Traverse City, Mich. – Aug. 2, 2020 – Saturday of Week Five at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC, saw equitation take center stage in the GGT Footing Ring, with two top-scoring partnerships rising to the top of their respective scorecards. Alexia Rule rode to the championship tricolors aboard Will O Moor Kingsman, owned by Cole Horn, in the Albion College Equestrian Equitation for the 15-17 age group following a clean sweep of all three classes. In the Tribute Equine Nutrition Adult Equitation, Madeline Baer piloted her own Baltic Soleil to three consecutive top results to claim the highest honors.
Starting their series of exemplary showings on a high note, Rule and Will O Moor Kingsman hacked their way to a blue ribbon in the under saddle class of the Albion College Equestrian Equitation 15-17, besting the field of other entries to come out on top as the frontrunners. Returning for the first over fences class, the duo maintained momentum and separated themselves from the pack on the overall scorecard with a second win. Now the clear leaders, Rule and Will O Moor Kingsman proved their domination with a final textbook performance, after which they were rewarded with victory in the class and, subsequently, the title of division champion. Boasting second-place finishes over fences and under saddle, as well as a third-place result in the other jumping class, Madison Mitchell captured the reserve championship thanks to her top-three finishes with the reins on Melissa Hirt’s My Pride Z.
The adults took to the ring next to round out the list of classes for the day in the GGT Footing Ring, with Baer shining the brightest after three high-scoring efforts in front of the judge. Similar to her 15-17 counterparts, Baer kicked off the competition in the Tribute Equine Nutrition Adult Equitation with a victory under saddle riding Baltic Soleil, edging to the top of the leaderboard with two contests remaining. Back in the ring for the first over fences class, owner-rider Baer and her mount earned points with a fourth-place finish thanks to their quality ride over the obstacles, then trotted into the ring one final time for the last over fences class, in which they improved their performance to garner a second place. With three points-earning rides under their belt, the combination was solidified as the division victors. Just a small margin behind the leaders, Claudia Millstone and her own C’est La Vie strutted to the reserve honors with finishes of first, third and fourth.
The final week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC, will begin Wednesday, Aug. 5, with equitation competitors offered final chances to earn ribbons and points.