More than $3 million in prize money, two consecutive weeks of five-star competition, and championship classes across the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings will close the 2026 Traverse City Horse Shows season during the Tournament of Champions, September 2–20 at Flintfields Horse Park.
Major League Show Jumping, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen, the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, and the USHJA Young Jumper Championships will bring many of the sport’s leading riders and horses to Traverse City, with competition for professionals, juniors, amateurs, and developing horses.
“The Tournament of Champions is designed to close our season at its peak,” said Traverse City Horse Shows Event Director Matt Morrissey. “After a full summer together, these final three weeks bring some of our biggest championships, our strongest international competition, and opportunities for riders and horses at every level. It’s a fitting way to finish the season.”
Major League Show Jumping Leads Two Five-Star Weeks
Major League Show Jumping opens two consecutive weeks of five-star competition with competition on September 11 and 12. Five-star action culminates on September 20 with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen.
Traverse City serves as the second stop of the Major League Show Jumping 2026–27 season, one week after the championship opens in Toronto. With the standings already underway, teams arrive at Flintfields Horse Park with an early opportunity to establish momentum in the championship race.
“The team format brings a different energy to five-star sport,” Morrissey said. “You have athletes who normally compete individually suddenly riding for a team, with strategy, standings, and a season championship adding another layer to the competition.”
Team competition takes center stage Friday, September 11, with the $200,000 ClipMyHorse.TV MLSJ Team Competition, followed Saturday, September 12, by the $340,000 MLSJ CSI5* Grand Prix powered by World Wide Technology, with the first horse at 4 PM both evenings. Saturday also features a special dinner in the VIP Club presented by legendary Chicago steakhouse Gene & Georgetti.
The following weekend, attention turns to the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen. First contested in 1970, the American Gold Cup has been won by generations of Olympians and international champions and, since moving to Flintfields Horse Park in 2020, has become a centerpiece of the Traverse City season finale.
In 2025, Kent Farrington and Greya captured the American Gold Cup, marking Farrington’s third victory in the historic championship. Expected challengers this September include several of the world’s top-ranked riders, including Shane Sweetnam (IRE), Daniel Bluman (ISR), and Nina Mallevaey (FRA).
Championships Across the Schedule
Championship competition extends well beyond the five-star rings.
Opening week, September 2–6, features the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament presented by the Davis McCullough Foundation, bringing three-star competition to Flintfields Horse Park with classes including the $117,000 Agero CSI3* Grand Prix.
The USHJA Young Jumper Championships presented by North Star Sport Horses also return, giving developing horses an opportunity to compete for national titles as part of the opening week.
Equitation takes a prominent role throughout the series with the $100,000 Dudley and Barb Smith 3’6″ Equitation Championship, the $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3″ Equitation Championship, and new opportunities including the $20,000 Frank & Eileen 3′ Adult Equitation Challenge.
The fall schedule also features the $25,000 Road to the Top Jumper Challenge and Marshall & Sterling USHJA 3′ Adult Jumping Medal Finals.Together, the classes reflect the breadth of the Tournament of Champions, from developing horses and riders to established international athletes competing at the highest level.
September at Flintfields Horse Park
Beyond the competition, September brings a different pace to Flintfields Horse Park as summer lingers in Northern Michigan.
New for the fall series, the Tailgate Tent Experience offers private furnished tents for groups of up to 15 guests along the west side of the International Ring, with food, beer and wine, outdoor gathering areas, and dedicated parking.
“We wanted to create something that feels a little different from traditional ringside hospitality,” Morrissey said. “The west side of the International Ring gives you a unique perspective on the competition, and the tailgate tents give colleagues, friends, and families their own space to gather, move around, and enjoy the afternoon together.”
General admission also continues a season-long community tradition: 100% of general admission ticket revenue benefits Northern Michigan nonprofits through the Traverse City Horse Shows Charity Ticket Partner Program.
Three Weeks to Close the Season
For competitors, the final weeks offer some of the year’s most significant titles. For spectators, they offer a chance to see international sport up close as the 2026 season reaches its finale.The season concludes Sunday, September 20, with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen.
Tournament of Champions
September 2–20, 2026
Flintfields Horse Park
Traverse City, Michigan
