Ocala, FL -March 22, 2010 – During the last two weeks, riders Samantha Oliva, Viginia Bartholomay, and Alex Carlins traveled to the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit to compete with trainer Diane Carney of Telluride Farm. The riders scored top ribbons during the HITS V Ocala Winter Finals and the HITS VI Ocala Winter Celebration, and brought home multiple championship and reserve championship tricolors. The shows were hosted at Post Time Farm from March 9-14 and March 16-21, 2010.
 
Alex Carlin was the winner of two reserve championship awards during the HITS V Ocala Winter Finals. He earned a first place ribbon and a second place ribbon in the Low Children’s Jumpers aboard Symphatico and was presented with the reserve championship prize. Earlier in the week, Carlin rode Quik to the reserve championship title in the Modified Children’s Hunter division after earning a first place ribbon and two third place ribbons.
 
Prior to traveling to Florida Carlin competed at the Lake St. Louis Hunter Jumper IV Horse Show. “He competed at St.Louis to gain experience, and during both weeks of Ocala Carlin showed great improvement.” explained Carney. “He is a developing rider, so I was really glad to see that the plan worked and he was able to succeed while he showed in Florida.”
 
Samantha Oliva also took home top awards while competing at HITS Ocala. During Week Five she was champion in the Equitation 14-15 division with SS Couture after earning a first place ribbon and a third place ribbon in the over fences classes. Oliva also received the third place ribbon with SS Couture in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal, which included 48 riders. Carney noted, “Samantha has been very consistent in the equitation this winter, and it is nice to see that she can still be quite competitive at the more difficult horse shows.”
 
Later in the week, Oliva earned the Low Junior Jumper championship title with Javelot D’Helby. Moving on to the final week of HITS Ocala, Oliva continued her success with Von Dutch. The pair won the Modified Children’s Hunter Championship after earning a first place ribbon, a second place ribbon, and a third place ribbon.
 
Virginia Bartholomay and Pepe were also very successful during the HITS V Ocala Winter Finals. The pair earned a ribbon in every class, and was named the Low Adult Jumper Reserve Champions.
 
Carney is a very active member of the equestrian community and she was thrilled to see the strength of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which featured over 50 competitors. “The hunter derby classes have helped the sport to become much healthier than it was three years ago,” she said. “People are really supporting it, they are buying horses specifically for that class and that is improving the quality of the derby horses. I think the industry should be complimented for embracing the derby concept and really getting behind it.”
 
Telluride Farm and Diane Carney will be competing again in April at the Ledges Winter Series, held April 9-10 and April 16-17, 2010. In May, Carney and her top riders will travel to the Devon Horse Show to compete against the best horses and riders in the country.
 
Carney, a USEF “r” Hunter/Equitation Licensed Official, is based out of Hampshire, IL, at her hunter/jumper show stable, Telluride Farm. She has been both an active participant and influential trainer in the hunter and jumper community for many years. Her contributions to the industry extend to the many clinics that she teaches every year, in addition to those that she hosts annually for U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George H. Morris and top hunter/jumper trainer Don Stewart Jr. Most recently Carney was voted Illinois Hunter/Jumper Horse Person of the Year for 2008.

For more information about Diane Carney and Telluride Farm please visit http://telluridefarm.com/.