year. It's fun to have Meredith here."

  He sums it up by saying, "They (HITS Show Management) know how to put on a horse show."

GRAND COURSE OR DISCOURSE
  A key element riders and trainers consider when attending a horse show, is the course designer. Hap rated them as "up and down." One week in the $25,000 Grand Prix Hap, John Perez and John Pearce all had spills at the same jump. Certainly a surprising turn of events.

  If you've read EquestriSol's series "Conversation with Course Designers", all of them seek to challenge while being careful to not overwhelm horse or rider. That said the course designers had their work cut out for them – often the class had 50 or more horses with a wide span of experience. It was not uncommon to have the group narrowed down to eight riders or less in a jump off.

  For Brazil's Eduardo Menezes, who jokingly disclosed his mantra for life, while sitting next to Olaf Peterson, as being "Live everyday like it's the most important or the last because who knows what course designer will be there to kill you." Kidding aside, Eduardo agreed that the facilities, amenities and most importantly, the footing were all excellent.

  With big money classes, a tough course is always on the menu. And like any menu, what tastes great to some is not so delicious for others. Eighteen year old Lucy Davis and her two mounts Hannah and Nemo 119 got their fill of goodies, conquering two weeks worth of course designers' challenges with four grand prix wins.

  I caught up with Lucy after her second victory of four, the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Hannah during Week V of the circuit. Lucy excelled in field of 57 riders, including topping trainer and well-known international rider Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum,. "I was confident about my ride, but was still in disbelief from last night [winning the $50,000 Strongid CSI-W Grand Prix aboard Nemo 119]! Today was the cherry on top!"

  Davis proved her ability to achieve the ultimate, winning two more grand prix classes, including the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert again on Nemo 119. Qualified for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix scheduled for September 11 in Saugerties, NY, will the young star be in attendance?

ON THE HUNT TO THE FINALS
  Crossing over to the hunter ring, seems the newly added hunter prix classes, qualifiers for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties, NY in September, drew both competitors and crowds alike, week after week.

  Some would question if a 3'3" hunter competition with a $500,000 finals is good for the sport. With the response and anticipation of the upcoming HITS weekend this fall, the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix combined with the Pfizer Million, it appears the answer is yes. The competition arena is clothed in many ways, and ultimately the best in the sport will prevail.

  John French certainly knows a good horse show, having won all over the world in both the hunter and jumper arenas, both indoors and outdoor. French, who owns Waldenbrook Farm, surmised, "HITS has done a great job on improvements. The footing is good, nice job on maintenance and keeping the ground soft. We've had excellent weather this year and more people are coming back." Waldenbrook clients were happy and staying longer than they initially planned.

  As explained in this issue's "Conversation with Equestrians", for trainers Hope and Ned Glynn of Sonoma Valley Stables (SVS), the circuit proved to be a hit. Hope landed two blue ribbons in the 3'3" Hunter Prix classes.

  "I am thrilled to have an opportunity to compete for the biggest purse of prize money in hunter history. We have all really enjoyed the hunter prix classes at Thermal," added Hope.

  Top hunter riders, professional, amateur and junior alike, have the opportunity to attend several special shows with a focus on hunters this year. The first is the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, now in its third year, at the Kentucky Horse Park in August. Continuing the trek east, the Hampton Classic is an excellent choice for exhibiting and enjoying the east coast. Next to HITS Saugerties for the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final in upstate New York, which not only includes a big grand prix but a Temptations concert. And then the indoor season begins, the Capital Challenge in Washington, DC offers a list of prestigious hunter classes, the fall continues with Harrisburg, Washington and this year Lexington. But that's another story.

  Pleasing your public is essential when running a business. Was HITS a hit? The answer is in the desert oasis.