Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Hunter Holloway (USA) has had an important part of her string missing for the past two years, and on the final Sunday of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, her mare Pepita Con Spita (Con Spirit x Come On), owned by Hays Investment Corp., stepped back into the spotlight, winning the $32,000 CSI2* Grand Prix.

“She’s been back in full work since last October,” Holloway said of Pepita Con Spita, who was sidelined with an injury in June of 2023, not long after the pair finished on the podium at FEI World Cup Finals. “This is her first FEI week back. I didn’t want to push it too soon so I’ve definitely been a little cautious just because she is so special. It’s an emotional win because of that.”

The class was highly competitive, with 43 entries taking to the first round, and nine qualified to return for the jump-off. Holloway let the mare use her footspeed to her advantage and her time was good enough to hold onto the win through all jump-off contenders.

“It was a good jump-off for her,” she said of the course, designed by Marina Azevedo (BRA). “She’s really catty, really good on the turns, and there were only a couple related lines which worked to our benefit; we’re better at galloping and turning.”

Behind her for second place was Samuel Hutton (GBR) with Zidan 10 (Zinedine x Sandro) for AS Farms USA Inc., and Callie Schott (USA) took third with Ironix (Curby du Seigneur x Calvaro Z), owned by Southern Arches, LLC. Also collecting recognition, Canada’s Erynn Ballard won her fourth Turnham Green Leading Lady Rider Award during GLEF VI.

Holloway beamed after the win, feeling all her hard work throughout Pepita’s rehab coming full circle. “She feels awesome,” she said. “She is ready to rock. She loves going fast and I think it’s just me getting comfortable again that I don’t have to keep babying her. We’re really excited to have her back.”

With no concrete goals for the mare, who is now 14 years old, Holloway will keep allowing Pepita to guide the way and tell her what she’s comfortable with. In the mare’s absence, Holloway’s other mare has stepped up and produced impressive results.

“My other mare, Henry Jota Ariel, has been jumping really well,” she said of her time in Traverse City so far, where she’s spent the entire summer and plans to return for the fall. “She’s not even 10 yet and she’s been stepping up to the international division super. It’s been so nice. It’s a great facility, they’re always making improvements, they put the exhibitor first, and it couldn’t be nicer weather, footing, and people.”

With her eye on CSI5* action during the Tournament of Champions, Holloway hopes to qualify for the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final for 2026, which is back on U.S. soil in Fort Worth, TX.