World no. 10, Kent Farrington (USA) claimed the $340,000 CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City on Sunday as the FEI North American League made its debut at Traverse City Horse Shows during the Tournament of Champions. As crowds gathered on the edge of the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring, some of the top riders from North America and beyond converged at Flintfields Horse Park for a chance to earn vital qualifying points towards the 2025 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Basel, Switzerland.
A familiar face in the North American League, Alan Wade (IRL) built a course that suited the challenge for a 35-horse field. As the first to produce a fault-free effort in round one, Farrington set the pace over the tie-breaking jump-off. Six additional pairings from five different nations ultimately joined him in the return. Farrington and his own Greya, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender), cleared the final timers in 37.19 seconds, daring the remainder of the field to catch them.
“I went first, and I thought the class would be fast, but I didn’t think that it would be wild,” described Farrington. “I thought I had done a pretty aggressive round and that someone would have to try hard to catch it. It got a little closer [to the final fence] than I would have liked, but we had luck on our side today.”
For Farrington, having a class of this caliber at the start of the fall schedule in the United States is a step in the right direction for the sport in his home country.
Watch How They Won
“I think that this is great for American show jumping,” he stated. “You’re starting to see some new faces like Sam [Hutton] and Abdel [Saïd] and this whole team coming from Europe, and I think that says a lot about the venues and the prize money that we have. The support that we’re getting from the industry and sponsors is great for our sport and great for North America.”
Great Britain’s Samuel Hutton added some international flair to the podium as he raced to the runner-up position riding Melusina Bvl Z. Making their travel across the pond worth the time, Hutton gave it his best effort with AS Sport Horses’ 10-year-old Zangersheide mare (Mylord Carthago HN x Air Jordan Z). He finished less than two tenths behind Farrington, clocking in at 37.36 seconds.
“I was lucky enough to have a late draw, so I saw Kent go,” said Hutton. “I gave it my all. This is her first five-star clear, actually. I’m really happy with her. It’s been a very competitive week; nothing is given away here.”
Another exhilarating finish came from Alise Oken (USA), who galloped swiftly into third on High Hopes Farm’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Gelvera (Quality Time TN x Numero Uno).
“I actually thought I had Kent’s time up until the liverpool, but I definitely lost time back to the last line because our right turns aren’t that great,” she explained. “She jumped fantastic though, so I’m happy with the result.
“I really believe in this mare,” she continued. “She had good results in the qualifiers last year and I ended up not going to World Cup™ Finals but I think this year she’s in great shape and I really want to focus on that. We have a great partnership now that we are pretty synced up.”
The qualifier was not only the first of seven in the North American League season, but also the first held at Traverse City Horse Shows, marking it a momentous occasion for the venue.
“It means everything for us to host this event,” stated Traverse City Horse Shows event director Matthew Morrissey. “I want to thank the FEI for placing their trust in us and hosting this event. We’ve been here for 10 years at this venue, continually making improvements, improving our team, and I think we put on a great event today.”
Having built courses in the Turtle Creek Casino & International Ring over many years, including multiple years for the American Gold Cup, Wade felt right at home for the build.
“There’s a certain set of specifications that you have to follow, but unless you have faith in a surface and fence material—which I always have—and it isn’t every day you would build such a strong course,” he affirmed. “The horses have been jumping amazing all week. In the qualifier on Friday, I thought horses jumped very well. We were setting a fair test, hoping that the better horses would get to the top. As it was the first [FEI] World Cup™ qualifier of the season, I think it was a good start to the season.”
To cap the afternoon, the Tournament of Champions week two charity ticket partner—the Crooked Tree Art Center—was presented with $9,000 from ticket-sale proceeds as part of Traverse City Horse Shows Charity Ticket Program.
To learn more about the FEI North American League (NAL), click here.
Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Ruah Rally to Win CSI2* Grand Prix
USA’s Kristen Vanderveen tackled a challenging track in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring during the second week of the Traverse City Tournament of Champions. She secured the win in the $40,000 CSI2* Grand Prix aboard Bull Run’s Ruah.
From a field of 41 combinations over Alan Wade’s (IRL) final two-star track of the week, Vanderveen is no stranger to the winner’s circle at Traverse City Horse Shows. This time, she piloted her eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Caracho x Quintero).
“This is his first two-star ever so he’s starting off with a bang here,” Vanderveen laughed. “He’s a little unique and has a bit of his own style technique but he’s brave and he’s careful, and even though he’s a big boy he’s quick enough. He has really only done basic classes where there aren’t as many questions, so today he felt like a real adult.”
Ruah is one of many in Vanderveen’s current successful string, which she credits to careful selection based on character.
“I try to look at their character when I’m buying,” she detailed. “For me, I am always looking for something brave and willing versus overly sharp because they seem like the ones that want to learn, and once they learn they are always careful enough. I do some wild things in the jump-off so, they have to be all-in with me and then we figure it out together.”
An inspiring all-female podium, Canada Olympian and no. one female rider in the world, Erynn Ballard came the closest to catching Vanderveen with Ilan Ferder’s Mullentine Shalom. Fresh off her return from the 2024 Paris Olympics and wasting no time back on U.S. soil, she and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Untouchable x Dollar du Murier) clocked in a mere .06 seconds off Vanderveen’s pace to land in 37.20 seconds. FEI World Cup™ veteran Beezie Madden (USA) rounded out the victory gallop with a double-clear effort in 37.26 seconds aboard Abigail Wexner’s nine-year-old Oldenburg mare, Nairobi (Casallco x Landadel).
For full results, click here.
Hunters Leave Their Final Mark on Week Two of Traverse City Tournament of Champions
Preceding FEI World Cup action in the jumper rings, the hunters competed in their feature classes of the week; the $10,000 Traverse City 3’6” Hunter Classic and the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Hunt and Go, held in the Main Hunter Ring.
Held over two rounds, the $10,000 Traverse City 3’6” Hunter Classic was first to take stage with fifteen competing for the top prize. Jacob Pope of Columbia, MD, and Story Hour, owned by Donald Stewart, were the golden pair, taking the top call on scores of 92 and 93 for a combined 185. The win also earned Story Hour the Platinum Performance Hunter Horse of the Week title.
“He’s a great handy horse, but he’s beautiful across the ground and that suited him well today,” said Pope. “It was nice to have a $10,000 class for the hunters this week, I think it was a nice addition to the schedule, and it worked out well for me.”
Coming in second was Greg Crolick of Clarkston, MI, and Chappy, owned by Carole Chase, with scores of 90 and 92.5 for a total 182.5. Third went to Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, CA, and Small Love, owned by Elizabeth Reilly. The pair closed out the podium with scores of 89 and 90 for a total 179. For full results, click here.
Derby competitors followed with a Hunt-and-Go format class where the classic and handy rounds were combined into phases across a single course. Top call went to Maya Rahaim of Grosse Pointe, MI, and Catwalk, owned by Renaud Farm, LLC. The pair earned blue after earning an 89 in the classic phase and an 87 in the handy for a 179 total.
“This horse is very special,” said Rahaim. “I’ve had him for almost three years. He specializes in derbies; he can really do anything. He’s very talented with an amazing jump.”
After taking a break from the hunters for the summer, Rahaim made her fall return. “It was time to come back and he’s so fun to do these classes with. I couldn’t help myself,” said Rahaim.
Taking the red ribbon was Jake Evans of Ocala, FL, and Checkmate, owned by Empire Lane, LLC. The duo finished on a total of 173.5, scoring 84.5 in the classic phase and 89 in the handy. Closing out the podium was Caitlin Burns of Denton, TX, and her own Primetime with scores of 83 and 90 for a 173 total.
For full results, click here.
