Traverse City, MI – July 24, 2025—Flintfields Horse Park was brimming with national pride on Thursday afternoon as Team USA jumped to victory in the $75,000 CSIO3* FEI Nations Cup during Traverse City Horse Shows’ 2025 edition of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders.
The 11th season of GLEF proudly hosts its first-ever FEI Nations Cup, highlighting six weeks of FEI competition running through August 10. GLEF also features the FEI North American Youth Championships and the return of Major League Show Jumping CSI5* competition to Traverse City.
The United States led wire to wire in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring as the only team to advance to the second round on a score of zero. Mimi Gochman of West Palm Beach, FL, Charlotte Jacobs of East Aurora, NY, and Jacob Pope of Columbia, MD, were fault-free in round one. Mia Bagnato of Fishkill, NY, posted the drop score of a single rail in her senior FEI Nations Cup debut riding Elan Farm’s Ballyoskill Big Bucks. Gochman piloted longtime partner Celina BH, Jacobs sat atop Korbach van de Renger, and Pope rode High FBH for owner Sherri S. Crawford.
Both Canada and Ireland remained in the hunt between rounds on four faults apiece.
Ireland—led by Chef d’Équipe Darrah Kerins—answered back in the second round with clear rounds from Simon McCarthy riding Gotcha, Philip McGuane aboard Paso Doble SCF for owner Evergate Stables, and Darragh Kenny on Diaroubet. Carrying forward a clear from Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky, owned by Ollie Glancy, they sat in an even tie with the U.S. on four faults.
After Jacobs guaranteed the need for a tie-breaking jump-off, each nation chose one athlete to advance over a shortened track set by course designer Nick Granat (USA). U.S. Chef d’Équipe Anne Kursinski chose 20-year-old Gochman and her 10-year-old Canstakko mare to face off against McCarthy aboard the 14-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Rock Ridge Farms were selected to face off for gold with Ireland returning first.
Never to be counted out when it comes to speed, McCarthy stopped the clock at 39.71 seconds. Gochman returned with gold on the line and pipped Ireland by nearly a full second in a time of 38.85.
“I went in knowing Simon would be fast, but I definitely had the advantage going second,” said a beaming Gochman. “I got up to the last an hoped for the best; she always pulls through when I need her to.
“I’ve known Celina for so long and I think that is why they chose me for this team,” continued Gochman of the mount that she debuted at the international level in 2019. “It puts a lot of pressure on, but I enjoy the pressure. Celina knows what the deal is, and she could feel [the pressure] too.”
When asked about her sixth senior team appearance for the stars and stripes, Gochman said, “I’ve always wanted to be a Nations Cup team rider; I think it’s important for the sport and a good thing for riders to learn. The goal at the end of the day is to be a championship rider. We brought a strong team here, and we all pulled our weight. It was a great day.”
As a two-time Olympic team silver medalist and U.S. Chef d’Équipe, Kursinski echoed Gochman’s sentiment, saying, “The U.S. has a great pathway that we’ve developed over the last ten years and it’s working. I’m so thankful that we have these Nations Cups here [in North America]. For riders to get ready for the Olympic Games and major championships as a top team rider, you have to jump on a lot of teams. You can read all the books, and you can watch all the videos, but until you step on the field out there to play, you don’t understand wearing the jacket.”
Team Canada’s Erynn Ballard, Susan Horn, Vanessa Mannix and Nicole Walker took the bronze medal on a total of eight faults after two rounds. Canada was led by Chef d’Équipe and ten-time Olympian Ian Millar.
International jumping competition will come to a peak on Saturday during week four GLEF, with the $117,000 CSIO3* Traverse City Grand Prix.
Complete results from the $75,000 CSIO3* FEI Nations Cup can be found here.
