Veteran pony Gamekeeper showcases speed and experience in Sunday’s win.
Madeleine Warren isn’t always aware of how speedy she can be in jump-off action with her pony Gamekeeper, but on Sunday of week four of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, she knew exactly when to push for the win in the WIHS Pony Jumper Classic.
The class was extremely competitive, with 10 pairs keeping the rails up in round one. Warren and Gamekeeper were up for the challenge, and ended up coming home about two seconds faster than second-place finishers Ava Stryk and Gold Digger. Mattelyn Morrissey claimed third aboard Kit Kat.
“He is a really great pony,” Warren said of Gamekeeper. “He actually came from the Netherlands and used to jump 1.10m so this is kind of easy for him. He’s always got your back, especially when you’re going fast.”
Gamekeeper was ready for more even after his double-clear effort, and Warren says that’s typical, given how much he enjoys the job.
“He likes his job a lot and even after a really fast jump-off he’s always looking for the next round,” Warren shared. “He’s very friendly. When I come out of the ring he’s immediately looking for treats because he knows how good he is.”
Echoes around the ring after her round compared the pair to “lightning” speeds, and Warren said she could feel that her speed was something special.
“It feels pretty fast but he’s easy to keep in control,” she explained. “He has a big stride so sometimes it doesn’t feel like I’m going very fast. When I’m going really, really fast I know because I can feel the wind blowing in my face.”
With Pony Finals on the horizon next, Warren and her team are in excellent shape for a stellar performance.
“We’re going to Pony Finals and we hope to go clear and have a really good time,” she shared of her upcoming goals. “We hope to make it to Washington Pony Jumper Finals as well.”
Ultimately, Warren was extremely grateful for the team around her helping her achieve wins like Sunday’s.
“I thank everyone who helps me with my riding: my trainer, [Lindsey Knight], and my groom – she does an exceptional job,” she detailed. “And also my mom who takes me to the show and also gives a lot of comments from the side to turn and go faster. She helps me out a lot as well.”
Week five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival begins Wednesday with the FEI North American Youth Championships alongside CSI3* competition. NAYC athletes will present at the horse inspection Tuesday ahead of the first championship divisions on Wednesday. Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
