Edited Press Release
Traverse City, MI (June 13, 2022) – Gabriela Reutter (CHI) of Lumière Horses Inc. kicked offer her sping/summer show season this week with a career best finish in the $138,600 Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel CSI3* Grand Prix, the inaugural Grand Prix of the 2022 season in Traverse City, Michigan. Her double clear effort aboard Maharees Rock, a 2010 Irish Sport Horse mare (OBOS Quality x Ballysimon) earned her a third place and career best finish behind Margie Engle (USA) and Freddie Vazquez (PUR).
The pair jumped-off in 43.09 seconds, versus Vasquez’s 42.38 seconds and Engle’s winning time of 41.98 seconds, with only seven clear in the first round and progressing to the jump-off over the course laid by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge. Reutter was first to go in the jump-off, and set a fast time to ultimately finish third. Maharees Rock, aka Rocky, has been developing her international talents under Reutter’s guidance for the past few years, with exponential improvement culminating in this career best performance. The top 3 finish also marks Reutter’s first FEI show back in the arena following a shoulder injury during the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival.
Lumière Horses’ Here I Am Z, a 9-year-old Chilean sport horse gelding, also had a great first week in Michigan. Here I Am Z, or Hero as he is known around the barn, jumped to first and third to win Champion in the 1.30M division. Here is also fresh off a successful week at Old Salem Farm, where he took Champion of the 1.25M division during week 2 in addition to multiple first and seconds over the two week show. Scopey, straightforward, and athletic, Hero has become a favorite in Reutter’s barn, and would make a fantastic Junior/Amateur mount with experience through the 1.35M.
“It felt really great to be back in the Grand Prix ring and for Rocky and I to get our groove back,” said Reutter. “She has so much scope and speed, and we have been using our time off to really perfect our relationship and teamwork. I’m so happy with her performance and Hero’s during the first week of Traverse City.”
