Traverse City, MI – July 17, 2025—Week three of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, continued on Thursday with the $32,000 CSI3* Welcome Stake in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. An even 30 horse-and-rider combinations took to the Michel Vailliancourt (CAN) designed track, with a win for USA’s Emily Dehoff.
The 11th season of GLEF enters the halfway stage, in six weeks of FEI competition running through August 10, showcasing an FEI Nations Cup CSIO3*, the FEI North American Youth Championships and the return of Major League Show Jumping CSI5* competition to Traverse City. Highlights also include the $100,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Central Spectacular and weekly qualifiers for the all-new $150,000 Traverse City Equitation Championships debuting in September.
At just 21 years old, Dehoff was one of the youngest on Thursday’s start list, but proved her skill by topping the charts to claim the first three-star win of her career. Atop long-time partner Manou de Muze, owned by The Sporty Game, LLC, Dehoff beat out a jump-off field of five with a final time on the clock of 33.02 seconds.
“I’ve had Manou for three and a half years now,” said Dehoff of the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Arko III. “She’s super special to me and has helped me achieve so many of my wins, so to be able to continue this with her is special.”
Training with John and Missy Clark at North Run, Dehoff has progressed from the equitation to the international stage over the last several years. “They have always helped me find the best horses and be the best rider I can be,” said Dehoff of her time with North Run. “The goal now is to continue to be consistent through the three-star level and go from there.”
Clipping the heels of Dehoff was Canadian Erynn Ballard and Wednesday’s second-place speed mount, Campari. Ballard set Dehoff’s short track time-to-beat of 33.08 seconds. Splitting hairs between the top three times was USA’s Charlotte Jacobs and Thomascourt Ballypatrick, who finished in 33.13 seconds for third.
Thursday’s win adds to Dehoff’s trophy case, which has grown steadily in recent seasons. A year ago, Dehoff claimed a gold medal at Flintfields Horse Park as part of the team effort for Zone 2 in the Young Riders division at the 2024 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC). Dehoff has also taken advantage of her U25 status, finishing third overall in the U25 Series in Wellington, FL, this past winter.
Dehoff now aims her efforts with Manou de Muze towards the week’s peak competition, the $117,000 Elk Rapids Marina CSI3* Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon.
Complete results from the $32,000 CSI3* Welcome Stake can be found here.
About Traverse City Horse Shows
Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) offers 13 weeks of top equestrian competition each summer at Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg, Michigan—just 15 minutes from downtown Traverse City. The venue blends world-class sport with the natural beauty of Northern Michigan and features 12 weeks of FEI-ranked events, including three five-stars and an FEI Nations Cup CSIO3*.
The season culminates in the three-week Tournament of Champions, highlighted by the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ CSI5*-W—Traverse City and $340,000 American Gold Cup CSI5*. New this year, the $100,000 Dudley and Barb Smith 3’6” Equitation Championship and $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3” Equitation Championship deliver big prize money and prestige to the equitation ranks.
For more information on the season, visit TraverseCityHorseShows.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
