Traverse City, Mich. – June 16, 2023 – Julieta won a CSI3* Welcome Stake in Michigan last spring, and this year she’s at it again, but with a different rider. After a successful first week, Delaney Flynn (USA) led the mare to victory Friday afternoon in the $38,700 Village of Elk Rapids CSI3* Welcome Stake during the second week of the Traverse City Spring Horse Shows, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel.
“I’ve had Julieta for a few months and she definitely shined today, so I was really happy with her,” Flynn, 23, said. “There were a lot of [stride] numbers in the jump-off, and she has a big stride so I was using that to my advantage today. I didn’t necessarily think we would go that fast but it all showed up really well. She loves jumping here, and she definitely jumped her heart out.”
The task ahead of Flynn was a large one, as 17 pairs jumped clear out of the starting 39. Up against top international riders including Margie Engle (USA), Beat Mändli (SUI), Daniel Bluman (ISR) and more, Flynn didn’t let that intimidate her and put in the best ride she could for her horse.
Closer to the end of the jump-off order, Flynn put in a quick and clear round over Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) short course in 42.37 seconds, hoping it was enough. She had a few fast pairs behind her, and Hallie Grimes (USA) just nearly caught her with Chaccato PS, owned by Can We Keep It? LLC, in 42.41 seconds. Grimes took second, while Engle took third with Dicas, owned by Gladewinds Partners LLC, Show Horses Inc, and Storm Ridge Capital, LLC.
“Julieta is a strong mare,” Flynn said of the Windsor Show Stables-owned 13-year-old Holsteiner (Canstakko x Casall). “She is probably one of the scopiest horses I’ve ever ridden. The more I challenge her to gallop, the better she jumps so that really helped us out today. I think this environment is ideal for her. It’s a little cooler weather, and she loves the jumps here. It makes her jump a little more carefully. I think Michigan is one of her favorite spots.”
Last year, Julieta’s win came with Christine McCrea (USA) aboard. This year, Flynn has a new role working alongside Christine and Jonathan McCrea for Windsor Show Stables, giving her new opportunities and chances to ride horses of a caliber she always dreamed about.
“[The job] has been more than I’ve ever dreamed of,” Flynn said. “The quality of horses I have and get to compete on is amazing. It’s giving me the opportunities I’ve always wanted. I want to be on a U.S. team representing my country and continue to do well in bigger FEI classes with the group of horses I have right now.”
Along with the opportunities given to her comes the ability to get to know a new string of horses. While she’s accustomed to sitting on a variety of mounts, she’s developing partnerships now that are extra special to her. She’s learning the McCrea approach to individualizing each horse’s plan and letting each horse guide its progress.
“They individualize everything,” Flynn said of the Windsor Show Stables’ program. “We have a lot of different types of horses. It’s about horse welfare and setting them up in classes to make the week go well.”
Back for the second time, Flynn plans to keep attending Traverse City Horse Shows as long as she can. “I came during 2020 but this is my first time getting to compete a lot,” she explained. “I love the town, I love the show, and it’s a little more of a relaxed vibe but definitely still really high competition, with amazing horses and riders here today. I definitely want to come back next year.”
National show jumping takes center stage Saturday with the $30,000 National Grand Prix ahead of Sunday’s $145,100 4G Surfaces CSI3* Grand Prix.
See full results here.
Reese Merna Prevails in Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search
Following her initial victory in week one, 16-year-old Reese Merna has notched another triumph in equitation, bolstering her successful run at the Traverse City Spring Horse Shows, sponsored by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel. Merna, just 16 years old, topped 21 entries in Friday’s Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, an elite equitation medal class tested over a jumper-style course.
Aboard her partner Trouvaille, the same winning mount from week one, she impressed the judges over fences and on the flat, never wavering for a second throughout the demanding class.
“The course was super fun,” Merna, of Mendham, NJ, remarked. “I know this horse really well so the plan was to go in and have a really smooth, technical round, and we did a few inside turns.”
Last week, in the same class, the duo placed fourth, and the two-top placings have set her summer qualifying season off on the right foot. One of Merna’s top goals is to guarantee a bid in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals come fall.
“He’s so awesome,” she said of her own nine-year-old Trouvaille. “I’ve had him for three years so I know him really well. He is super fun. He has the sweetest personality. He loves to cuddle, he loves treats, and he’s super social.”
The flat phase of the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search is known to be quite challenging, with judges asking riders to demonstrate more difficult tasks. While some riders may lose some focus when being tested on the flat, Merna knows she can rely on her partner to come through, which played in her favor today. “It’s definitely a strong point for him. He’s a beautiful flatter, he has gorgeous extensions and I really trust him on the flat.”
Under the guidance of Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables, Merna has dedicated the past few years of her junior career to rising in the equitation ranks. She’s attended the 3’6” equitation finals twice now, and aims to return in the fall to have an even better showing than before.
Saturday welcomes Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions to the Main Hunter Ring as Traverse City Spring II continues.
