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Seventh Grader Taylor Harpman wins the Zone III Junior Equitation Finals at HITS Culpeper

August 21, 2025

CULPEPER, VA - Taylor Harpman, of Richmond, Virginia rode Sorcerer’s Stone to the Zone III Junior Equitation Finals at HITS Culpeper on Saturday evening capping off an exciting event at Commonwealth Park.

Harpman is 12 and will attend Tuckahoe Middle School in the fall as a seventh grader, and when school starts, she will have a brand new Tad Coffin Performance Saddle and Championship Cooler that was awarded to the winner of the Finals.

“Everyone at HITS went out on a limb to provide us with an exciting event,” said Teddy Harpman, Taylor’s mother and trainer. “The stands were filled with spectators and that made it even more special for the kids.”

Taylor Harpman has been riding since she was three, and according to her mother she likes to hang out with her friends at Virginia Beach. However, her main passion is taking care of her horses. “She takes care of all of them. She doesn’t have a groom, so she does it all, said Teddy Harpman”

The event was open to residents of Zone III who are active junior members of the USEF and the USHJA. Two heights were offered, 3′ and 3′6″. The 3′ section of the finals was open to junior riders that have not competed three times or more in the 3′6″ division or classes. The 3′6″ section is open. However, both sections were pinned as one in the final result.

A group of 12 riders were asked to return and compete in the flat phase that counted for 25% of the their final score. Second was Olivia Wren, from Amissville, Virginia who is trained by Ginny Wilbrandt and in third place was Amanda Hall, from Michells, Virginia who is trained by Paul Mathews. Five hundred dollars was awarded to the first place trainer, $300 to second place trainer and $100 to third place trainer sponsored by Tom Freely/Value Properties. Pam Freely Show Stables sponsored ribbon sashes for the top 10. All 32 competitors also were treated to a welcome reception sponsored by the VHSA Special Events Committee where they received gift bags. “The sponsors were fantastic,” said the events Chairperson Pam Freely. “They gave out a lot of great stuff.”

The course was designed by Rian Biels and after the event Teddy Harpman praised his route. “The course asked a lot of questions and Taylor answered all of them on Saturday,” said Teddy Harpman. “The course designer did a lovely job mixing in hunter and jumper jumps.”

“I made it a somewhat challenging course for the kids who were competing in the event because of what was at stake,” said Biels. “I know the winner went home happy because she was able to do so well on such a hard course.”

“We are thrilled with the turnout we got for the Finals,” said HITS President Tom Struzzieri. “HITS was proud to have this event at HITS Culpeper and we look forward to hosting the Zone III Junior Equitation Finals again in future years.”

“It’s an event that juniors and trainers want more of,” said Freely. “HITS was the perfect host for such an event. We had no clue it was going to be so popular and so successful. In fact, it went so well I would like to see it in the Grand Prix Ring next year.”

Written by HITS · Filed Under Culpeper, Press Releases 
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