Keri Potter Wins as GLEF II Gets Underway in Traverse City

Canadian Erynn Ballard has three in the top 10 of the $32,000 CSI3* Two-Phase at Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.

A woman jumping a bay horse over a fence in Traverse City.

Keri Potter and Kalimera van de Nethe Z. (Megan Giese Media / TCHS)

By: Traverse City Horse Shows | July 11, 2025

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. keri potter wins as glef ii gets underway in traverse city by: traverse city horse shows |. keri potter (usa) opened the second week of the great lakes equestrian festival (glef), presented by b&d builders, with a victory in the $32,000 csi3* two-phase riding kalimera van de nethe z on thursday. the 11th season of glef features six weeks of fei competition running through august 10, showcasing an fei nations cup csio3*, the fei north american youth championships and the return of major league show jumping csi5* competition to traverse city. highlights also include the $100,000 ushja world championship hunter rider central spectacular and weekly qualifiers for the all-new $150,000 traverse city equitation championships debuting in september. potter, who hails from del mar, ca, and her 10-year-old zangersheide mare made their international debut one year ago. their partnership has developed into consistent top finishes, including three top-five placings since the end of may. advertisement scroll to continue with content “she loves fifth gear and feels most comfortable when she’s going fast,” said potter, who got the ride on the kasanova de la pomme x bessemeind’s quasimodo z mare from owner and u.s. olympic team silver medalist karl cook. “i don’t decide, she decides. and when she decides to put herself in that gear, she wants to stay there. if i try to ask for a little more control, it doesn’t work in my favor. i let her go at her speed, which is fast.”. kalimera van de nethe z’s footspeed paid off over course designer meghan rawlins’ (can) two-phase track. they stopped the clock in the speed phase at 28.51, nearly a full second faster than runner up erynn ballard. the canadian olympian posted a time of 29.11 seconds riding coline de will, owned by ilan ferder. (ballard also placed 7th and 8th riding two other ferder-owned horses, kandide chavannaise and fave d’authuit.) jimmy torano (usa) finished third aboard his own kochio z in 29.79 seconds. potter will spend the next three weeks at traverse city horse shows. she discovered the venue through coaching at the fei north american youth championships and has accompanied several clients on a trip east from california this season. “for me, getting out of california and doing something different is important,” she said. “getting to compete at new places, experience different rings and course designers and compete against different riders only broadens you and makes you a better rider.”. international competition continued at flintfields horse park with the $32,000 macallister rentals csi3* welcome stake on friday. complete results from the $32,000 csi3* two-phase can be found here. results here.

Keri Potter (USA) opened the second week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders, with a victory in the $32,000 CSI3* Two-Phase riding Kalimera van de Nethe Z on Thursday.

The 11th season of GLEF features six weeks of FEI competition running through August 10, showcasing an FEI Nations Cup CSIO3*, the FEI North American Youth Championships and the return of Major League Show Jumping CSI5* competition to Traverse City. Highlights also include the $100,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Central Spectacular and weekly qualifiers for the all-new $150,000 Traverse City Equitation Championships debuting in September.

Potter, who hails from Del Mar, CA, and her 10-year-old Zangersheide mare made their international debut one year ago. Their partnership has developed into consistent top finishes, including three top-five placings since the end of May.

Scroll to continue with content

“She loves fifth gear and feels most comfortable when she’s going fast,” said Potter, who got the ride on the Kasanova de la Pomme X Bessemeind’s Quasimodo Z mare from owner and U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Karl Cook. “I don’t decide, she decides. And when she decides to put herself in that gear, she wants to stay there. If I try to ask for a little more control, it doesn’t work in my favor. I let her go at her speed, which is fast.”

Kalimera van de Nethe Z’s footspeed paid off over course designer Meghan Rawlins’ (CAN) two-phase track. They stopped the clock in the speed phase at 28.51, nearly a full second faster than runner up Erynn Ballard. The Canadian Olympian posted a time of 29.11 seconds riding Coline de Will, owned by Ilan Ferder. (Ballard also placed 7th and 8th riding two other Ferder-owned horses, Kandide Chavannaise and Fave d’Authuit.) Jimmy Torano (USA) finished third aboard his own Kochio Z in 29.79 seconds.

Potter will spend the next three weeks at Traverse City Horse Shows. She discovered the venue through coaching at the FEI North American Youth Championships and has accompanied several clients on a trip east from California this season. “For me, getting out of California and doing something different is important,” she said. “Getting to compete at new places, experience different rings and course designers and compete against different riders only broadens you and makes you a better rider.”

International competition continued at Flintfields Horse Park with the $32,000 MacAllister Rentals CSI3* Welcome Stake on Friday. Complete results from the $32,000 CSI3* Two-Phase can be found here.

Results here.