As most hunter/jumper competitors head into a relative lull in the nearly non-stop show season, the HITS crew at Thermal is picking up the pace of preparations for the Jan. 9 beginning of what is now eight weeks of competition spread over a 10-week span. As we reported extensively, the venue’s debut in 2007 received everything from rave reviews to extreme criticism on aspects ranging from the footing to the lack of niceties in the VIP tents. Complaints were formally aired in a letter to the USEF and during riders meetings in the spring, which HITS founder and chief Tom Struzzieri attended.
“It was hard to hear the complaints at those meetings,” acknowledged Struzzieri during an open house at Thermal in early November. “We always try to do things as well as we can. My take on those meetings was to look at what was helpful and to implement it.”
Much of the debut circuit’s problems were attributed to the difficulty of preparing the site in six months: Building permits weren’t issued until July of 2006. The sheer size and scope of the site compounded that. Last year, Thermal had a peak of 3,600 horses and Struzzieri predicts that, in five years, the venue will host between 4,000 and 5,000 horses, for perhaps a total of 10 weeks of competition. “We have a site where you plant 2,000 trees and people still ask, ‘Where are the trees?’”



The Saugerties, NY, show management company also runs hunter/jumper circuits in its hometown, in Florida, Arizona and Virginia. Struzzieri estimates that when the Thermal venue is completed, within approximately five years, it will represent nearly twice the financial investment of any of HITS’ other circuits. Because the land is available through a 40-year lease, that price doesn’t reflect real estate costs. “So many places are undersized,” Struzzieri explained, crediting the industry’s steady growth. HITS’ investment is justified by the venue’s ability to accommodate growth.
To better serve its West Coast customers, HITS hired two locals earlier this year: Fred Bauer as vice president of West Coast operations, and Dale Harvey as technical coordinator and high performance liaison. During our November visit, Dale gave his take on improvements as he drove us around the grounds. In joining the HITS team, Dale gave up two of his horse show dates, but will continue to run the rest of his Jump Del Mar competitions. As a show manager, a trainer and competitor, Dale asserted several times that receiving a USEF license to stage a competition is a privilege that obligates management to deliver an event that meets the highest standards. As a customer of HITS for many years, Dale acknowledged that he and Struzzieri had had their disagreements, but feels that he was hired to help HITS meet exhibitors’ highest expectations.
We drove past the areas for 150 RV hook-ups, irrigated grass pastures that are available for rent throughout the show, and space where a tented area enclosing a 100’ by 240’ arena will be erected to house the circuit’s four World Cup qualifier classes. This was a key demand during rider meetings, along with footing improvements that included test rides. Keri Potter and Will Simpson were among the Grand Prix veterans slated to test the Grand Prix arena footing in November, but the arena materials devised by 2008 Olympic footing specialist Bert Poels were not quite ready and the test was postponed.
Last year, HITS’ footing company, Footing Authority, was promoted heavily before and throughout the circuit, but Dale says the company is now in the back-to-the drawing-board stages. Its presence is notably absent from the 2008 prize list.
In addition to the new finale Grand Prix, the $200,000 Invitational on March 16, the 2008 circuit includes lots of new, big and small stuff. Struzzieri told us about two Jumbotrons, one in the Grand Prix ring and another in that arena’s collecting area. Newly planted trees abound at the venue and crews were at work on shaded spectator structures on the berms between rings. Struzzieri bragged on New York chef Ric Orlando, who comes in to handle the VIP area’s restaurant and Dale talked about numerous upgrades to make the whole VIP area a better fit with its high-end clientele.
Fun stuff includes little parties during the Saturday Maclay classes, which will be held at 4 p.m. in the tented arena. Other divisions will get their chance to compete in this indoor-like arena, too, Struzzieri said. A Golf Cart Drive-In movie night, an Equine Idol and Costume Class, and a fashion show are just a few of the non-riding special events lined up.
It was great to spend one-on-one time with Struzzieri. His remarkable success has come with no shortage of opportunities to take and respond to criticism from his ever-growing customer base. Asked how West Coast exhibitors compared to their counterparts at his other circuits, the veteran manager cited the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Assn. as an unusually strong organization with real influence on show conditions.

Cool Weather No Match for West Nile
West Nile Virus gets a lot of attention during the hot summer season, but equestrian advocate Stephanie Abronson contacted us recently to remind everybody to stay on guard year-round for this bird- and mosquito-born disease.
In early November, Stephanie found a dead crow near the corrals at her home stable in the Los Angeles area’s Monte Nido. She contacted the Department of Health Services Hotline: 877-968-2473, and a County worker came to collect the dead bird. A department rep called Stephanie later that day to say the bird had tested positive for West Nile.
“If you find a dead bird or tree squirrel do not handle it,” Stephanie warns. “Be sure to seal it in a plastic bag. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Place another bag with ice on top to keep the creature cool. Have the animal picked up by the County to be tested. Be sure to ask for a report.
“West Nile Virus is entrenched in our local ecology,” she continues. “It’s here forever! Be sure to remove all standing water. Pools and stagnant water are breeding areas for mosquitoes. Make sure your window screens are secure; don’t leave your doors open, and use mosquito repellent. If you live on a partially dry creek, like I do (Cold Creek has standing water pools next to my property), call LA County Westside Vector Control to spray those pools for mosquito. That number is 310-915-7370.
 For more information, go to www.westnile.ca.gov. And be certain to vaccinate your horses twice a year.” Thank you, Stephanie!

Olympians On Parade
Look for 12 Olympic equestrians in the Rose Parade this New Year’s Day. Representing the USET Foundation, the entry includes show jumpers Beezie Madden, Margie Engle, Anne Kursinski and Melanie Smith Taylor; dressage stars Sue Blinks, Debbie McDonald, Guenter Seidel and Steffen Peters; and eventers Darren Chiacchia, Nina Fout, Kim Severson and Karen Stives. Four members of the Los Angeles Mounted Sheriffs Posse will precede the Olympians, who will be riding parade-safe, borrowed horses. Jane Forbes Clark, USET Foundation president and CEO, and Mason Phelps, a 1968 Olympic alternate for the eventing squad and equestrian PR guru, will serve on foot as flag bearers.
The USET entry will follow a float celebrating the 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing, China. That float has been the subject of much controversy from activists protesting China’s human rights record.

Wishing For Wellington?
For anyone who dreams of seeing the fabled competition at Florida’s Winter Equestrian Festival but can’t quite make the cross-country trek, live webcasts will be available. Productions East Video, in association with Stadium Jumping, Inc., and LiveBroadcast.TV, will present live webcasts from the National Horse Show and also of all the rings of the Winter Equestrian Festival competition from Wellington and Tampa, FL. The National Horse Show runs Dec. 5-9, then the action resumes Jan. 30 when the Festival kicks into gear. For more info, visit www.ProductionsEast.com, www.stadiumjumping.com or www.LiveBroadcast.TV.

The Gallop welcomes news, tips and photos. Please contact Kim F. Miller at kimfmiller1@mac.com or at 949-644-2165.