If it's the Fourth of July, it must be HITS Culpeper! The Skyland Farm team enjoyed the week at Showday National, celebrating the Nation's Birthday and picking up lots of ribbons.Tricolor ribbons abounded, from the Performance Working Hunters to the Small Ponies. Skyland Farm's Cirena continued her successful transition from jumper to hunter with the 3'3" Performance championship with Chiara Carney in the irons. The pair earned two firsts and three seconds, including the top call in the handy after an impressive performance.In the pony ring, Virginia Bonnie and Blue A Kiss took top honors in the Large Pony section, winning three classes on their way to the championship. Virginia also claimed the Small Pony Hunter championship with Wink And Smile, their third tricolor in as many starts. They also earned the championship at the Loudoun Benefit and reserve honors at Upperville for an impressive trio of accolades!Skyland's domination in the ponies continued, with Emma Pell guiding Forget Me Not to the reserve championship in the Small Pony Hunter section, and Virginia returned to claim the reserve championship in the Mediums with Prom Queen.
In the Adult Amateurs, it was Leslie Kopp taking the reserve championship in the 36-49 section riding The Impressionist. Aboard Windsor Farm Sales' Amicello, Leslie picked up a blue and a reserve championship in the Low Adult Jumpers. "Amicello is a new mount for Leslie, and we're so excited about their future," said trainer Denice Perry. "She also had a wonderful show on The Impressionist. I haven't seen him jump that well in a long time. She also did an outstanding job on Bethany and El Cano, winning even more blue ribbons!"Hot off their championship at Upperville, Michele Trufant and Prime Time returned to the ring at Culpeper to claim the reserve championship in the Thoroughbred Hunter 2 section. Michele also partnered with Dancing Ollie for a second reserve championship, this time in the Training Hunters.