Pope had been waiting for this moment, and when it came, it came by four-tenths of a second.
Jacob Pope (USA) claimed the $116,500 The Dexter CSI3* Grand Prix at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week V in Traverse City, Michigan, designed by Peter Grant (CAN) with 34 combinations on course and 6 qualifiers for the jump-off. Pope crossed the finish in 35.49 seconds, just 0.42 seconds ahead of Hunter Holloway, to claim his first international victory with Jecibelle. “It’s a huge win any time to win a grand prix, and I’m so happy to have done it with Jecibelle. I’ve had her just a year, and I feel like our partnership is just really starting to come together in a really great way.”
Jecibelle is an 11-year-old bay SBS mare (Boyfriend du Seigneur x Ogano Sitte), owned by Sherri Crawford, a naturally fast horse that Pope didn’t want to rush: “Katie told me between one and two I shouldn’t kick her; I should just let her go. I thought that was great advice. Everything came up out of stride, and she was so great; she was with me everywhere.”
Hunter Holloway (USA) finished second with Henry Jota Ariel, an 11-year-old AAFE mare (Picadilly Tame x Casparo), in 35.91 seconds, having set the leading time before Pope surpassed it. Erynn Ballard (CAN), No. 6 in the Tu Mundo Ecuestre Pan American Show Jumping Ranking and already with two FEI victories in the week, completed the podium with Chatadel PS, a 9-year-old grey OS stallion (Chacoon Blue x Conthargos), in 36.07 seconds. Just half a second separated the Top 3.
Ali Wolff (USA) finished fourth with Hesperide du Breuil, a 9-year-old chestnut mare (Comilfo Plus Z x Hickstead), in 36.86 seconds. Paul O’Shea (IRL) rounded out the Top 5 with Manglar LS La Silla, a 12-year-old bay SLS gelding, in 37.32 seconds.
Latin & Pan American Presence
An all-Pan American Top 4, Jacob Pope, Hunter Holloway and Ali Wolff for the United States and Erynn Ballard for Canada. No Latin riders competed in the class.
Top 5 Results — $116,500 The Dexter CSI3* Grand Prix | Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week V — Traverse City 2026
| Pos. | Athlete | Horse | R1 | Jump-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Pope (USA) 🇺🇸 | Jecibelle | 0 / 68.70 | 0 / 35.49 |
| 2 | Hunter Holloway (USA) 🇺🇸 | Henry Jota Ariel | 0 / 73.92 | 0 / 35.91 |
| 3 | Erynn Ballard (CAN) 🇨🇦 | Chatadel PS | 0 / 71.59 | 0 / 36.07 |
| 4 | Ali Wolff (USA) 🇺🇸 | Hesperide du Breuil | 0 / 72.04 | 0 / 36.86 |
| 5 | Paul O’Shea (IRL) 🇮🇪 | Manglar LS La Silla | 0 / 73.54 | 0 / 37.32 |
