This #SignatureSunday we would like to take a minute to recognize Grier van Rooyen and her pony Amor de Tortuga on an outstanding week of horse showing. They competed in two divisions, brought home two champion tri colors, thus earning a blue ribbon in every class they competed in.

• 🏆 11 & Under Equitation Champion
• 🥇 M&S Childrens Pony Medal
• 🏆 Childrens Large Hunter Pony Champion
• 🥇$500 M&S Child Hunter Pony Classic

We’re incredibly proud of these two for putting in such a strong performance

The smiles say it all! We were blessed with another great week of showing here at HITS Post Time Farm, for the Ocala Winter Festival week VI. And although these are “highlights” we are incredibly proud of how everyone is doing this winter! Our entire team goes above and beyond each week to make this all happen and we just can’t thank you enough!

• 👏 Cecilia Machado & Invicta – Champion Low Adult Jumper
• 👏 Grier van Rooyen & Amor de Tortuga – Reserve Champion in the 11 & Under Equitation and Champion Large Children’s Pony Hunters
• 👏 Elizabeth Marano & Startin’ Monday – Reserve Champion in the Adult 2’3 Equitation. Elizabeth was also Champion in the Pre-Adult Hunters and Reserve Champion in the USHJA 2’ with Sephora
• 👏 Grier van Rooyen & All Inclusive – Champion Medium Schooling Pony Hunter

📸 ESI Photography

We had an outstanding week at HITS Horse Shows Ocala Winter Festival (V) held at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL, with the team earning seven tricolors!

🏆 Biarritz and owner Laura van Rooyen were Champions in the 3’3” Amateur Owner Hunters. They also won the Amateur Owner Hunter Classic 3’3”.
• 🏆 Quickstep and owner Elizabeth Sobel earned the Championship in the Low Adult Hunters.
• 🏆 Elizabeth Marano rode her own Sephora to the HITS 1 Hunter Championship.
• 🏆 Amor de Tortuga and Grier van Rooyen jumped to the Reserve Championship in the Large Children’s Pony Hunters.
• 🏆 Amy Porchetta and her Colour Magi rode to the Reserve Championship in the Adult Equitation 36 & over.
• 🏆 Elizabeth Marano rode Startin’ Monday owned by Don Stewart Stables to the Reserve Championship in the Adult Equitation 2’3”.
• 💪🏻 Rio Java House looking handsome on deck with Maggie Greene, and Jenn and Cecilia standing by to support the team!
🫶🏻 A little rain can’t keep Elizabeth Marano down!
• 🏆 Evening Stroll owned by Elizabeth Sobel were Champions in the HITS 2 Hunters.

➡️ AND Mid-Circuit Awards were handed out:

• 🙌🏻 Biarritz and owner/rider Laura van Rooyen – Amateur Owner 3’3” Reserve Champion.
• 🙌🏻 Evening Stroll and owner/rider Elizabeth Sobel – HITS 2 Hunter Champion.
• 🙌🏻 Grier van Rooyen – Equitation 11 & Under Reserve Champion.

👏🏻👏🏻 Congratulations to ALL our riders – everyone earned great ribbons this week! Thank you to our entire team for making this all possible and for keeping everything and everyone on track!

📸 ESI Photography

The Tack Box, Inc. in Middleburg, VA is where we order all our gorgeous custom items from. Trunks, coolers, scrims, blankets, our horse show set-up & show sign – it’s all their beautiful handiwork! They’ve been in business over 75 years and we’re glad they are still going strong!

It’s been a great couple of weeks here at HITS Ocala! Some standout results include:

• Jenn and some of our developing young hunters Clair de Lune and Ademaro van Encanta gained traction this week in their respective divisions.
• Laura van Rooyen and Stefano Baruzzo’s Uruguay 6th place finish in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix They also finished 1st in the NHS Adult Medal and 2nd in the Dover Saddlery Adult Medal.
• Allison Fernandez and Virtuoso competed in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix as well, coming in 12th. Amy Porchetta and her horse Ademaro van Encanta finished Reserve Champion in the Modified Adult Hunters
• Jenn and Elizabeth Sobel’s Evening Stroll had great rounds in the Green 3’ Hunters, with a 2nd place in a field of 30.

