Horse Show in the Sun (HITS):
In Search of the Equestrian
by Elisabeth Straus
Residents and visitors to the Hudson Valley who are animal lovers and are seeking weekend activities might consider something a little different this month and take in the sights at the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) show grounds in Saugerties. Beginning in May and continuing through September, HITS hosts a series of horse shows that offer enough variety and special events to please anyone. HITS boasts a state of the art equestrian facility including an amphitheater for Grand Prix classes, food concessions and equestrian retail shops.
For horse lovers, attending the Saugerties HITS shows as exhibitors or spectators is a no–brainer. The horses and riders are top notch and the prize money regularly draws Olympic veterans and hopefuls. But why should you go if you’re not a die–hard horse fan? Here are a few great reasons for members of the non–horsey set to become HITS spectators:
For history buffs: Horses and people go way back, beyond the cowboy and indian stage that was the Old West. The ancient tome On Horsemanship, written c. 350 BC by Xenophon, is one of the earliest surviving manuals on horsemanship in the Western world and Xenophon is still cited as a contemporary by many modern day horse trainers. Equestrian sports are rooted in history, going back to the ancient Greeks, who included chariot races in their games, and also have the distinction of being the only Olympic sports in which humans and animals are teammates.
For families: According to Thomas Struzzieri, President, Chief Executive Officer and owner of HITS, “The HITS venue is special place. It’s a great opportunity for families to walk around and watch the entire gamut from beginners to Olympic contenders...
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