Traverse City, MI – July 20, 2025—Keri Potter (USA) and Kalimera Van De Nethe Z made it two-for-two in Traverse City on Saturday by repeating their winning performance from a week earlier and clinching the $117,000 Elk Rapids Marina CSI3* Grand Prix during week three of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders. After topping the Southern Arches CSI3*Grand Prix just one week earlier, the pair returned to Flintfields Horse Park and again emerged victorious.
The 11th season of GLEF now heads into week four of 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.
Potter stopped the clock with a smile, clearing the short course designed by Michel Vailliancourt (CAN) in a time of 34.05 seconds, beating out a field of 12 horse-and-rider combinations and pushing early leader and Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard into second.
“I’m a bit in shock, honestly,” said Potter of her repeat win. “I went towards the end of a pack of very fast riders so I knew where I needed to cut some lines but she’s so quick across the ground. It becomes fun to go fast on her.”
The 10-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by U.S. Olympic silver medalist Karl Cook has repeatedly proved her speed over several weeks at Flintfields Horse Park, a skill that Potter has learned to harness.
“She’s the quickest, most careful, scopey horse I’ve ever ridden,” explained Potter. “Probably one of the most challenging as well; it’s taken a while to create this partnership, but she and I now know each other so well now that we trust each other.
“I spend a lot of time taking her out to eat grass and giving her carrots,” said Potter of how she developed a relationship with the mare. “The bond we have is special, and I think she tries hard for me because of the extra time I spend with her.”
Ballard and Campari kept it consistent, finishing second on the podium for the third time during GLEF III. The pair held the early lead with a clear time of 36.97 seconds around the short course. At the conclusion of the day’s featured event, Ballard was awarded with the Turnham Green Leading Lady Rider Award.
Closing out the top three was USA’s Hunter Holloway and Henry Jota Ariel, owned by Hays Investment Corporation, finishing just a second over Ballard’s time on 37.99 seconds.
Based in Del Mar, CA, Potter picked Flintfields Horse Park as her first competition venture out east, making a name for herself and making the most of what Flintfields has to offer.
“This facility is incredible and great for the horses,” said Potter of the venue. “The footing is the best I’ve ever jumped on, and the atmosphere is amazing. Being able to compete with all these top riders raises the level for me as well and makes me excited to compete.”
International jumping competition will return for week four of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, featuring the first ever CSIO3* Nations Cup of Traverse City.
Complete results from the $117,000 Elk Rapids Marina CSI3* Grand Prix can be found here.
Anna Tyler and Calle Cool Claim Victory in 3’6” Hickory Ridge Junior Hunter Classic
Junior hunters took center stage on Saturday in the Highstreet Arena with competition during week three of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, peaking in the 3’6” Hickory Ridge Junior Hunter Classic. Riders competed in their respective junior hunter divisions to give them an initial qualifying score for Sunday’s classic. Out of the top 12 qualifying riders, Anna Tyler of Raleigh, NC, and Calle Cool, owned by Ashland Farms, took the win.
Tyler, who currently sits on a commanding lead at the top of the $5,000 Junior Hunter Bonus leaderboard, sponsored by Makoto Farm, Hunter’s Edge, and the Zoology Foundation, piloted the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding to the blue by qualifying from the 15 & Under Junior Hunter division on an 87, and scoring an 88 in the classic round to total 175.
“This is only my second week riding him, but he’s a really fun horse to ride,” said Tyler of Calle Cool. “He’s got a big stride and a fun jump. He was great in the derby yesterday, so I’m glad we could stay consistent throughout the week.”
Coming in second was Elizabeth Rinehart of Carmel, IN, and Gambler, owned by S.T. Rugglin LLC, earning a first-round score of 85.5 in the 15 & Under Junior Hunters and an 85 in the classic, totaling 170.5. JJ Torano of Wellington, FL, and Domestic Z, owned by Jet Show Stable, earned an 86 from the 15 & Under Junior Hunters and an 84 in the classic, totaling 170.
For full results from the Hickory Ridge Junior Hunter Classic, click here.
Tarin Kiely and Claire Mullally California Split The Gajoch Family SJHF Junior/Amateur Classic Win
A whopping 79 competitors took to the $7,500 The Gajoch Family 1.30-1.35m SJHF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic in the Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel International Ring on Saturday. In a California split, Tarin Kiely of Rumson, NJ, took the section A win, while Claire Mullally of Kalamazoo, MI, took the top spot in section B.
Kiely, and Nayana ADB, owned by Kiely Equestrian, beat out a competitive field by jumping to a double clear and stopping the short-course timers at 27.292 seconds.
“I’m really proud of the way my horse performed. I couldn’t be happier,” said Kiely of the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare. “She wants to jump as much as I do and I think that trust got us the win today.”
Following Kiely in section A was Jole Kosloske of Tampa, FL, and her own Floralie de Riverland, finishing on a time of 27.571 seconds. Third in Sec A. went to Cristian Hacker Wellington, FL, and Noble Tropicana, owned by Paul Mendoza, finishing in close quarters on 27.768 seconds.
Splitting hairs between section A and B, Claire Mullally claimed the section B win with Sonic Boom, owned by Judgement Farms. The pair finished fractions of a second behind Kiely on 27.389 seconds.
“This is the first big win we’ve had in the mediums,” said Mullally of her partnership with the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. “He’s truly spectacular. This week marks a year together, and he’s always shown up for me.”
Second place in section B went to Alexander Alston IV of New Albany, OH, and Undercover, owned by North Run. The pair stopped the clock in 27.604 seconds. Addy Wingate of Leesburg, VA, and her own ESI Indigo, closed out the section B top three in 29.229 seconds.
For the full results of The Gajoch Family SJHF Jr/Am Classic, click here.
Traverse City Open Sales Debuts with Strong Results and High Demand
The first edition of the Traverse City Open Sales brought energy and excitement to Flintfields Horse Park on Saturday night as 14 top-quality horses from the Paul Schockemöhle Lewitz program went under the lights and under the gavel. With buyers from across North America in attendance in person and online, the auction marked a successful introduction of European sport horse sales to one of the continent’s premier summer show circuits.
The highest-selling horse of the night was Capricioso VA, who sold for $400,000, followed by Cosimo PS at $375,000 and Cortilou PS at $350,000. Several promising hunter and jumper prospects achieved strong prices, with bidding reflecting confidence in the quality and rideability of the Schockemöhle horses. The event was hosted in partnership with Traverse City Horse Shows and is expected to become a new summer tradition.
“We can’t believe what happened here,” said Christian Volke, sales manager for Paul Schockemöhle. “The atmosphere, the team, the clients—it was such a great evening. For our first time bringing horses here, everything was new, but we were so warmly welcomed. For sure, we will be back next year and have the second edition of the Traverse City Open Sales.”
The success of the inaugural sale reflects the strength of the collaboration between Paul Schockemöhle and Traverse City Horse Shows, and the appetite among North American buyers for top-tier European horses. With plans already underway for next year’s edition, the Traverse City Open Sales has firmly established itself as a highlight on the summer show jumping calendar.
For more details and to view the complete catalog of horses, visit TraverseCityOpenSales.com.
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.
