Ocala, Florida, USA – January 04, 2024 – The Grand Prix Ring at Hits Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, was treated to a special surprise during the $24,950 Open Grand Prix on Saturday, January 4, 2025. Launching what is sure to be an exciting and busy winter show season, the addition of West Horse Shows’s Post Time Premier weeks gave riders two more action-packed showing opportunities, with which they could get their mounts familiar and comfortable at the iconic Ocala venue. 

Up against a technical track designed by Puerto Rico’s Mauricio Garcia, a starting field of 25 horse-and-rider pairings prepared to test their agility and ride-ability in hopes of advancing to the event’s jump-off. Despite it being early into the season, the athletes brought their A-game, and 11 combinations out of the original field managed to make their efforts count to return over the short course.

However, with many options where riders could shave precious seconds off their final time, the ultimate tiebreaker came down to speed. All but two of the short course competitors managed to deliver a fault-free second round, but as the final few entries made their way through the threshold, the time to beat became quicker and quicker.

Having secured the top title until Robert Whitaker’s round, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and her exciting rising star Bull Run’s Celestial clocked in the closest to the winning time to earn the red ribbon. In an exciting jump-off performance, Vanderveen and the Bull Run Jumpers, Inc’s 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Numero Uno) set the bar high with a finishing time of 39.845 seconds.

David Jennings (USA) and Presley Degli Assi, The Presley Partners’ 12-year-old Italian Sporthorse gelding by Presley Boy, rounded out the victory gallop just a hair off the pace in 40.559 seconds to take home third. 

Final Results – $24,950 Open Grand Prix

1) Robert Whitaker (GBR) & Yalambi’s Ikon – 0 / 0 – 39.605

2) Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Celestial – 0 / 0 – 39.845

3) David Jennings (USA) & Presley Degli Assi – 0 / 0 – 40.559

Source: Press Release (edited) from Hits Horse Shows

Photos: © Hits Horse Shows / ESI Photography

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