Wednesday, March 16, 2016

HITS (Horses in the Sun) Ocala





Horses in the Sun (HITS) conducts an annual competition here in Ocala that runs from January through March.

We drove out there yesterday to find that not much was going on, that the horses and riders were tired, that the final competitions are coming up, and that they'll be leaving town in a couple of weeks.

There were a few people out and about but no serious jumping.  One of the riders explained to us that this was a day for the "babies" to get in some training.  

The only substantial jump we saw during our stay is shown in Photo #1.  The young woman in Photo #2 was very nice and took some time to explain what was going on.  

The young horse ridden by the young woman in Photo #3 was quite frisky but she handled it well!  She did a few minor jumps in that particular arena.

And the last photo pictures one of the many pieces of equipment used to maintain the 450 acre farm where HITS takes place.

19 comments:

Lois said...

You got some good shots of the horses and their riders. The Red Hills Horse Trials were held here this past weekend. Every year I keep saying I'm going to go and then I forget.

William Kendall said...

I do like the action- particularly with #1.

magiceye said...

Beautifully captured!

magiceye said...

Beautifully captured!

Kay said...

Good shots! I'll bet the final competitions would be very good after all the events leading up to it. It looks like a good event to check in on from time to time.

Halcyon said...

They are all beautiful horses, even if you didn't see them jumping. They are really photogenic creatures. I wonder how they feel about having us on their backs though?

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Excelentes fotografias.
Um abraço e boa 5ª Feira.

Pat said...

I took horseback riding lessons as a kid and rode some after that. Now I think I'd feel more comfortable on that tractor.

SRQ said...

Wouldn't be Ocala without horses! Nice action shot in that first pic. Sounds like a fun event to shoot (when there's more going on).

VP said...

Love the horses and also the tractor!

Sharon said...

You caught that jump in the first photo perfectly. I like that the last photos shows a different kind of horse power.

Bergson said...

good shots

RedPat said...

They are beautiful beasts, Lowell!

joo said...

The horses are so beautiful, Jacob!!!! And I love the blue tractor:)

Small City Scenes said...

January to March that is a long time. I bet everyone gets tired. One day is tiring---whew!
MB

Kate said...

Sort of like Lake Wobegon: all the horses are beautiful and the women good-looking'!!

Laura. M said...

Nice pictures, Jacob. I like the third.
Un abrazo.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Fab shots of the horses and riders Jacob.. I always fancied riding, until I got up close and saw what big teeth they had :)

Linda said...

Superbly captured!

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." — Henri Cartier-Bresson