Two major equitation championships took center stage Sunday at Flintfields Horse Park, with Elizabeth Rinehart and Corinne Colter emerging victorious during week two of the Tournament of Champions.
Rinehart and Charlie Brown topped the $100,000 Dudley & Barb Smith TCHS 3’6” Equitation Championship with a commanding two-round score of 187, while Colter and Kinfolk earned a 176 to capture the $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3” Equitation Championship.
Elizabeth Rinehart Nails $100,000 Dudley & Barb Smith TCHS 3’6” Equitation Championship
Rinehart and Charlie Brown follow an opening-round 92 with a 95 to secure the championship by five points at Flintfields Horse Park
Elizabeth Rinehart closed out equitation action on Sunday afternoon of week two of the Tournament of Champions with one of her biggest wins to date, capturing the $100,000 Dudley & Barb Smith TCHS 3’6” Equitation Championship. She scored a two-round total of 187, taking the win by a margin of five points, adding her name to an impressive list of winners of this prestigious class.
“It was really fun,” Rinehart said of her experience competing in the class. “[My horse] was really good; I am really thankful for him and our entire team. I thought it was really a fun class, it’s exciting to do a class that’s a little different with more pressure. There was definitely an atmosphere when we walked into the ring.”
The win came aboard Charlie Brown, a horse still new to Rinehart, but one who gave her the confidence she needed for the stage she was competing on.
“Charlie is really special,” she said of the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding. “I’ve been riding him for about six months now and he’s one of the most incredible horses I’ve ever gotten to ride. He’s really smart, he loves to show, he loves to win, he loves his job, and it’s fun to walk in the ring knowing he’s right there with me every time.”
Round one produced a score of 92 for Rinehart, which gave her a comfortable lead. While nothing was guaranteed, she knew she had to return for the second round and put her best forward in order to protect the lead.
She did far more than protect the lead, though, earning a second-round score of 95 and claiming the victory.
“I was really excited,” Rinehart said of hearing her final score. “Any time you walk out of the ring you wonder how it looked compared to how it felt, but this made me really excited. I was pretty sure it was good. I was confident that we’d have a big score.”
Olivia Sweetnam finished second with scores of 90 and 92, while Adelle Alletto took third with scores of 88.5 and 87. Riders Boutique also recognized the top three finishers with special awards. Rinehart received a Buet saddle, Sweetnam received a $1,500 Riders Boutique gift card, and Alletto received a $1,000 Riders Boutique gift card.
A Convincing Win for Corinne Colter in $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3” Equitation Championship
A last-minute decision to ride Kinfolk pays off as Colter earns her first score of 90 aboard the new partnership and takes the championship with a 176 total
A last-minute change in horse turned out to be the right decision for Corinne Colter, who rode to an impressive overall score of 176 in the $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3” Equitation Championship on Sunday of week two of the Tournament of Champions.
Aboard Kinfolk, Colter put in two strong rounds to secure the top position, and it was only the night before that she decided Kinfolk would get called up for the job.
“I got him at the end of GLEF so he’s a new one for me,” she explained. “I wasn’t planning on doing him in this final but last night we decided to do him and it worked out really well. I was feeling more confident on him and I felt like I would do better on him.”
Her gut instinct proved correct, as the course suited “Snoopy” and she was able to master the elements she was slightly worried about heading into the class. She rode to a score of 90 in the second round, securing the win.
“He was really good,” she said. “In the first round I was making sure I got all my lead changes and in the second round I just wanted to do smooth, nice inside turns. I was a little nervous, not too much because I know Snoopy is good at inside turns, so I knew he’d be good.”
The course had technical elements, but Colter believed her ability to master those elements carried her to the high score.
“I thought there were really good inside turns to take and there were good places to go around to be able to do a long hand gallop,” she shared. “Being able to do that gave me the high score. I was really excited because it was my first 90 on Snoopy. It was really exciting to hear.”
Colter has been in Traverse City for much of the summer, where she has competed in qualifiers for this very class, helping her know what to expect for the championship..
“It’s helped me because it has shown me how they might set the course and what they were going to be asking in the final,” she commented, planning to head to the indoor finals next. “It prepared me well.”
Second place went to Ava Bives, who finished on a score of 173.5, while Sabrina Miller was third with a 169 total score. In addition to the championship prize money, Luxe E.Q. provided special awards for the top three finishers. Colter received Tucci boots and a belt, Bives received a $500 Luxe E.Q. gift card and belt, and Miller received a $250 Luxe E.Q. gift card.
Just one week remains in the Tournament of Champions, beginning Wednesday, September 16. Highlights include the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup CSI5* – W Traverse City for the American Gold Cup, presented by Frank & Eileen, and the $20,000 Frank & Eileen 3’ Adult Equitation Challenge.
Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
