For the fifth consecutive year, Copper Fox will return to Flintfields Horse Park as presenting sponsor of the highly anticipated $25,000 Platinum Performance USHJA International Hunter Derby during the 2022 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) running July 6 – August 14.
Based out of Grand Rapids, MI, Copper Fox is highly regarded in the equine industry for finding top-quality hunters and jumpers with the greatest potential for success in the ring. With professional and amateur achievements at some of the most prestigious horse shows nationwide to its credit, Copper Fox proud to support GLEF and the Traverse City Hunter Incentive Program.
Heading the Copper Fox team is top amateur rider, Kendall Meijer, along with professional rider and trainer, Hillary Johnson, and their trainer, Cathy Johnson.
“I love any opportunity that showcases hunters,” says Meijer, who is often the one to beat in Amateur-Owner and Adult Hunter divisions. “Whenever the limelight is on the hunters it makes me proud because that’s the sport I love and know best. Watching the International Hunter Derby is the highlight of my GLEF experience. It’s such an exciting event that invites hunters in the international ring and creates a great test for the riders to present their abilities.
“It’s exciting to see Michigan host one of the best horse shows of the year, and the level of sport in Traverse City is incredible,” continues Meijer. “The location, people and atmosphere really make it the perfect horse show destination and a well-rounded competition. I love to support the Michigan show circuit as much as I can, and I think Traverse City is such a wonderful place to do that. It’s just a wonderful experience.”
The $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Copper Fox will once again shine the spotlight on some of the most talented hunter competitors in the country. As GLEF’s pinnacle hunter event, the derby will take place in the Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel International Ring. Tickets are now available for this event on July 30 beginning at 5pm.
Click here to purchase tickets!
“I don’t think there is another show that highlights hunters as much as we do here in Traverse City,” says Matt Morrissey, Director of Traverse City Horse Shows. “We are passionate about putting hunter riders in the spotlight and showcasing the opportunity to compete against some of the best in the country. It is because of influential partners like Copper Fox that we can do that. Through the Traverse City Hunter & Derby Finals, we expect to see more and more talented equestrians vie for the blue in never-before-seen hunter competition.”
Hunter riders can expect twelve weeks of unmatched hunter contention during the Traverse City Horse Shows, including the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, weekly Hunter Derbies and the new Hunter Incentive Program offering over $325,000 in guaranteed prize money. Competitors can also look forward to two World Champion Hunter Rider weeks, the first June 22 – 26 to be held during TCHS Spring featuring the $100,000 USHJA WCHR Central Hunter Spectacular along with qualifying opportunities for the Traverse City Hunter & Derby finals. The second of which to be held during the GLEF II July 13 – 17. Don’t forget to catch the Adequan®/ USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East from June 28 through July 2.
Unique to Traverse City, exhibitors will have the opportunity to enroll in the Hunter Incentive Program and compete for add-back prize money in the Finals, with 70% of all enrollment fees added to pot. Horses not enrolled in the incentive program will still be eligible to compete for guaranteed prize money as long as they have competed for three weeks during the Traverse City show series. After 12 weeks of exciting hunter competition, the Traverse City Hunter Finals and the Traverse City Hunter Derby Pro and Non-Pro Derby Finals will be held September 14 – 18, offering over $325,000 in guaranteed prize money to be an exciting finale to the season!
Traverse City Hunter Finals include:
- $25,000 3′ / 3’3″ Green Hunter Traverse City Final
- $25,000 3’6″ / 3’9″ Green Hunter Traverse City Final
- $25,000 3’3″ Jr Hunter Traverse City Final
- $25,000 3’6″ Jr Hunter Traverse City Final presented by the Ingram Family
- $25,000 3’3″ A/O Hunter Traverse City Final
- $25,000 3’6″ A/O Hunter Traverse City Final presented by the Gajoch Family
- $50,000 Performance Horse Hunter Final (3’3″, 3’6″, 3’9″, 4′)
- $100,000 Traverse City 3′ Derby Finals (Pro)
- $25,000 Traverse City 3′ Derby Finals (Non Pro) presented by Makoto Farms
