The Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, continues through June 29 and features three weeks of FEI jumper competition, weekly hunter derbies, including the International Hunter Derby Regional Championships, in addition to the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and the Markel/USHJA Platinum & Zone Jumper Team Championships.

Forty horses faced off over the one-round speed track designed by course builder Peter Grant (CAN). From second to go in the starting order, Nassar guided his Evergate Stables-owned 12-year-old Selle Français gelding (Untouchable M x Argentinus) to an uncatchable time of 69.36 seconds. 

“He’s naturally a fast horse so as long as I leave them up, I’m usually within striking distance,” said Nassar, 34, of Dorado de Riverland. “There was a lot of room between the jumps and I tried to stick to the leaveouts that I thought were within reach for him. I got lucky the rest of the way with some people having jumps down—today was our day.”

The closest contender was Kaitlin Campbell (USA) and Karius (Van Gogh x Drossan), owned by Mirasol Equestrian, finishing the runner-up in 69.86 seconds. The top-three placings were bookended by Evergate Stables horses with Ireland’s Philip McGuane taking third in the irons of Paso Doble SCF (Diktator van de Boslandhoeve x Cassini I) on a time of 72.17 seconds. 

 

“We have a great group of horses right now,” said Nassar, who plans to build momentum throughout the summer and return in contention for the top-sport opportunities taking place at Flintfields Horse Park later in the 2025 season, including the Major League Show Jumping CSI5*, Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ CSI5*-W–Traverse City and American Gold Cup CSI5*. “The horses are going so well, and it’s very horse-friendly out here. 

“There’s tons of space for the horses to graze and work quietly, and I think the footing is fantastic,” continued Nassar of his second appearance at Traverse City Horse Shows. 

When asked about his plans for Dorado de Riverland’s schedule, Nassar noted, “This [four-star] level is his comfort zone; it’s what he’s good at. We’re going to keep him where he can win—I’ll try not to stretch him too thin and see if he can pick up a class like this every week.”

International competition continues at Flintfields Horse Park on Friday with the $63,000 GFL Environmental CSI4* Welcome Stake.