New Heights
N E W
H E I
G H T S
Duncan McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy T
different arms of our show jumping sport. Nick Haness for the hunters, and Duncan McFarlane in the jumper ring. The $500,000 Diamond Mills
Hunter Prix Nick Haness rode
Jessica Singer’s Cruise to the 2nd place finish in this historic Hunter Prix. “I was thrilled with the idea of com- ing to this show,” said Nick. “I was avail- able and eager to ride Cruise when the of- fer came from Archie Cox, Singer’s trainer, and I accepted. As luck would have it, the weather was beauti- ful at the start of the week, but toward the end it got quite wet.” “The announcers
he long trip to Saugerties, New York, for the historic HITS Million Dollar week- end, paid off big time for two California riders in two
course were set on the same field at the same time….a big giant wall and a wide water jump were next to a hunter brush jump. With the gigantic jumps set right next to our hunter obstacles, the um- brellas all over the place, a huge crowd and the exciting atmosphere overall, the ride was a bit nerve wracking but SO exhilarating and challenging.” Nick continued, “The course was dif-
right after our hunters, the crowd was huge and all of the elite jumper eques- trians came in to watch. It was a bit intimidating to see them on the side- lines….but VERY exciting. The best part of that was those riders came to the back gate to congratulate us and share in the celebration, something that doesn’t get to happen very often for hunter riders. Usually when a class is over and pinned, everyone goes on their way, but this celebration con- tinued for quite some time. It felt soooo good.” “The prize money
Nick Haness and Cruise
commentary that day was that being from sunny California we probably wouldn’t handle the wet sloppy ground well, but in reality THAT Is what kept Cruise’s interest. He was a little tenta- tive to start and had to pay attention on a higher scale, he certainly did that!! BOTH the Pfizer Million Dollar jump- er course and Diamond Mills hunter
ficult, especially for 3’3”. People can say it was ‘only’ 3’3” but it was very dif- ficult with all the big impressive jumps. Live broadcasting was super, it made it so that people from all over the coun- try could stay excited and be a part of it even if they weren’t there…that does not happen for the hunters very often and it was really welcome.”
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personally rewarding to be a part of such a HUGE event in the history of the hunters. Tom and the HITS staff presented an extra special class for us and went out of their way to do it.” “I am forever grateful for the op-
Photos © ESI Photography
and that big check was the icing on the cake. When it’s all said and done you go there knowing the prize money is on the table and to actually get $90,000 for sec- ond was surreal. I for one, thought it was
“With the Million Dollar jumper class
Duncan & Nick take New York
portunity; it was emotional to just be standing there. To get an opportunity to ride a bad bicycle in that class would
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