Katie Dinan (USA) made her return to Traverse City Horse Shows and arrived in winning form, taking both first and third place in the $37,000 CSI3* 1.45m Two-Phase Friday morning.
Dinan piloted three of her up-and-coming mounts in Friday’s event, which welcomed 33 international entries over a track designed by Mauricio Garcia (COL). The Wellington-based rider improved upon her time with each ride she brought forth.
With her second mount of the class, Atika Des Hauts Vert, owned by Grant Road Partners LLC, Dinan chased down the time of 28.03 seconds set by second-place finisher Kelli Cruciotti VanderVeen (USA) and Forever SVN, owned by Springpaarden Fonds Nederland. Coming up just short, Dinan clocked in at 29.94 seconds in the speed phase, which fell within the sub-30 second mark to land Atika Des Hauts Vert a spot on the podium, but it wasn't enough to overtake the lead.
Dinan returned aboard Athos D’Elle, the 12-year-old Selle Francais stallion (Apache D’Adriers x Papillon Rouge) owned by Grand Road Partners LLC, from 26th in the order and laid it all on the line, crossing the timers in a speed-phase time of 27.63 seconds.
“I saw Kelli on her horse and she was super fast,” Dinan commented. “I went right after her on Atika and I thought I was really fast but was still a second behind so I knew I’d have to really take a risk. It was nice that it paid off.”