Traverse City, Mich. – July 31, 2019 – The 2019 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, LLC, returns to Flintfields Horse Park for the fifth week of the series, with the penultimate week of competition featuring a CSI3* rating. Thanks to even more prize money offered, a talented field of challengers will compete in a number of FEI classes to hopefully add valuable world-ranking points to their names.
The list of international contenders competing during Week V includes 54 horse-and-athlete pairs reigning from the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Israel and Germany. The American contingent poses the greatest chance of winning with the most duos represented, but they will face stiff competition from international exhibitors. Hailing from the home nation, 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ team gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and Olympian Margie Engle (USA) will both make their 2019 GLEF debuts along with 2017 grand prix winner Sloane Coles (USA), while Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Mattias Tromp (USA) will continue their time in Traverse City.
Already with a 2019 GLEF grand prix win to their names, Wilhelm Genn (GER) and Santiago Lambre (MEX) will both be vying for another victory to push them closer to capturing the new $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus, which will be awarded at the conclusion of the circuit in August. Mark Bluman (COL) will join them as an international rider, as will Vasco Flores (PUR), Jim Ifko (CAN) and Sydney Shulman (ISR).
FEI competition begins Wednesday, July 31, with the $1,000 1.40m Jumper CSI3* and will continue Thursday, August 1, to feature the $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI3* in the afternoon. The $35,700 Grand Traverse Classic CSI3* will take place Friday afternoon, August 2 and the highlight event of the week, the $133,700 Staller Grand Traverse Grand Prix CSI3* will begin Sunday, August 4, at 2 p.m. The 2019 GLEF will feature one more week of internationally-ranked competition to conclude the six-week circuit, with Week VI boasting a prestigious CSI3* rating.
To view the full FEI rider list, please click here. For more information, please visit greatlakesequestrianfestival.com.
