Traverse City, Mich. – June 09, 2021 – Equitation riders took to the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring Friday afternoon to vie for top honors in the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Medal during the first week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors. A field of top up-and-coming equitation riders tested their abilities and displayed their textbook style over the 10-obstacle Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Medal course in hopes of capturing the win. In the end, it was Charlotte Clivio from Miami, Florida who emerged victorious with the first place ribbon.
Clivio showcased her talent over fences, laying down a smooth and beautiful round aboard Ascerado, owned by Doris Lenvanthal, to make a great first impression on the judging panel. The equitation course at hand was technical and gave the riders many options to showcase their handiness and technique around the ring. Clivio was one of the few riders that took the inside turn route to almost every fence and was able to execute her plan successfully. At the conclusion of the over fences portion of the class, Clivio also dazzled the judges in the second round flat test, which gave riders the opportunity to impress with their technical flat work by demonstrating the counter canter, sitting trot, and collected and extended gates.
Finishing just behind Clivio was Sora Sohn of Colorado. Sohn showcased her tactful equitation and poise to the judges aboard Barrie Barto’s, Cannavaro. She guided her horse smoothly and answered all the questions asked in the over fences round, and continued to wow the judges during the flat phase to be awarded second place honors at the conclusion of the class.
Rounding out the top three in the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Medal was Isabelle Collister. Collister hails from Illinois and shined aboard Julia Hasler’s Doreen MH to execute a consistent over fences round, also catching the judges’ eyes with a careful performance in the flat phase.
Competition during Week I of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, will come to a head Sunday with the highlight hunter class of the week, the $5,000 Traverse City Derby, presented by Perfect Products, kicking off at 9 a.m. The Platinum Performance Hunter Horse of the Week will also be awarded at the conclusion of Sunday’s competition.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Charlotte Clivio – Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Medal winner
On her performance:
“I tried my best to come into the ring and start with a really good pace. My horse [Ascerado] is a little bit quick so it’s important that I kind of hold him at the jumps. It was important after jump one to stay tight and back around to fence two and I think that’s where I really showed off my best inside turns, which showed my handiness in the round.”
On her goals during GLEF:
“I just started the equitation so I’m trying my best to keep a consistent time in the equitation and hopefully qualify for some of the finals – anything I can basically qualify for I would love to try for.”
On her impression of the equitation:
“It’s fun!It’s challenging and very technical, so it requires a lot of focus and sometimes it’s not your day.It’s a little bit hard if you mess up one jump you can’t really save yourself as much as you can in the jumpers, but it’s a lot of fun and I think it’s really valuable to do as a rider.”
On her new mount Ascerado:
“I’ve had this horse for one month, maybe one month and a half.We just leased him for the summer so I could get into the equitation ring. He’s very experienced in the equitation and is a perfect teacher for me, so he’s been great.”
