Traverse City, MI – July 4, 2025—At sixteen years of age, Olivia Sweetnam (USA) earned her first three-star international victory on Friday during opening week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders. She topped the $32,000 Avid Hotel CSI3* Welcome Stake riding the 10-year-old Billy Mexico gelding Epic, owned by Sweet Oak Farm.
The 11th season of GLEF features 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.
“This is definitely one of the biggest wins of my career so far,” said Sweetnam, who made her international debut in 2023. “I’m so happy to be able to win a class like this. It was important to me. I know that my horse is more than capable of doing this; he’s super talented, so I didn’t want to let him down and wanted to give him the best opportunity to do well.”
Epic was found in The Netherlands by Olivia’s father and Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam when the gelding was the mount of Dutch rider Finn Boerekamp. “I’ve had my fair share of amazing animals, but I’ve never had something that gives you quite the feeling that he does. He’s probably the most talented horse I’ve ever sat on,” said Olivia, who has been matched with Epic for two months.
In a jump-off field of 11, Olivia was the pathfinder over Mauricio Garcia’s (PUR) course. She stopped the clock at 35.60 seconds for the win. Nipping at her heels, Alex Granato (USA) finished second aboard El Diablo du Nord, owned by The Bright Lights Group, in 36.69 seconds. Canada’s Ali Ramsay was third in 35.75 seconds riding Bonita vh Keizershof Z for owner Ramsay Equestrian Inc.
Of her jump-off round, Olivia noted, “This jump-off was made for a horse like him with a big stride. I started at the same pace that I ended on, and he followed me super well and I really couldn’t have asked him to do anything better.
“He’s super competitive; if I think about turning, he turns without me even having to move,” she continued. “His jump through the air is the best feeling—it’s like we are literally flying.”
Three-star competition comes to a peak in the $117,000 Meijer Grand Prix CSI3* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon during GLEF I. Due to her age, Olivia will sit out the grand prix but soon set her focus on representing her country in the FEI North American Youth Championships during the fifth week of GLEF.
Complete results from the $32,000 Avid Hotel CSI3* Welcome Stake can be found here.
Caroline McLeese, Rachael Herkowitz Find Derby Glory in Traverse City
Hunter derby action returned to the Highstreet Arena on Friday during opening week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders, with $10,000 offerings for both open and junior/amateur riders.
In the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Perfect Products, Caroline McLeese of Omaha, NE, topped the leaderboard riding Shades of Grey for owner Jennifer Rosen’s Fairway Ranch. She and the 12-year-old Gepsom-sired mare combined a 91 from the opening classic round and a 90 in the handy to secure the victory.
From the top 12 that returned for the handy round, Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS, rode Chasovo PS, owned by Ballza, LLC, to scores of 87 and 93 to finish the runners up. Jacob Pope of Columbia, MD, took third riding Small Ask for owners Elizabeth Reilly and Chis Iwasaki on scores of 89.5 and 88.
“Jenny is a good friend of mine, so this is a fun collaboration,” said McLeese. “I rode her a lot this winter and I enjoyed getting back in the ring with her this week. She has a good rhythm and loves an impressive jump—she takes them as a challenge. She’s also very handy, and all three of those qualities make her excellent in the derbies.
“As a professional, these derbies every week are a great chance to keep developing horses,” continued McLeese. “Going into the handy, I didn’t think there were a lot of crazy options, but there were a couple of places where I could be a little tidier on the track. She rises to the challenge on those occasions.”
For full results from the $10,000 USHJA National Derby, click here.
Later in the day, amateur hunter rider Rachael Herkowitz of Bloomfield Hills, MI, topped the $10,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby, presented by Makoto Farms, Hunter Edge & Zoology Foundation. She piloted her own Harmony—a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare to scores of 91 and 93 for the win.
Jordan Gibbs of Colorado Springs, CO, took second aboard Checkpoint, owned by Dana Vollbracht, on scores of 93 and 90.5. Charlotte Morassutti of Toronto, ON, capped the top three on Golden Ticket with a pair of 89s for owner Addison McQuaker.
“The scores were so tight between the top three going into the handy, so you had to be handy, have a great pace, and be consistent,” said Herkowitz. “She’s got a great attitude when she goes in the ring and she’s very trusting. She’s always down for the inside turns and is super flexible.
“This is our first derby win here, which is super special,” concluded Herkowitz, who now sits atop the $5,000 Leading Amateur Hunter Bonus standings with Harmony. In addition to the win, Harmony was also presented with the Platinum Performance Hunter Horse of the Week distinction.
On the $5,000 Leading Junior Hunter Bonus leaderboard, Anna Tyler and Your Welcome BC maintain their lead. Both bonus awards are sponsored by Makoto Farm, Hunter’s Edge, and the Zoology Foundation. The winners will be determined during GLEF IV.
For full results of the $10,000 USHJA Jr/Am National Derby, click here.
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.
