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“Holy Hoopla” Canadian Jill Henselwood leads the way in the USGPL standings

September 8, 2025

CULPEPER, VA (September 8, 2025)Thanks to her win in the $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert at the HITS Desert Circuit, Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood leads all Grand Prix Riders in the USGPL Standings that concludes with the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper on October 1.

The finals for the league will be held at Commonwealth Park where $100,000 in prize money is on the line. The event is limited to the top 30 horse/rider combinations in the USGPL Standings.

Aboard Black Ice, Henselwood collected $56,500 in prize money at HITS Shows in 2006. Henselwood had the only clear round in the $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert as she outperformed 38 other riders. She was so overcome by joy after her win, the first thing she said after the class was “holy hoopla.”

Right on Henselwood’s tail is Aaron Vale. Vale captured the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix last year. Vale and Serval won the $100,000 Grand Prix of Ocala that ended the Ocala Winter Circuit in March. Vale and Serval won $49,500 in prize money at HITS Shows this year, competing at HITS Ocala and HITS Culpeper. Every Grand Prix Class at all HITS Horse Shows are qualifiers for the USGPL Finals. Vale is coming off of a USGPL hat trick, winning the featured class for the past three years. In all, he has 142 total grand prix victories.

What’s the secret behind his success? “I like to think that it is just hard work,” said Vale. “We love to win, so we just focus on training, and training to win. We treat it as a professional sport and we come to the horse shows to try to win. We are fortunate to have some excellent horses, and great support from our owners. Its a real team effort from the whole group and its working. It’s great to win!”

Maybe the hottest Grand Prix Rider is Laura Chapot. She certainly saved her best for last at Saugerties this summer, as she delivered the perfect 1-2 punch riding Little Big Man, and Samantha to a first and second place finish respectively in the $50,000 Tavern on the Green Catering Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties on September 4.Chapot sits third in the standings with $46,500 in prize money. Rounding out the top five are Mary Lisa Leffler and Federico Sztyrile, who have won $44,200 and $43,000 respectively.

A special $25,000 Wild Card Grand Prix at Culpeper on Friday, September 29 gives one more rider the chance to qualify for the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix. The rider who finishes the highest and is not already qualified earns a spot in the field of 31.

Show Jumping at HITS Culpeper resumes at the USGPL Finals on September 27, featuring the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic, the $15,000 Junior/A-O Jumper Low Classic, the $25,000 Junior/A-O Jumper High Classic, the $25,000 Wild Card Grand Prix and the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix in its final week in Culpeper. There is no question that this prestigious event saves the best for last, as the lineup includes $175,000 in prize money for the special classes alone.

The USGPL Finals will be the last HITS Horse Show before HITS switches to International Surfaces Group (ISG) footing at most of its locations. ISG is proudest of its revolutionary dust-free footing that allows horses to compete under a wide range of weather conditions while minimizing the risk of injury.

For more information about show jumping at HITS Saugerties as well as all other HITS venues call 845.246.8833 or visit the HITS website at www.HitsShows.com.


Written by HITS · Filed Under Culpeper, Press Releases 
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