Team Captain John French and Crystal Blue Ride to the Win In the Classic Round at The Baran Global Hunter Classic
Team Hesslink Williams holds the top spot headed into the Hunter Handy Round
John French and Crystal Blue accept the first -place prize from Kristen Baran and Mitchell Kates. Mackenzie Clark Photo
Valkenswaard, Netherlands – July 12, 2025 – Day Two of competition at The Baran Global Hunter Classic held at the Longines Tops International Arena featured the Classic Hunter Round. Team Captain and legendary hunter professional,John French (Wellington, Florida) and Crystal Blue (Casino Grande x Miss Blue/Mr Blue), owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC, took the top honors jumping to a score of 93, with each judging panel scoring 90 or higher. Junior rider for Team Hesslink Williams, Faith Schuttemeyer, aboard the Andesite Equestrian entry, Juan Carlos (Casall x A Comme Ci/Canturano I), jumped to second with a 91.67 and her captain, Geoffrey Hesslink, took third with Paisley Park (Carambole x Tomone/Voltaire) finishing on a 91.33.
Team Hesslink Williams had remarkable rounds to maintain the lead after the Classic Hunter Round, which accounts for 40% of the team’s overall score. While Team Captain Hesslink and junior rider Schuttemeyer scored in the 90s, their jumper rider and former equitation and junior hunter phenom, Lillie Keenan, was the team drop score with a respectable 87.33. The team heads into the Handy Hunter Round with an overall score of 183.
The 21 horse-and-rider combinations contested the artfully-crafted course set by Kevin Holowack (Ontario, Canada), with input from Kristen Baran. They competed in reverse order from the results of the under saddle phase, with the international jumper riders leading off the competition. The classic round course took advantage of the sprawling grass ring of the Longines Tops International Arena, with long, flowing lines and unrelated distances.
Riders began on a vertical of white poles and purple flowers followed in 11 flowing strides by the impressive Dutch clog oxer. Down the diagonal of the arena, competitors faced a long nine-stride line. The two-stride in-and-out combination along the far wall of the arena was followed by a gallop toward the tulip wall, which all of the horses jumped impressively. Fences 8 and 9 across the diagonal on the right lead rode in six strides from a curved white gate to a wagon wheel oxer. The five-stride line from the gorgeous BARAN hedge wall to an oxer with tall tulip standards set up the riders for an unrelated, flowing left bend to the final jump on course, The Baran Global Hunter Tour oxer.
The teams’ jumper riders, most of whom had never ridden a hunter course, showcased their horsemanship and feel across the expansive course. The juniors and amateurs embraced the challenge, riding beautifully in the charged atmosphere. The team captains and hunter professionals anchored the day of competition.
French, 2023 USEF National Equestrian of the Year and four-time World Champion Hunter Rider, masterfully piloted Crystal Blue, an 8-year-old Oldenburg mare, around the 12-jump classic round course. Commentator Chris Sorensen, founder of Sorensen Stables and former president of Equestrian Canada, noted the “explosive athleticism without any kind of quickness” Crystal Blue possessed in her way of going and jumping style, which the judges rewarded. French’s smooth style and experience were paramount in the duo’s top score.
Team French Captain John French and Crystal Blue impress over the Dutch tulip jump. Mackenzie Clark Photo
“I must say that the course was great. You could really show off your horse and the horse’s jumping style.”
“I must say that the course was great. You could really show off your horse and the horse’s jumping style,” French said. “There were long bending lines, which can be a bit difficult because we're not used to being in such a big field, and the ride can get away from you. I figured today I’d better start counting the numbers. We're used to being in a smaller ring, except for some derbies, when we have big venues like this. What you think is going to be an easy line, the horses carry a bit more pace and have a little more stride out here. You think it might be forward, and it ends up being easy. So, you just have to get used to that. And then the horses are jumping so well and exploding over the jumps because we don't always have such beautiful jumps like this.
“This (event) is so great for the hunters—to have hunters be here (in Europe) and showcase them so that everyone knows what we're talking about with quality hunters. The fact that it's the first time makes it even more special. I see on social media that they've been getting a lot of coverage. There's a lot of interest in this. Hopefully, this will start something new.”
Schuttemeyer and Juan Carlos again finished as runner-up—this time with a polished round over the classic course. Juan Carlos is a 12-year-old bay Holsteiner gelding bred by Hollenbeck Rolf and cared for by Jose Gaytan. Scoring just one-third of a point behind Schuttemeyer and last in the order was Team Captain Hesslink with the 13-year-old KWPN gelding Paisley Park, also bred by Hollenbeck Rolf and cared for by Gaytan.
Team Hesslink Williams junior rider Faith Schuttemeyer and Juan Carlos. Mackenzie Clark Photo
Team Hesslink Williams earned more than a five-point lead heading into the Handy Hunter Round. Sitting in second place is Team French on their overall score of 177.67. Rounding out the top three is Team California Rose with a 172.67 keeping scores from amateur rider Caroline Ingalls (Rancho Santa Fe, California) with Concerto (Cathanos x Chavelle la Feme/Corianus) and Dutch Olympic international jumper rider Maikel van der Vleutenaboard Qatar (Kannan GFE x Koreandre de la Pomme/Vagabond de la Pomme), a 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by The Baran co-founder, Kristen Baran (Wellington, Florida) and cared for by Megan Armit.
“He's very special to me. His story comes full circle here,” Hesslink said of his long-time partner, Paisley Park. “Chris Sorensen, who's helping put on the event, found him when he was a very young horse. He eventually brought him over to America, where he had immense success with many riders. I've been lucky enough to have him for a number of years, so I'm really excited to have him back here to show.”
“He’s very special to me. His story comes full circle here. Chris Sorensen, who’s helping put on the event, found him when he was a very young horse. He eventually brought him over to America, where he had immense success with many riders. I’ve been lucky enough to have him for a number of years, so I’m really excited to have him back here to show..”
Team Hesslink Williams Captain Geoffrey Hesslink and Paisley Park with Kristen Baran and Mitchell Kates.
Mackenzie Clark Photo
The Handy Hunter Round will consist of a different track, and the judges will look for brilliance, pace and tighter, tidier turns from jump to jump, referred to as “handiness.” Counting 50% toward the teams’ overall scores, the Handy Hunter Round could shake up the standings.
Tune in as the groundbreaking Baran Global Hunter Classic concludes Sunday, July 13 at 8:45 a.m. EST on GCTV and ClipMyHorse.TV.
ABOUT THE BARAN GLOBAL HUNTER CLASSIC
Co-founded by Kristen Baran and Andrew Lustig, and supported by an experienced team of industry leaders, the inaugural Baran Global Hunter Classic will take place July 11-13, 2025 in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands. The mission of this unrivaled event is to showcase show hunters-until now primarily a discipline in North America-on a global stage. The one-of-a-kind competition will feature teams made up of three elite riders-one hunter professional as the team captain, one amateur or junior and one international show jumping rider-competing over a hunter style course, but in Nations Cup format. The 2025 Baran Global Hunter Classic is the debut for an unparalleled series of hunter competition in North America in 2026 and beyond. Visit thebaran.org for additional information.
For media inquiries and sponsorship opportunities, please contact thebaranevent@gmail.com.