Estella Bonanni Shines on Winsome Bluesome During Equitation Tuesday in Traverse City

Traverse City, Mich. – July 24, 2020 – Equitation Tuesday returned to the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC, earlier in the week, the third installment for the special day that showcased young equitation exhibitors’ talents. The Traverse City show is unique in that it offers equitation riders double the chances to earn valuable qualifying points towards the year-end finals during one week thanks to the equitation-specific Tuesdays. Taking advantage of her opportunity, Estella Bonanni turned in a series of top results with Melissa Hirt’s Winsome Bluesome, including wins in the USHJA 3’3″ Hunter Seat Medal and the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Medal.

Estella Bonanni and Winsome Bluesome. Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Up against a field of skilled horse-and-rider pairs in the USHJA 3’3″ Hunter Seat Medal, Bonanni piloted Winsome Bluesome to an exemplary trip that highlighted her correct and precise form. Held in the GGT Footing Ring, the class saw a number of young athletes lay down noteworthy trips, but Bonanni’s proved to be the best, earning her the top award. Cassie Warren and Whipstick Farm Ltd.’s Capo Di Capi finished in second place.

Bonanni and Winsome Bluesome immediately returned to the ring for the next class, the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Medal. Once again proving their prowess, the duo maintained their earlier momentum and turned the judge’s head to earn another chart-topping score, which would ultimately hold the lead and best the field. Just off the leaders, Sutton Suelthaus jumped Castleforte, owned by Down the Line Equine LLC, to the runner-up spot.

Adding to her success throughout the day, earning top-five finishes in a number of other classes. The partnership claimed second place in the EMO Insurance USHJA 3’3″ Jumper Seat Medal, fourth place in the NCEA 3’3” Medal and fifth position in the Dover Saddlery USEF Hunter Seat Medal.

Taylor Griffiths-Madden and Mac One III. Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

In the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, Taylor Griffiths-Madden piloted her own Mac One III to the top of the leaderboard, just ahead of owner-rider Audrey Schulze on Castellan W in second place. Both riders were trained by Frank Madden, who had a good showing in the class considering only two entries were listed as under his tutelage.

Olivia Parr and Hannah Klinedinst battled it out in the adult classes, with each rider taking a turn at the top. In the THIS NHS Adult Medal, Klinedinst rode Caymus, owned by Brawley Farms Inc., to the blue ribbon, and Parr captured the runner-up spot aboard Sandalwood Farms’ Gold Coin. The rankings swapped for the Ariat Adult Medal, which saw Parr and Gold Coin earn the highest score from the judge to clinch victory, and Klinedinst navigated Caymus to the second-place distinction.

Equitation Tuesday will return to Flintfields Horse Park for one final chapter during Week Five, the second-to-last week of the six-week Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC.

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