For Immediate Release | September 15, 2023 Contact: Jennifer Wood | Jump Media | jennifer@jumpmediallc.com
All Rights to Jump Media and Jennifer Wood,
Saugerties, NY – Wordley Martin, a leading developer of equestrian properties and premier riding surfaces, has garnered rave reviews for its extensive renovations at the HITS-on-the-Hudson showgrounds in Saugerties, New York, showcased throughout the facility’s busy 2023 show season under the new HITS management team. Exhibitors enjoyed significant upgrades across 205,000 square feet of riding arenas at the world-class venue. The Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium and the former Diamond Mills Ring, which was transformed into the new grand prix schooling ring, were resurfaced with Wordley Martin’s premium footing blend. Additionally, a new redesigned premier competition arena, known as "THE Ring," featured top equitation, hunter, and jumper classes all season long. The Main Hunter ring also received refreshed footing. Read what top jumper and hunter professionals had to say about the improvements:
“The rings are spectacular. The grand prix warmup area and the Grand Prix Stadium are state-of-the-art, as good as they can be. As riders and horse owners, we can’t ask for better conditions.” – Daniel Bluman, winner of the $300,000 FEI Grand Prix CSI4* at HITS Championship
“It's absolutely fantastic – the footing feels as good as anywhere in the world. They felt so sure on the ground, and the footing is very springy. For me, it’s a good sign when the jumps feel small, then you know you’re on good ground. That's the way the jumps felt competing here!” – Paul O'Shea, winner of the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson II
"The footing feels great. The horses feel comfortable and get better on it each day. I had a horse without shoes for six weeks in Saugerties, and he got better as he went. That’s a sign the footing must be perfect." – Beat Mändli, third-place finisher in the $100,000 FarmVet Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson I
"HITS-on-the-Hudson is turning into one of the best facilities in the United States. Without question, the new Wordley Martin footing is the best footing that we have jumped on all year. Truly second to none.” – Jimmy Torano, second-place finisher in the $50,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at HITS Championship
"I found that my horses really went well and felt happy competing in ‘THE Ring.’ The new footing held up to all weather conditions, so we were able to work rain or shine. The horses really felt, moved, and jumped great on it."
– Hannah Isop, winner of the $25,000 International Hunter Derby at New York Horse & Pony Show
"The Wordley Martin renovations are game changing. ‘THE Ring,’ where they have been running the hunter derbies, is such a nice size and has so much atmosphere with places all the way around the ring for spectators to sit. All of my horses like the footing in that ring and it drains perfectly. Even if you don’t have perfect weather the footing and competition areas will still hold up."
– Amanda Steege, winner of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at HITS-on-the-Hudson V
“The footing in Saugerties is really the best I’ve jumped on in a long time.” – Rodrigo Pessoa, Olympic Champion, World Champion, three-time FEI Jumping World Cup™ Champion
“The difference in the Grand Prix Stadium since the renovations is night and day. The footing could not be better. The horses seemed to jump really well off of it, and there was no slipping or inconsistencies anywhere.” – Ashlee Bond, Israeli Olympian
Photos by Elena Lusenti
About HITS For more than 40 years, HITS has established itself as an industry leader and the largest producer of hunter/jumper horse shows in the United States. HITS revolutionized the industry when it produced three of the then-richest grands prix in the world. By the numbers, HITS operates six venues; 60 weeks of sanctioned hunter/jumper competitions; six weeks of dressage events; and 65,000 horses are expected to compete in 2023. Based in the Village of Saugerties, New York, HITS is a national company producing horse shows in Ocala, Florida; Culpeper, Virginia; Wayne, Illinois; East Dorset, Vermont; Saugerties, New York; and Del Mar, California. Find out more at www.HitsShows.com.About Wordley Martin Wordley Martin provides equestrian arena architecture, construction, installation, and footing products to create a personalized, ideal riding environment. Founded by international grand prix riders Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin, Wordley Martin has installed more than 450 arenas throughout the United States and has become the choice of top athletes and owners from the Olympic disciplines of show jumping, eventing, and dressage who value Wordley Martin’s exceptionally high standard of execution. Whether it be for a traditional outdoor arena, covered arena, indoor arena, or gallop track, Wordley Martin’s unique sand mixture, incorporating textiles and fibers, results in a dust-free surface to ideally support every impact. Learn more at www.WordleyMartin.com.