Thermal, CA (February 13, 2016): Week IV of the HITS Desert Circuit kicked off with the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome at HITS Desert Horse Park.
Kristin Hardin and Firestone on their way to a $2,500 Brook Ledge Open win. Photo: ESI Photography
$2,500 Brook Ledge Welcome
Week IV is underway at HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California, and the $2,500 Brook Ledge Welcome kicked off the action-packed week in the Grand Prix Stadium that will feature the $100,000 Longines World Cup Jumping on Saturday afternoon.
Martin Otto of Muenster, Germany, designed the 14-effort, 1.45-meter course which put riders and their horses to the test as they galloped the length of the stadium. With only three to participate in the jump-off round, one pair went clear in the jump-off round to take home the blue.
With the course set at a table II B, the riders stayed in the arena for the jump-off round after finishing the first-round with a clear score. First to go clear in the first-round and immediately proceed to the jump-off was Susan Hutchison, of Temecula, California, and Brisbane, owned by Barbara Phillips. Hutchison and her fast bay mare set the tone for the rest, as they crossed the timers in a fast time of 38.661 seconds, but had a rail at the skinny vertical which resulted Hutchison and Brisbane in a four-fault score and the third-place prize.
Following Hutchison, was another fast competitor from New Cuyama, California, Kristen Hardin and her mount Firestone owned by Nicole Teague. Hardin knew she had to be fast, and go clear to beat the winning time to take home the blue. Galloping through the timers at 40.056 seconds with no jumping faults Hardin and Firestone were automatically put into the lead and taking home the blue ribbon.
Following Hardin, second-place prize was awarded to Mandy Porter of Encinitas, California, aboard Ace of Hearts, owed by Little Valley Farms. Porter and Ace of Hearts were able to beat Hardin’s time as she raced through the timers in 36.552 seconds, but had an unfortunate rail 5B of the tight combination, which resulted in four fault jump-off score.
Ali Ramsey and her horse Disaronno took home the fourth-place prize, having only a single time-fault in the first-round.
Rounding off the top five and was Jaclyn Duff aboard her mount EH All or Nothing, owned by Windermere Stables LTD, also with one time fault, finishing the first round just behind Ramsey.
| Place | Horse | Owner | Rider | Prize | R.1 Faults | JO Faults | JO Time |
| 1 | Firestone | Nicole Teague | Kristin Hardin | $700 | – | – | 40.056 |
| 2 | Ace of Hearts | Little Valley Farms | Mandy Porter | $400 | – | 4 | 36.552 |
| 3 | Brisbane | Barbara Phillips | Susan Hutchison | $300 | – | 4 | 38.661 |
| 4 | Disaronno | Ali Ramsay | Ali Ramsay | $250 | 1 | – | – |
| 5 | Stakkarus | Jaclyn Duff | Jaclyn Duff | $225 | 1 | – | – |
| 6 | Hitchcock Van Overis | Peter Edgar | Ellicia Edgar | $225 | 3 | – | – |
| 7 | Calilou 24 | Signe Ostby | Karl Cook | $200 | 4 | – | – |
| 8 | Balando | Signe Ostby | Karl Cook | $200 | 4 | – | – |
| 9 | NKH Selena | NKH LLC | Christian Heineking | – | 4 | – | – |
| 10 | NKH Quanto | NKH LLC | Christian Heineking | – | 4 | – | – |
| 11 | Landlyst’s Leroy | Swede Equine | Hanna Mauritzson | – | 7 | – | – |
| 12 | EH All or None | Windermere Stables | Jaclyn Duff | – | 7 | – | – |