Overall another great week, excited for the week to come! Thank you to our wonderful staff and sponsors for all you do.

Another great week here at HITS Ocala!

Jenn Tirrell and Clair de Lune had some great rounds in the Training Hunters, getting ribbons out of a big group.

Lizzie Marano and Startin’ Monday completed their first show together with 🏆Reserve Champion in the Adult 2’3 Equitation, 🥉3rd in the Post Time 2’ Hunter Derby.

Lizzie Marano and Sephora were 🏆Reserve Champion in the Pre Adult Hunters, and Katie Zacharda piloted Sephora earlier in the week in the training hunters as well.

Grier van Rooyen and All Inclusive were 🥈2nd in Medium Hunter Pony Model 🥉3rd in $1000 Perfect Products Pony Hunter Classic This was their first time competing together in the Pony Hunter division.

Grier van Rooyen and Amor de Tortuga were 🥇1st in a class in the Large Hunter Pony OF 🥉3rd in $500 M&S Child Hunter Pony Classic

Laura van Rooyen and Biarritz were 🏆 Reserve Champion in the Amateur Owner 3’3 Hunters 🥉3rd in $1000 Amateur Owner 3’3 / 3’6 Combined Hunter Classic

Laura van Rooyen and her new mount Uruguay were 🥈2nd in Dover Saddlery Adult Medal 🥉3rd Adult Equitation 18 and Over

Allison Fernandez and Virtuoso were 🏆Reserve Champion in Adult Equitation 18 and Over 🥉3rd Ariat National Adult Medal

Cecillia Machado and Vantage S were 🎖️ 5th in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Congratulations to all on a successful week, and a big thank you to our entire team for helping make these results possible. On to the next week 🦄

Week One of HITS Ocala is a wrap! We had a wonderful start to our Florida show season. Jenn set the tone for the week getting horses back in the rings and in show mode.

🥇Maggie Greene and Rio Java House were Champion in the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunters, and finished 2nd in the Classic

🥇Allison Fernandez and Virtuoso were Champion in the 3’ Adult Combined Equitation and 2nd in the Ariat Adult Medal

🥇Liz Sobel and Evening Stroll were Champion in the USHJA 2’6 Hunters, this was the pairs first show together

🥈Liz Sobel and Quickstep were 2nd in the 2’6 Post Time Derby as well.

🏅Amy Porchetta and Ademaro van Encanta completed their first show together and had notable rounds in the Low Adult Hunters.

Congratulations to all on a great week of competing, and huge thanks as well to our entire team for all your hard work and taking the best care of our amazing horses. On to Week 2

Congratulations to Grier van Rooyen and her ponies on a great showing at CJL at Centenary last weekend!

This was her first show with All Inclusive, and they rode to Reserve Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony.

She also rode Amor de Tortuga to Reserve Champion in the Large Children’s Hunter Pony. Congratulations on a great weekend of riding!

Signature Stables had a great time showing in the THIS NHS Adult Eq Championship at the National Horse Show in Lexington, KY.

Laura van Rooyen rode Don Stewart Stables “Goodwill S” and advanced to the second round and finished in the top 25 of the championship, and placed 7th in one of her age group equitation classes as well.

Allison Fernandez rod Liz Durkin’s “Virtuoso” and put in a great trip as well, where she finished in the top 10 of the age group equitation over fence classes . Allison came back to the sport a year ago after a 15 year hiatus for family and career.

Later in the week, Laura van Rooyen piloted her own “Biarritz” to a 5th place finish in the 3’3” Amateur Owner older Stake class. So proud of all our riders in their achievements this finals season, looking forward to what’s to come!

Huge thank you as well to our entire team for all your hard work and taking the best care of our amazing horses. ⭐️