Traverse City, Mich. – Sept. 5, 2021 – On the final day of competition at the Traverse City Tournament of Champions I, show jumping’s top young athletes took center stage as several horse-and-rider pairs took their turn to vie for the winning title in the $500 Equis Low Children’s Jumper Classic held in the Jumper Annex Ring. Each horse-and-rider combination sought victory aboard their mounts, but it was a family affair as Sophie Fisher and My Cloud Nine took the championship title, while sister Hannah Fisher won the classic round Sunday and was awarded the reserve championship title aboard Ember Rising.
Course designer Andy Christiansen challenged the Low Children’s Jumper athletes with an 11-effort track that took advantage of the expansive space. The third pair to try their hand at the 11-obstacle course was Hannah Fisher aboard her mount Ember Rising who would ultimately become the pathfinders with a blazing jump-off time of 29.485 seconds. However, her sister Sophie Fisher and her partner Cloud Nine were right on their heels as they were next in the ring and would be just a hair shy of the leading pair with a time of 31.113 seconds. In the end, Sophie Fisher and Cloud Nine would ultimately hold onto their strong lead in the division and would be crowned the champions, while sister Hannah Fisher would take home reserve champion and win the classic Sunday.
Sophie and My Cloud Nine, a 9-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Kisma Equestrian LLC, came into the last day of the division with a win from day one of competition Friday, which put them at the top of the class going into the final day, Sunday. The pair was determined to lay down a clear and quick round, laying down a fast and clear round, pushing them into the jump-off. Once again, the dynamic partnership between the two became apparent as they sped through the timers to secure the second place position on the podium for the class and the champion title of the division.
Hannah and Ember Rising, an 8-year-old Warmblood mare also owned by Kisma Equestrian LLC, were next in the ring to try and beat the leading pair and would soon dominate the class. The team came into the final day of competition with top-three podium finishes throughout the week, demonstrating clear and quick times, which would help them secure the reserve champion title, just a few points shy of her sister. As a new partnership, Hannah talked highly of the talented young mare and looks forward to future and continued success.
The $500 Equis Low Children’s Jumper Classic marks the conclusion of the Traverse City Tournament of Champions I. Competition will resume for week two Wednesday, September 8, featuring the Silver Oak Jumping Tournament, presented by the Davis McCullough Foundation, USHJA Young Jumper Championships, $36,600 GGT Footing Welcome Stake CSI 3* and the $137,000 Agero Grand Prix CSI3*.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Sophie Fisher – Champion of $500 Equis Low Children’s Jumper Division
On My Cloud Nine:
“I have had Cloud since April. It is a new partnership and it is going great so far.”
On jump-off:
“Cloud has a much bigger stride than Ember, so we were able to leave some strides out in a few places, which saved us on time. I think the jump-off went great for us and was really well designed.”
On Traverse City Horse Shows:
“We love it here. We come back and forth throughout the weeks because we live in Michigan, only about three hours away. We are taking the second week of Traverse City Tournament of Champions II off but will be back for the third week and can’t wait. We are looking forward to watching our trainer [Gustavo Prato] compete in all of the FEI classes.”
On riding together as sisters:
“It is very competitive but really fun. We love being able to do this sport together as a family. We are mostly competing in the same divisions, which is fun but definitely competitive.”
Hannah Fisher – Class Winner and Reserve Champion of $500 Equis Low Children’s Jumper Division
On Ember Rising:
“I got Ember recently in April. Hannah and I actually switched horses recently because it worked out better for us. It is a new partnership, but it has been working out really well so far.”
On jump-off:
“The first course went really well and was designed very well. I think the jump-off went great. Ember has a shorter stride, so there was nowhere we could leave a stride out, but she is quick and makes up the time in the turns because she turns really quickly.”
On upcoming plans:
“We will spend the winter at the Winter Equestrian Festival and then will be back up here to Traverse City in the spring.”
