Uncommon growth

By Shane Mettlen

Published: July 19, 2008

Bigger doesn’t always mean better, but at HITS Culpeper nobody is complaining about the growth.

Horse Shows in the Sun had its biggest Culpeper event ever last week at Commonwealth Park. This week the annual Cavalier Classic hit town and eclipsed last week’s mark by 75 horses, meaning about 900 animals were at the Park that boasts 840 permanent stalls.

To meet the growing demand HITS added a temporary tent stall last week and another for the Cavalier Classic.

“We only have so much acreage,” HITS show manager Kristen Vale said. “We did add a ring this year though and that has made it easier to handle the increase.”

An additional show ring is just one of the improvements to the facility. Two additional wells were dug at Commonwealth Park last year, alleviating an occasional lack of water as more horses showed up for events. There have also been cosmetic improvements to the park which have enticed more riders and horse owners to show up for Culpeper events.

With two more HITS events scheduled for Commonwealth Park in August, Vale expects a similar percentage increase over last year.

“We usually find that August is a quieter time,” she said. “There are a lot of things going on and a lot of options for horse shows. We’ll see a similar increase and probably have around 700 horses.”

The HITS events draw competitors and spectators from up and down the East Coast and as far west as Texas. Vale said that increasing hotel space in Culpeper has also contributed to the growth of the events.

“We’re at a point in the economy where you might expect a decline,” Vale said. “But we’re really growing.”

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or