Traverse City, MI – September 3, 2025—Opening day of the $100,000 USHJA Young Jumper Championships, presented by North Star, welcomed equine athletes aged four to eight to a series of finals that celebrate North America’s up-and-coming talent at Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS).
The return of the USHJA Young Jumper Championships to Traverse City was made possible thanks to dedicated support from Lou and Joan Jacobs at North Star Sport Horses. “We have always had a passion for the young horses through a couple top horses that we brought along not realizing they were going to make it to the top. And, when they did, it was really rewarding,” recalled Joan Jacobs on what inspired North Star to support opportunities for young jumpers in North America.
“It makes a rider multifaceted by understanding how to ride a young horse and how to develop a young horse,” she continued. “Then you get on the older horses and the made horses, and you’re a lot more comfortable. As a sport and as lovers of the sport, we have to start paying attention to opportunities for young horses because it’s our future.”
Kicking off the week, Matthew Le Master of Locust Grove, GA, opened the championships with a win in the North Star 4-Year-Old Qualifier aboard Princeton MK, an Emerald van’t Ruytershof son owned and bred by Georgia-based Kristina Photakis.
More than 60 young horses will be showcased throughout the week with the 4-Year-Old Final taking place on Thursday. The 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-Year-Old Finals presented by North Star and CWD, will take the spotlight in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring on Saturday.
The championships are a continued effort by the management team at TCHS to support athletes of all levels in order to promote a well-rounded competition experience.
“Across its 13-week schedule, Traverse City Horse Shows offers championships for all disciplines and levels. Thanks to the support of North Star and the Jacobs Family, we’re proud to include the USHJA Young Jumper Championships among them,” said event manager Matthew Morrissey. “Each year, we see more young horses and riders taking part, which is good for the athletes, beneficial for the horses, and a step in the right direction for the sport as a whole.”
The 11th season of Traverse City Horse Shows opens its final three-week series with the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament alongside the $100,000 USHJA Young Jumper Championships, presented by North Star, and World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition for hunters. Results and updates are available at traversecityhorseshows.com/news.
About Traverse City Horse Shows
Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) offers 13 weeks of top 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.
