Californian Nick Haness collected the first champion tricolor of the 2025 Traverse City Horse Shows on Thursday in an American debut for his mount Styled, owned by junior rider Caroline Freeman of Los Angeles, CA. Haness and Styled topped the GGT Footing 3’ Green Hunter division in the Highstreet Arena to christen hunter action at the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel.

(Photo:  Nick Haness and Styled, 2025. Photo © Megan Giese Media, TCHS.)

Styled, a coming nine Dutch Capitol gelding, was recently imported from Germany by Haness and his partner Ryan May. The duo quickly made their mark on the hunter ring by scoring a pair of 88s to win back-to-back over fences on opening day of Traverse City Horse Shows on Wednesday. They returned to place second and third, as well as a top-five ribbon under saddle to secure the championship honor.

We’re So Excited About His Future

“We knew he was going to be a star,” said Haness of Styled, a horse destined to become the equitation mount of 15-year-old Freeman. “This is our first show together, and this horse is a natural-born champion. We’re so excited about his future; he is a kind, old soul and wise beyond his years. He just knows what he’s doing.”

Freeman is preparing to take over the reins on Styled with high hopes to qualify for her first equation finals season this fall.

He Is Such A Kind Animal

“We were looking for a good equitation horse, but he can do anything, and we see such a bright future ahead for him. I’m lucky and excited to be part of his life and for him to be in mine,” said Freeman, who plans to make her show-ring debut this weekend in Traverse City. “What’s most special about him is that he is such a kind animal, and he knows his job even though he hasn’t had one for a very long time. He only wants to make you happy and that’s what I love about him.”

Freeman is currently a freshman in high school and attends school remotely through Laurel Springs Academy in Ojai, California.

Postcard-Worthy Weather

Haness and his Hunterbrook Farms—based in Temecula, CA—makes an eastward pilgrimage each summer to take advantage of postcard-worthy weather and abundant championship qualifying opportunities at Traverse City horse Shows. Additionally, Nick is back in Northern Michigan to defend his win in the 2024 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Central Spectacular during the second week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders in July.

It’s Going To Be A Fun Summer

“We’re so excited to be in Traverse City. The horse show is amazing and every year, it gets better and better,” said Haness, who recently became a permanent resident of Traverse City for the summer. “We bought a farm right up the road [from Flintfields Horse Park], and I’m excited to be living so close and having a farm where the horses can be happy and turned out on grass pastures right around the corner from the show. It’s going to be a fun summer and hopefully a great future for us up here in Traverse City.”

Reserve champion honors in the GGT Footing 3’ Green Hunter division were presented to Small Ask and Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, CA.

For full results from the GGT Footing 3’ Green Hunter division, click HERE.