Charlotte Jacobs (USA) returned to familiar territory on Thursday during the second week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders, at Flintfields Horse Park. After winning the opening week two-star grand prix, Jacobs kicked off a new week with a win in the $32,000 CSI3* Two-Phase aboard Rincoola Milsean.
Course designer Mauricio Garcia (PUR) set the track with a field of 25 challenging the test that included a ‘power’ phase and ‘speed’ phase against the clock. Ten horse-and-rider combinations successfully navigated the entirety of the track fault-free in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. Hot off the heels of her win in the $75,000 Meijer CSI2* Grand Prix on the final day of GLEF I, Jacobs held the lead through the majority of the class after setting a hard-to-beat time of 30.02 seconds with North Star’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Rincoola Milsean (Aldatus Z x Cruising).
“I have a really great group of horses right now for the FEI divisions,” explained the 29-year-old rider who currently sits atop a string of seasoned mounts as well as some up-and-coming international-level talent. “I’m very lucky that I get to switch them out so they are always fresh. I jumped this horse in a few small classes last week while the other two were competing in FEI, and now he gets to do FEI this week with another horse of mine.”
Rincoola Milsean has proven to be a fierce competitor for Jacobs, whose accolades most recently includes a four-star grand prix victory in Canada. According to Jacobs, the bond exists because of their longstanding partnership together.
“This horse has had a bit of time off because his last show was in Vancouver where he won the grand prix,” Jacobs continued. “He has a lot of experience, and I felt he was ready to jump straight into the three-star classes.
“We’re always just looking for the highest quality horses we can get, usually in the six to eight age range,” added Jacobs, who has earned a reputation for developing promising young horses through her family’s own North Star Sport horses. “I like to buy them in those ages because by the time they are ready to move up and jump bigger classes, you have a lot of time with them under your belt.”
Adding a little over a second to Jacobs’ winning time, David Oberkircher (USA) and Southfield Farm LLC’s 13-year-old Dutch Sport Horse stallion Vulkato (Vulkano x Carismo) landed from the final fence with a time of 31.47 seconds for second place. Lillie Keenan (USA) closed out the clean sweep for the U.S. as she and Le Louvre 5, Chansonette Farm LLC’s nine-year-old Westphalian gelding (Latour VDM x Class de Luxe 2), galloped into third place with a time of 32.10 seconds.
Show jumping action during GLEF II resumes on Friday with highlight action coming in the form of the $32,000 Ingram Family CSI3* Welcome Stake. For full results, click here.
Nick Haness Earns Another WCHR Tricolor at Traverse City Horse Shows
The Perfect Products High Performance Hunter/3’9” Green Hunter division championed their winner on Thursday, with a familiar face taking home the top tricolor during World Championship Hunter RIder (WCHR) Week at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders. Nick Haness, who hails from Temecula, CA, and Cavaletto Loma Z, proved best throughout the division by winning all four classes over fences.
A fierce competitor in any hunter ring on both coasts, Haness spends his spring and early summer in Northern Michigan. The 2024 season has been a fruitful one for the 36-year-old professional. He collected his second champion honor of the season in the Perfect Products High Performance Division. He donned the tricolor during the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & hotel, aboard Estimated Prophet, and this time riding Cavaletto Loma Z, owned by West Coast Equine Partners, LLC.
Haness’ win was a full circle moment for the partnership. He spotted the 10-year-old gelding in the jumper ring in Traverse City two years ago as an eight-year old.
“He started his career as a 1.40m jumper with Ashlee Bond,” said Haness. “I saw him with her and I knew he could be a great hunter. He’s a wonderful horse. Today, he was really relaxed and jumped insane. When he’s in the mood to jump, that horse has a picture perfect front end.
“He can really sail over the fences with ease, and he makes the 3’9” look easy,” continued Haness, who pocketed a pair of 90s, an 84 and a 92 to close out the week. “I constantly look at the pictures of him and am amazed with how well his form is.”
After a successful season at Flintfields Horse Park, Haness looks ahead to the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship and USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship taking place in Kentucky in August.
“This is our last week here in Traverse City. It’s been a great way to get the whole team geared up for the finals coming later in the summer,” said Haness. “Cavaletto Loma Z is qualified for both the Green and Derby Finals so he’ll head to Kentucky after this week to get some rest and relaxation.”
Most immediately, Haness will take aim at the weekend derby offering in the $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by The Gajoch Family, with hopes to go two in a row after winning during GLEF I.
For full results, click here.
