Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows, edited by World of Showjumping

Week four of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, known affectionately as Nations Cup week, got off to an exciting start Wednesday as two international athletes finished in a tie for first in the $31,100 CSIO3* Speed. Both riding for the United States, Samantha Schaefer and Skylar Wireman shared the glory, each piloting their mounts to a time of 65.07 seconds.

Schaefer, who rode James Bond HX (Douglas x Cash), typically reserves her winning horse for grand prix and jump-off action, but thought the speed format might play in their favor Wednesday. She was right.

“This is a horse I've had since the end of its 8-year-old year and he's 12 now, so I know him very well,” she said of James Bond HX. “He was supposed to jump last week so he was nice and fresh coming into this week. My plan was to have an efficient go, and to stick with my plan and play to our strengths.”

Wireman’s winning mount was Barclino B (Barcley x Lasino), a horse that has taken the young rider all over the world to jump at the highest level. 

“I'm really happy with ‘Barry’; he was amazing,” Wireman said after the prizegiving. “We went with our plan to go for a bit of speed and aim for a top placing today. Obviously, being tied for first was exciting. Honestly I don't think there was a faster route to take without doing the risky inside turn.”

While they took different  tracks, the two still managed to cross the timers in the exact same time over Peter Grant's (CAN) course.  “There was an opportunity to go inside from [fences] three to four,” Schaefer explained of her approach. “They were a pair of verticals, and he's a good vertical jumper and quite alert and game, so I took a shot there. Skylar went around but still was able to catch me on footspeed.”

Wireman hadn’t considered the inside turn Schaefer took because she knew Barclino’s natural speed could carry her around just as quickly.

“We planned to go right around that vertical; I never even looked at the inside turn,” Wireman said. The only rider she had seen give it a go was Mclain Ward (USA), whose time with First Lady was four seconds faster than both winners, but with one rail down. “Mclain did it; I don't know how but he did. I'm very happy with Barry. He jumped really well and he feels great for the rest of this week.”

Schaefer was feeling some déjà vu Wednesday, as the only other time she had tied for a win previously was right here in Traverse City, and the other rider, Dominic Gibbs, was also on Wednesday’s podium, taking third place aboard Contra (Contendro II x Alcatraz). 

“Years ago [Dominic] and I tied in a two-star Welcome,” Schaefer reflected. “We were joking about it at the prizegiving.”

The experience was a first for Wireman. “I have not been tied for first before,” she said. “With this horse I was at Silo Ridge last year and I beat two people who were tied for first, but this hasn't happened to me before.”

Thursday welcomes the $75,000 CSIO3* FEI Nations Cup, a crowd and competitor favorite during the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders. The event will begin at 4 PM in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. Fans and competitors can follow Thursday's Nations Cup and view schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.