RIDERS TO WATCH

While you’re sitting ringside, keep an eye out for these seasoned veterans, Olympians, and rising stars in both the hunter and jumper rings. Cheer them on!

The Jumpers

Shane Sweetnam

Shane embarked his grand prix career at age 16. Originally from Dunmanway, County Cork in Ireland, he made the bold move to the United States to ride for American grand prix legend Margie Engle in 2004. He was eighth individually to help Ireland to team gold at the 2017 European Championships and competed in the 2018 World Equestrian Games where Ireland finished seventh. With grand prix victories to his name from across the work, Shane is the reigning champion of the American Gold Cup Grand Prix with the mount James Kann Cruz. Keep an eye on Shane as he defends his title while anchoring his Major League Show Jumping team, the Spy Coast Spies.

Among the impressive lineup of international athletes gracing Traverse City this season, Beat Mändli stands out as a prominent rider. Hailing from Switzerland, Beat has represented his country in the Olympics three times, earning a team silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Beat will be hungry for a repeat in 2022 after winning last year’s Serra Traverse City Grand Prix during the Traverse City Spring Horse Shows. Beat is not only a rider himself, but coach to Katie Dinan, another name to watch for in Traverse City this season.

Margie Engle

Margie Engle, a true legend in the equestrian world, is no stranger to the winner’s circle at Traverse City Horse Shows. Hailing from Florida, Margie is a member of the U.S. Show Jumping Hall of Fame. She proudly represented her home country at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. She has won over 200 grand prix events and also rides on the Spy Coast Spies alongside her former student, Shane, as part of Major League Show Jumping that calls Traverse City home twice this summer. She’s not just a force in the competition ring, however, and can often be found at Turtle Creek Casino with a winning poker hand.

She may be one of the youngest riders in the ring, but it doesn’t stop her from dominating in the hunter ranks. Augusta Iwasaki, 19, is originally from California but attends Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, as a fierce member of their equestrian team. Augusta’s exceptional skills and talent shine in both the hunter and jumper rings at Traverse City throughout the summer months. Her impressive victory in the World Champion Hunter Rider Spectacular in 2022 solidifies her position as a rising star in the equestrian world.

The Jumpers

Jacob Pope, 28, is one up-and-coming rider who seamlessly skips between the jumper (think speed skating) and hunter (think figure skating) rings without hesitation. Pulling double duty in the hunter and jumper rings as both a coach and professional rider for Team Rakowsky, based out of Wellington, FL. He was notably recognized for his outstanding sportsmanship and horsemanship as the recipient of the Iris McNeil Trophy at the National Horse Show. He is also an honors graduate from Rollins College, and during his time as a young rider captured a gold medal at the North American Youth Championships, which will return to Flintfields Horse Park this year.

In 2022, Cathleen Driscoll had a breakout summer at Traverse City horse Shows by winning three events in one week. The now 30-year-old from Maryland started riding at age five after falling in love with the sport while watching her older siblings compete at a local level. Largely self-taught throughout her teenage years, Cathleen was discovered at the 2018 Emerging Athletes Program development event and now competes at an international level for Plain Bay Farm out of Wellington, FL.

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