Equitation and hunter riders took center stage on the final day of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders. Traverse City local Sydney Mohrhardt claimed the $10,000 Frank and Eileen 3’ Adult Equitation Challenge, while Anna Tyler and Lauren Trible-Laucht closed out GLEF with wins in the final USHJA National Hunter Derbies of the six-week series.
Traverse City local builds on nine summers of experience to claim the Adult Equitation Challenge
Eighteen-year-old Sydney Mohrhardt recently transitioned out of the junior equitation ranks, and that experience carried her to success in Sunday’s $10,000 Frank and Eileen 3’ Adult Equitation Challenge to close out the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders.
Riding to a score of 90 over the jumps, Mohrhardt was confident in her equitation skills and knew she could depend on her partner, Saint Louis. Trained by the team at Hickory Ridge, she was well prepared for the occasion and now even more primed for bigger challenges to come later this fall.
“It feels great,” she said about her win Sunday. “I’m so incredibly grateful for my amazing team and my horse to make wins like this possible. In September, we have a lot of Indoors finals coming up, so this was a great way to practice and start the training for that.”
Annalise Manoog’s score of 89 placed her second in the $10,000 Frank and Eileen 3’ Adult Equitation Challenge, and in third place was Luke Rinehart who scored an 87.
The season still has an additional major offering for adult equitation riders coming up in the fall with the $20,000 Frank & Eileen 3’ Adult Equitation Challenge.
“It’s really nice that they’re offering a lot more classes for the adult equitation riders,” Mohrhardt reflected. “It just challenges you in the right places, and it was just overall a great day.”
Mohrhardt is among the riders grateful for the increased focus on equitation and prize money opportunities for adults, particularly now that she is an amateur.
“When I was a junior last summer, I was able to do the $50,000 3’3” Equitation Challenge, so I was very excited when I saw on the 2026 schedule that they had really good prize money for the adults,” she shared. “It’s really nice getting to be able to do these fun classes and compete with my friends and just have a great time with the team.”
Being local to the Traverse City area, Mohrhardt and her family have seen the facility and its offerings grow over the years, and Mohrhardt herself has grown up at this venue.
“It’s incredible being able to have all my family and friends come out,” she said. “The first time I competed at Traverse City, I was 10 years old with my pony. This is my ninth summer competing here, I believe. And I’ve had so many amazing firsts here; my first time competing on my pony and so many great memories with the horses.”
Anna Tyler Ends on a Winning Note in $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Hunter Derby Presented by Uphill Farm & The Karret Family
The final derby winner of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, was a young rider who delivered consistently strong performances throughout the season. Anna Tyler took one more win on the final day, capturing the top position aboard Calle Cool in the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Hunter Derby Presented by Uphill Farm & The Karret Family.
“I’ve had him for about a year now, and he’s great,” Tyler said of 9-year-old Calle Cool. “He’s super special to me. I got to do my other horse beforehand, so I think that set me up well, and I learned the course well before.”
Her first-round score of 92 put her in the lead returning for round two. She had the benefit of protecting a lead, but that can often be nerve-wracking knowing you have more to lose. Tyler didn’t let the pressure get to her, riding to a second-round score of 89.5 for a two-round total of 181.5.
By a small margin of just half a point, Tyler took the win, and Elizabeth Rinehart took the next two placings aboard Bugatti and Soirée, respectively.
Tyler isn’t done in Traverse City, with plans to return for more derby action and major equitation events this fall.
“We’re looking forward to the next three weeks here, the next couple of shows, but it’s been a great summer,” she reflected on her various results across all rings, including in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring for the International Hunter Derby. “I’m really thankful for all the good horses I have. I just enjoyed being in the big ring, and I think that was a fun event with the hunters.”
Among the fall highlights Tyler is looking forward to is the $100,000 Dudley and Barb Smith 3’6” Equitation Championship, after competing in the class last season.
Trible-Laucht Closes GLEF with 2’6” Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby Victory
To conclude hunter derby action for GLEF, Lauren Trible-Laucht captured the win in the $1,500 USHJA National 2’6” Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby aboard Carerra Z. Her scores of 86 and 89 propelled her to the top, which was a satisfying ending to the season for Traverse City local Trible-Laucht.
“I figured out how to go forward and let my horse do her job and get out of her way,” she reflected on what worked best in the class. “I always try to figure out from the end of the season what I need to work on before I come back. I started out better this year than I ended last year.”
Competition returns to Traverse City on September 2 with the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, kicking off three weeks of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition during the Tournament of Champions.
Looking Ahead: The Tournament of Champions Awaits
The Tournament of Champions offers two consecutive weeks of five-star competition, highlighted by Major League Show Jumping and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen.
With approximately 10 of the world’s top 30 riders expected to compete, juniors and amateurs already onsite at Flintfields Horse Park will have a front-row seat to world-class sport, joined by spectators from across the region for one of North America’s premier fall destinations.
Competitors can still reserve stalls and submit entries, while spectators can purchase tickets and plan their visit at TraverseCityHorseShows.com.
*Correction: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect action photo of Anna Tyler and Calle Cool. The image has been replaced.
