Hough wins HITS event

Staff Report
Published: September 2, 2008

Lauren Hough and her mount Unicum closed out the Constitution Classic at HITS Culpeper when the duo posted the fastest double-clear effort in the $40,000 Avalon Saddlery Grand Prix to win the blue ribbon.

Course Designer Ken Krome trimmed a field of 21 starters in the first round down to just four in a jump-off that saw Hough dominate the round when she won the class by nearly six seconds.

Kicking things off in the jump-off was Maryland’s Tracy Magness and her Grand Prix horse Tarco Van Ter Moude.

Magness and her 12-year-old Belgium-bred horse had a rail down near the end of Krome’s six-obstacle jump-off track to finish in fourth place for owner’s Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko.

Magness has been riding Tarco Van Ter Moude for about three years now and was named the top Grand Prix rider at HITS Ocala aboard him in 2007. Since that time, she and her trusty horse have competed in many prestigious events such as the Nations Cup in Europe and have used that experience to propel them into the top five of the USGPL Standings.

The $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix will take place during the USGPL Finals at HITS Culpeper later this month and the Standings boast some of the top riders in the sport. Holding onto the top spot is Patty Stovel and her mount Shandor 41.