Written by guest Sydney Flashman
No matter where in the United States a rider lives, at some point in the year HITS, or Horse Shows In The Sun, always puts on a spectacular show somewhere at least somewhat near their barn. There's HITS Ocala, HITS Culpepper, and HITS Saugerties, to name a few on the East Coast. In California, we have HITS Thermal, (more commonly known as Thermal) which could be considered one of the biggest shows in Zone 10. The eight week "desert circuit" takes place at the HITS Desert Horse Park, in a town called Thermal- hence the popular show's name- which is about 45 minutes away from Palm Springs. Though the location causes the show grounds to occasionally be assaulted by wind and rain storms, and the hot desert air can rise to a temperature of 90° or higher, riders from states as far away as Texas travel to the massive horse park to compete. As a young rider with friends who live in many different places, I love Thermal because I get to see a lot of my friends in one place, even if they do live in other states. The classes, especially the rated pony divisions, are large enough to be able to watch friends ride and show, hang out, and even go get food from the food court (which actually has good food, unlike most other shows) and still be back to the ring in time to jog and hack. And because the pony riders around Zone 10 are so spread out, there is not always enough competitors to have to actually make it to the jog- sometimes, there are only 8 ponies or even less, so as long as a rider completes the course, they place. But at Thermal, there are so many people and the competition is so tough that a competitor has to have a near flawless round to even be on the standby list. Most of the riders at Thermal enjoy this aspect of the show, even if it does decrease their chance of placing. It just makes it more fun. And there's more to do at Thermal then just ride- Vendor Row is always crowded with both equestrians and non-equestrians, and watching the big jumper classes in the Grand Prix Ring is another great way to pass the time. Riders are often seen cruising around in golf carts or on bikes during their spare time, and there are often adorable puppies for sale that everyone loves to play with. Sometimes, the show management will set up a few foot-jumps, and riders flock the area, excited for a chance to participate in one of their favorite activities. Most of all, friends who rarely get to see each other have a chance to have fun with friends while doing what they love- riding. Like every show, Thermal has its good things and bad things, but all in all, it's a great show to attend.
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September 2016
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