Kevin Holowack Announced as Course Designer for Inaugural Baran Global Hunter Classic
Image courtesy of Kevin Holowach
Wellington, Fla. –March 10, 2025 – The leadership of the Baran Global Hunter Classic is proud to announce Kevin Holowack as course designer for the debut of their landmark event. Co-founded by Kristen Baran and Andrew Lustig, the Baran Global Hunter Classic will bring show hunters into the global spotlight for the first time. Offering€300,000 in prize money, three days of high performance hunter competition will unfold July 10-13, 2025 at Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands
““I am honored to have been asked to be part of this special event Kristen and Andrew are putting on. And excited to be working towards a spectacular week with them in July in Valkenswaard”
Originally from Waterloo, Ontario, Holowack studied architecture in college, but always felt pulled back towards horses.
“Number One for me is the horses; horses are my first passion. Course design is a beautiful marriage between my education in architecture and my passion for riding and horses,” said Holowack, an Equine Canada & USEF Senior Course Designer who has built courses at the USEF Junior Hunter National Championship, USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships, USEF Pony Finals, as well as at some of the most prestigious hunter/jumper shows in the U.S. and Canada.
“The horse's welfare, happiness and safety comes first when I think about designing courses. ‘How can I help the rider and horse show off their strengths?’” Holowack explained. “For the Baran Global Hunter Classic, we want to take this chance to impress an international audience by highlighting these horses’ remarkable jumping style and elegance.”
Holowack is keeping specific details secret about his courses for the competition, but plans to use the layout of the jump field and atmosphere of the arena to elevate excitement for riders, horses and spectators. “[My plan] is to design courses and build jumps that set [competitors] on a journey through the ring,” he said. “I have an iconic field to work with.”
“This is an unprecendented opportunity for these horses and some of the best riders in the world,” Holowack summarized. “To be able to take hunters onto a world stage, especially Valkenswaard, is something truly groundbreaking for our sport.”
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 unrivalled 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 10 teams made up of three elite riders—one hunter professional as the team captain, one amateur or junior and one FEI 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. For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, and further information, please contact: thebaranevent@gmail.com. Join us as we make history in Valkenswaard.