Traverse City, Mich. – April 23, 2021 The prize list for the 2021 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, is available now! Featuring six weeks of high-performance show jumping, hunter and equitation competition, GLEF will boast CSI2*, CSI3* and CSI5* events as well as a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week and a $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Copper Fox, LLC. Offering over $6 million in prize money, GLEF is the staple summer show in the Midwest for show jumpers, hunters and equitation competitors alike. We hope you join us for a fun and competitive six weeks of competition in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan at the 2021 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival!
Shane Sweetnam & Indra Van De Oude Heihof
Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography
The GLEF series will play host to a number of exciting new additions, including the Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) CSI5* series during GLEF III, the Dudley B. Smith Equitation Championship & $10,000 Trainer Bonus during GLEF IV, the USHJA Zone 5 & 6 Jumper Team/ Platinum Championship during GLEF V, and the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) for dressage and show jumping during GLEF VI. Show jumping classes offered during GLEF will give athletes the chance at claiming valuable points towards the coveted CaptiveOne Leading Jumper Rider Bonus, also awarded at the conclusion of the TCHS series in September.
The GLEF series will also include qualifying weeks for the inaugural Traverse City Hunter Finals at the conclusion of the Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) series in September. There is over $275k dollars in guaranteed prize money up for grabs, and 70% of all enrollment fees dedicated as add back prize money for each division final. Horses not enrolled in the incentive program will still be eligible to compete for prize money as long as they have competed for three weeks during the Traverse City show series.
Due to overwhelming demand, GLEF I-III is already sold out. There is still availability for the Traverse City Spring series, taking place June 9-27, GLEF IV-VI, running July 28-August 15, and the Traverse City Tournament of Champions, taking place September 1-19. The TCHS management team has decided to cap stalls in order for show exhibitors participating this summer to also be able to enjoy everything Traverse City has to offer.
2021 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Show Highlights:
GLEF I: July 7-11
- $5,000 Traverse City Derby, Presented by Perfect Products
- $139,500 Meijer Grand Prix CSI3*
- CSI3* / AA Hunter / Jumper 6
GLEF II: July 13-18
- $10,000 Traverse City Derby, presented by Luxe EQ
- Equitation Tuesday
- World Championship Hunter Rider
- $36,600 Honor Hill Farm Welcome Stake
- $74,200 NetJets Grand Prix CSI2*
- CSI2* / AA Hunter / Jumper 5
GLEF III: July 20-25
- $5,000 Traverse City Derby
- Equitation Tuesday
- $36,600 Groulx Family Grand Prix CSI2*
- $200,000 MLSJ Team Competition
- $230,000 TraverseCity.com Grand Prix CSI5*
- CSI5* & CSI2* /AA Hunter / Jumper 6
GLEF IV: July 27-Aug 1
- $10,000 Traverse City Derby
- Equitation Tuesday
- Dudley B. Smith Equitation Championship & $10,000 Trainer Bonus
- $25,000 Platinum Performance USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Copper Fox, LLC
- $74,200 North Face Farm Grand Prix CSI2*
- CSI2* / AA Hunters / Jumper 5
GLEF V: Aug. 3-8
- $5,000 Traverse City Derby, presented by Sidelines Magazine
- Equitation Tuesday
- Markel USHJA Zone 5 & 6 Jumper Team/Platinum Jumper Championship
- $139,500 Southern Arches Grand Prix CSI3*
- CSI3* / AA Hunters / Jumper 6
GLEF VI + NAYC: Aug. 10-15
- FEI North American Youth Show Jumping & Dressage Championships
- $139,500 CaptiveOne Advisors Grand Prix CSI3*
- CSI3* / AA Hunters / Jumper 6
GLEF attracts national and international competitors from multiple continents to participate in the summer festival. Due to growing demand, stalls, lodging and accommodations will go quickly. Whether you are booking stalls for your barn or lodging for your family, don’t wait to book your spot for the summer season! Find all of the information you need for your trip to Traverse City on the competitors page of our brand new website below.