Messenger Hill Farm Champions Crowned During Opening Week of Traverse City Horse Shows

press release
Jun 14
2 min read

by Meg Gehron

Traverse City, MI — The 2025 Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) Spring Series kicked off in spectacular fashion with top riders and horses delivering standout performances during the first week of competition. Celebrating excellence across hunter and jumper rings, the week concluded with several well-earned champion and reserve champion titles for dedicated athletes and their talented equine partners of Messenger Hill Farm.

*Meg Gehron & Smitten Z claimed the Championship title in the USHJA 2’ Hunters. Their harmony in the ring set the tone for a strong season ahead.*

*In the jumper rings, Katie Sonnenstein & Clinta 8 secured the Reserve Championship in the 1.0-1.05m Junior Jumpers, showcasing competitive rounds marked by precision and determination.*

Lauren Della Valle & My Lady Carthago also impressed in the 1.0-1.05m Amateur Jumpers, finishing the week as Reserve Champions with a mix of speed and style that kept them at the top of the leaderboard.

*Rounding out the honors, Jodi Vazquez & Cassiko earned the Reserve Champion title in the USHJA 2’3” Hunters, highlighting the duo’s quiet sophistication and strong presence over fences.*

With world-class facilities and an atmosphere designed to bring out the best in horse and rider, the TCHS Spring Series opening week set a high bar for the rest of the season. Congratulations to all riders, trainers, and owners on a successful start!

The TCHS Spring Series continues through June 29th at the Flintfields Horse Park, followed by the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, which runs from July 2 - August 10, 2025, featuring 6 weeks of exciting competition. For more information and schedules, visit the website at traversecityhorseshows.com.

About Messenger Hill

Jodi and Freddie Vazquez live to connect the perfect horse with the most deserving of riders. They know the right horse when they see it because they've both tasted success at the highest levels.

Both are fierce competitors. Jodi is a top performer in the hunter ring, with numerous AA Championships to her name. Freddie is an FEI level showjumper, having represented his home country of Puerto Rico in 2018 at the Central American Games in Lima and in 2019 at the Pan American Games in Bogota.

Their experience at the top allows them to provide the individually tailored training programs that riders need to make their mark on the competition world. Their students are routinely circuit champions in the hunter and jumper rings.