Traverse City, United States – September 17, 2026 – Thursday was a big day for Isabelle Ehman (USA) as she took the top call aboard Laganixx in the $31,020 American Gold Cup Welcome CSI 2*. Going up against a field that included McLain Ward (USA), Christian Kukuk (GER), and Kent Farrington (USA), Ehman delivered a foot-perfect round for a memorable victory.
“Everything was a related distance so I wanted to make sure I stayed on the track,” Ehman said of her key to a top performance. “I had decent foot speed but I’m not on the fastest horse in the class so I absolutely had to stick with numbers that we walked. I had a rub at two and I got very lucky with that but she jumped great and she was with me everywhere.”
Laganixx, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, is a newer ride for Ehman, but the partnership has already competed successfully up to the CSI4* level. They have already competed successfully up to the CSI4* level as their partnership continues to develop.
Aside from her own performance, Ehman was able to learn from the caliber of riders she was up against and how they approached the same course.
“I got to watch Mclain before I went in and I had an idea for what his plan was,” she remarked about trying to learn from the best. “It’s great for me to learn by competing against these top riders in these two-star classes because you still get the competition that you’ll see in the future. It was good practice for me today to ride against top riders. It’s a good mix and gives me an idea of what to work on in the future.”
As for what’s next, Ehman is keeping things consistent as she rounds out her show season, but she has big hopes for the future.
“I’d love to make the Olympics, I’d love to be a five-star [competitor], I want to go all the way,” she shared of her goals. “We just want to do it right and take our time. I’m starting to build a good string of horses to get me where I want to go. We just need to keep working.”
A regular in Traverse City, Ehman enjoys the horse show and everything the community has to offer.
“I love this show,” she said of Traverse City Horse Shows, where she’s grown from the lower-level jumpers all the way into international action over the years. “The courses are always great. The footing is incredible, the facility and weather is great, and the competition is super. It offers everything you want in a horse show. I love spending my time up here. It’s just a great place to be in the summer time.”
Final Results – $31,020 American Gold Cup Welcome CSI 2*
1) Isabelle Ehman (USA) & Laganixx – 0 – 65.39
2) Maya Denis Chambon (MEX) & Ben – 0 – 65.89
3) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Chocolat van de Broy Z – 0 – 65.91
Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows
Photos: © TCHS / Natalie Suto Photography / Megan Giese Media
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Categories: CSI 2*, English, Jumper News USA
