“That’s the first class he’s done, and he won!” said Lenkart. “This is my second year showing him – second summer. I’ve had a lot of good results on him, and a lot of top three ribbons.”
Eliza Lehrman and Five Way Farm LLC’s Isaac 22 set the pace as the first to go in the 1.40m Jumpers, finishing double clear in 47.956 seconds. Lenkart followed Lehrman eight rounds later with Fleur De Lis Farms’ 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding and bested her time by an impressive three seconds to take the lead in 44.970 seconds. Lehrman and Lenkart were the only exhibitors out of 16 to navigate double clear rounds around both courses, designed by Thomas Hern Jr., as Lehrman also took third place honors with her second mount of the class, Fenom Van Klapscheut, also owned by Five Way Farm LLC, as last in the order-of-go.
Preceding the 1.40m Jumpers was the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, which featured 27 horses and riders vying for the top spot on the leaderboard. Six were able to advance on to the jump-off after the first round, but it was Giavanna Rinaldi of Our Day Farm who piloted Pony Lane Farm’s Dulf Van Den Bisschop, also known as “Danny” in the barn, to the fastest fault-free finish in 38.777 seconds to grab the win.
“Danny is an awesome horse,” said Rinaldi. “We’re really clicking. I have him for this year and I’m going to show him in the classic this week also. He really feels on top of his game and ready to go.
“He was really good today,” continued Rinaldi. “He was a little bit on the wild side. I wasn’t expecting that, but he felt really good so I felt like I had a chance to go for it. I liked the jump-off course because I felt like it complimented both of us – it rode really smoothly and we could turn really well and go. He jumped his best and I’m really happy with it.”
Kaely Tomeu and Cornwall, owned by Siboney Ranch, were the early double clear pathfinders as fourth in the order-of-go, tripping the timers in 41.192 seconds. Rinaldi and the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion knocked Tomeu down to second when she outpaced Tomeu’s time five rounds later by three seconds. Tomeu was the only rider to come close to catching Rinaldi’s time with her second mount, Capitol, also owned by Siboney Ranch, but fell short by one second in 39.368 seconds, taking second and third place honors with both of her mounts as a result.
Rinaldi is no stranger to the winner’s circle in the jumper, hunter and equitation rings. Trained by Alex Jayne, the 17-year-old junior rider has adapted to successfully competing between all three disciplines at an early age.
“I’ve been really blessed with being able to ride so many different horses for different people and getting the opportunity to ride a variety of horses who all feel so completely different,” said Rinaldi. “It’s really taught me so much as a rider and it’s really progressed my riding so much. It’s a bit difficult to go from all of those divisions all the time, but I feel like it’s a lot of fun and I learn a lot from that. I ride some really great horses that teach me a lot.”
Lenkart and Rinaldi have both previously competed at Flintfields Horse Park, but always love returning to Traverse City, Michigan, and are already looking forward to next year’s GLEF event.
“I was here the very first year they ever had these shows,” said Lenkart. “I missed it for two years – I moved to Dallas about four years ago and started a business with Courtney Calcagnini. I’ve won in the grand prix ring at Flintfields Horse Park six times. I know Morrissey Management Group – I’ve been showing with them forever. They’re very good. Their shows are always run very well and this one is no different. I’ll be showing here for five weeks. I’ve got a week off to enjoy the weather, but I’m looking forward to being here.”
“I’m really glad we came back and I’d like to come again next year,” said Rinaldi.