Six weeks of both national and international competition at the 2024 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders, came to an exhilarating close on Sunday afternoon Sunday as excitement culminated in the $120,000 Four G Surfaces CSI3* Grand Prix. An international field took to the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring, but the anthem of the USA rang out as 23-year-old Tanner Korotkin concluded the day with a victory.
Thirty-four pairings came forward for Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) round-one course, which included multiple challenging combinations and a tidy time-allowed. Only three riders in the first half of the opening round managed a clear before a total of 11 entries eventually qualified for the tie-breaking jump-off.
Spencer Smith (USA) was first to return for the short course after acquiring the pathfinder position in round one, but incurred a rail down which left the door open for the remainder of the field. Korotkin returned early and clocked an unbeatable time of 36.68 seconds aboard Kinmar Quality Hero, owned by Sandalwood Farm.
“Kinmar is probably the most incredible horse I’ve ever ridden,” gushed Korotkin of the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, (Obos Quality 004). “I’ve only had him for about two and a half months now. He’s a great horse with tons of scope; he’s a little slower type but he’s quick off his feet so I knew I could do the leave outs and he did a great job.
“He’s a big guy, but as you saw today he can make some quick turns and he’ll get out of the way,” he continued.
While Korotkin has been working to build a string of horses back to the top level, he took a chance on Kinmar Quality Hero. “I saw Jessica Mendoza riding him during WEF and approached her because I thought he had all the scope in the world, which is all I need.”
After struggling to break back into the international level, Korotkin’s new partnership has inspired him to set some exciting goals for the upcoming season.
“There are a lot of very high highs and low lows and that’s the way it goes,” he explained. “You just have to take it day by day and regroup for the next thing, and hopefully they come out better. My goal this year is to qualify for FEI World Cup™ Finals, so if my world ranking gets up a bit, I want to come back [to Traverse City Horse Shows] for the American Gold Cup and the World Cup Qualifier in the fall.”
A pair that has been a familiar pair on GLEF podiums, Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) and the Gladewinds Partners, LLC’s 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, JackOfHearts (Heartbeat x Baloubet du Rouet), produced another fault-free performance to earn the runner-up position with a time of 39.69 seconds. Engle’s consistent efforts throughout the week also earned her the Turnham Green Leading Lady Rider award.
Up-and-coming U.S. grand prix rider Hallie Grimes piloted Chaccato PS, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Diablo Blanco x Argelith Stakkato) owned by Can We Keep It? LLC’s, to the final podium position with a time of 40.52 seconds.
Action returns to Flintfields Horse Park in three weeks for the Tournament of Champions this fall, highlighted by Young Jumper Championships for 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City, Major League Show Jumping, and the coveted American Gold Cup. Schedules are available here.
To cap the afternoon, the GLEF VI charity ticket partner, Generations Ahead, was presented with $3,765 from ticket-sale proceeds as part of Traverse City Horse Shows Charity Ticket Program.
For a full list of results, please click here.
Isabelle Ehman and Labalou Champion Traverse City 3’3” Equitation Challenge
Action in the Main Hunter Ring came to a close for the 2024 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, with the Traverse City 3’3” Equitation Challenge. The final Sunday of summer gave equitation riders a chance to showcase their skills and prepare for the fall season. Isabelle Ehman of Milton, GA, and Labalou, owned by Plain Bay Sales, took the win with a total score of 173.
Competing over two rounds, horse-and-rider combinations completed two different tracks to establish the final standings. Ehman held the top score coming out of the first round with an 88. Returning in reverse order, she was last to return in the second round, holding her top spot with an 85.
“This partnership is very new,” said Ehman, 18, of her relationship with the 2012 Oldenburg gelding. “I’ve only been riding him since the Dudley Smith [Equitation Challenge during GLEF IV] and before that he was a jumper all summer.”
New to the equitation arena, it was a quick realization that Labalou had found his calling. “He does anything you ask him to,” said Ehman. “You look at him and it looks like he’s been doing this forever. His style is incredible, he jumps the same over every jump. He’s an incredible jumper, but because of his style we thought he would be better suited for the equitation.”
Katelyn Martin of Tampa, FL, and her own Relevé followed Ehman on the podium, taking second on a total of 172. The pair laid down a solid score of 82 in the first round and followed up with an impressive 90 in the second round, falling just a point behind the winning total. Schuyler Dayner of Odessa, FL, riding White Oak Road, owned by Donald Stewart, took third with scores of 67 and 86 for a 153 total.
Ehman and Labalou will return to Traverse City for the fall’s Tournament of Champions in hopes of getting more familiar with the equitation arena ahead of the coming indoor finals season.
Hunter riders got one last chance to showcase their talents during the 2024 GLEF season with the $3,000 2’6” Non-Pro Traverse City Derby, presented by 45th Property & Power, and the $2,000 2’ Non-Pro Traverse City Derby. Taking top honors in the 2’6” derby was Cole Battershall of Tampa, FL, and Toy Soldier, owned by Stephanie Battershall. The 2’ derby blue ribbon went to Lauren Finn of Ada, MI, aboard Orchard Hill’s Dreamer, Jill Herweyer.
For full results, click here.
