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HITS Desert Circuit Hosts Trainers’ Committee Conference Call as a Kick-off for 2010 Events

July 31, 2025

Thermal, CA - July 31, 2025 - The HITS Desert Circuit will be held in Thermal, CA, from January 26 to March 14, 2010. The world-class horse show will feature six weeks of competition for equitation, hunters, and jumpers. HITS, Inc. has been working closely with their West Coast Trainers’ Committee since last year’s HITS Desert Circuit to implement changes from the advice gathered during discussions with these well-respected industry professionals.

On this HITS Desert Circuit Conference Call were HITS West Coast Management Team member Dale Harvey, Danette Kadlic for HITS Exhibitor Marketing, and trainers Tracy Baer, Mary Manfredi, and Rudy Leone.

Various topics were discussed, including: the 2009 Circuit Review, the 2010 Circuit Schedule, Circuit Pricing Packages, the World Cup Qualifier Schedule, Grand Prix Prize Money, Priorities for the Property in 2010, and Committee Feedback and Ideas.

Regarding the 2009 HITS Desert Circuit and the impact of the Trainers Committee, Rudy Leone stated, “I think that in the first advisory board meeting that we had, the suggestions were made and were met this (past) year. I, for one, was happy with that.”

“It was great to start off the call with a review of last season and hear back from the team that they were pleased with the product we produced,” said Harvey. “We are all looking forward to building on the momentum from last year and producing another great circuit for the West Coast exhibitors.”

The trainers agreed that a return to a six week schedule would be beneficial for riders, trainers, and owners, with statements made that it would be easier to compete for the entire circuit rather than choosing certain weeks to compete.

Harvey informed the team that information on Circuit Pricing Packages for 2010 will be available in a few weeks. The packages that were implemented at HITS Saugerties were very well received and believed to be a contributing factor to the strong turnout throughout the Spring and Summer Series.

Other topics brought up for discussion and taken into consideration for completion by the start of the 2010 circuit were dust control for the roads and barn areas, and new, more forgiving footing installed on the horse paths from the barn areas to the show rings.

“We will certainly look at updating the horse paths,” said Harvey. “It’s a large property, so we may need to address the paths in stages, starting with the most traveled routes and working down from there. If dust control and paths are the biggest issues for trainers this coming season, we will be sure to do what we can to improve those areas.”

Tracy Baer, who was also a member of the committee for last year’s circuit, is very happy to be a part of a dialogue between trainers and horse show management. “It’s great, because I can talk to other trainers before the meeting, get their input on what they’d like to see for the upcoming shows, and bring it up for them, as well as other ideas that I have. We can discuss how we can get it done.”

Baer said that the suggestions brought up last year were all completed at the show grounds. “It was unbelievable, like night and day with all of the improvements. Of course, new show grounds take a while to get quirks out of it, but the obvious improvements they made and the fact that they waived late fees was great. I was able to bring more horses because of it. They went out of their way to accommodate people,” she said. “I think they’ll continue to do improvements, and it’ll get better and better each year.”

One additional agenda item HITS is moving forward with for the 2010 season is the creation of a covered warm-up area adjacent to the covered arena where the four FEI World Cup Qualifiers are held.

The prize list for the HITS Thermal Desert Circuit is in development, and HITS plans to mail the book early in the fall so that exhibitors can begin making their plans early. A complete list of the HITS Thermal Official Lodging and Rental Car Partners will be available on-line and exhibitors are encouraged, whenever possible, to take advantage of the savings offered especially for HITS customers.

The next Trainer Committee conference call will be scheduled for mid-fall when the group will discuss progress to date and the final preparations for the 2010 season. In addition to the Trainer Committee, HITS will liaise in the next week with the HITS Desert Circuit High Performance Committee, which includes show jumpers Will Simpson, Guillermo Obligado, and Susie Hutchinson, to discuss the High Performance details of the HITS Desert Circuit. HITS, Inc. welcomes feedback for all of its horse show circuits. To send suggestions, please e-mail [email protected]. For more information or to sign up to receive a prize list, please visit www.hitsshows.com.

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