Desert Circuit Wraps Up Week 2 With Lots Of Sun And Lots Of Fun!

Everyone at HITS Indio Desert Circuit enjoyed beautiful, sunny weather during the second week of competition for hunters, jumpers, and equitation riders. In the hunter division, Christa Endicott (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) and Evita captured two show championships in the Low Hunter and Pre-Green Hunter sections. "She is so honest," said Endicott of the ten-year old Belgian Warmblood. "She is a good mover and has a great mind. She will be a great junior or amateur horse," predicted Endicott.

Rosey Garlock's (Atherton, CA) Glen Eagle made a clean sweep of the Regular Conformation Hunter section with trainer John Bragg in the irons. Garlock takes over the ride in the Adult Amateur Hunters where the pair garnered ribbons during Week 2 of the Indio Desert Circuit. "He is so adaptable," explained Bragg "and does whatever you ask."

On Star, owned by Gail Serrell of Texas and piloted by Peter Pletcher edged out Equine Trading Company's In Style for the Regular Working Hunter Championship. Both horses are vying for mid-circuit honors as In Style was champion Week 1 and On Star was reserve champion.

In the equitation sections, Sarah Scott (Glen Ellen, CA) won both the USET and the CPHA classes, and Jamie Taylor (Tarzana, CA) won the USA Equestrian Junior Medal. Shelby Wakeman (Westlake Village, CA) won the Onondarka Medal Class for riders 12 and under. In the amateur sections, Gina Groth-Moffatt of Burbank, CA continued her dominance of the 36-50 age group by winning the championship for the second year in a row. Annie Finch (Los Angeles, CA), in her first trip to the HITS Indio Desert Circuit won the Ariat Adult Medal. "I am so excited," exclaimed Finch. "I have always wanted to show here and I am having so much fun."

In the jumper division, Ashlee Bond and Fabius were fabulous in the $10,000 Junior-Amateur Owner Jumper Classic. She blazed around the course and stopped the clock in 36.553, five seconds ahead of second place finisher Megan Bruck (Tempe, AZ) and Charles R. "He is so much fun and very careful," said Bond of her ten-year old mount. "He is very careful and I can really let him go to the jumps because he will come right back afterwards."

February 3 1:00PM $50,000 Cosequin Grand Prix
February 10 11AM-1PM Kids' Day
February 10 1:00PM $75,000 Bayer/USET Grand Prix
February 24 1:00PM $50,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix
March 3 11AM-1PM Seniors' Day
March 3 1:00PM $50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix
March 10 11AM-2PM "Fiesta Day"
March 10 2:00PM $150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert