Traverse City, Michigan – September 05, 2025 – U.S. rider Hunter Holloway (USA) continued Pepita Con Spita’s comeback story on Friday afternoon with a win in the $32,000 GGT Footing Welcome CSI 3* during the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, which highlights jumper action during opening week of the Traverse City Tournament of Champions.

Pepita Con Spita, a 14-year-old Westphalian mare owned by Hays Investment Corp., was Holloway’s mount for the 2022 FEI World Cup™ Final in Leipzig and carried her to third overall in the 2023 edition in Omaha, NE. Two months later, the mare was sidelined by injury and has been absent from FEI competition until this summer.  

“We are thrilled to have her back, and she feels awesome. We are going to let her tell us what she’s ready for, but she keeps stepping up for us,” said Holloway in between congratulations for yet another Traverse City win.

Pepita Con Spita (DSP Con Spirit X Oro Piana Come On) returned to the international ranks at the end of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, and ended her summer with a two-star grand prix win for Holloway. 

Their momentum continued this week as they took to a two-round test built by course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR). From a jump-off field of 10, Holloway nipped the top spot by fractions, crossing the timers at 37.12 seconds over runner-up and fellow American Callie Schott (USA) riding Uricas v/d Kattevennen (31.17 seconds). 

Rounding out the all-American podium of women, Paige Matthies (USA) took third riding Callmeback Pontons. She had Holloway bested on the clock but pulled a rail to settle on four faults. 

Of their jump-off round, Holloway attributed the five hundredths of a second edge to Pepita Con Spita’s natural way of going. “She’s so fast naturally. I was actually just trying to ride a nice smooth track, and it worked out perfectly for us in the end to be able to get the win.”

Final Results – $32,000 GGT Footing Welcome CSI 3*

1) Hunter Holloway (USA) & Pepita Con Spita – 0 / 0 – 37.12

2) Callie Schott (USA) & Uricas v/d Kattevennen – 0 / 0 – 37.17

3) Paige Matthies (USA) & Callmeback Pontons – 0 / 4 – 36.17

Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Photos: © TCHS / Megan Giese Media

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