Amanda Sinnett and her trusted partner Connecticut have been knocking at the door of a U25 win at Thunderbird Show Park since last fall.
They closed the 2025 season with a pair of third place finishes at tbird’s Harvest Celebration and started 2026 with a trio of second place finishes at the April Season Opener. On Friday at the CSI4*/2* Canadian Premier, they climbed the top step of the podium in the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 1.40m—supported by Costa Palma’s—besting a competitive 22-horse field with a time of 67.40 seconds.
Irish Hickey (USA) and Colorado M finished second in 68.14 seconds, while Jessie Rechs (USA) and Qarabag were a mere whisker behind, stopping the clock in 68.19 seconds to round out the top three.
Five pairs found a clear path around Gregory Bodo’s option-centric speed track. For Sinnett, who is aiming to move up to the two-star division at next week’s Odlum Brown BC Open, the focus was on execution rather than chasing the clock.
“I wanted to have a nice clear. I’m planning on jumping two star next week, so I wanted to work on a few things we’ve been working on at home,” Sinnett said. “We were really focusing on all the different lines because there were many different numbers we could do. So we set a plan and stuck to it.
“[My trainer Eliza Hunt] really just told me to count,” Sinnett added with a smile, “That’s a big part with my riding.”
Off the course, the grey gelding affectionately known as “Kevin” has a much softer side—and a hidden talent.
“He’s super sweet, always wants cuddles, wants food, and he very much loves treats,” Sinnett said, noting that Kevin occasionally doubles as a cow horse at home. “Kevin dabbles in cutting. I work the flag at home [with him] sometimes.”
Showcasing rising talent in show jumping, the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 division, supported by Costa Palma’s, continues Sunday with the $15,000 U25 1.40m.
$5,000 Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
- Connecticut / Amanda Sinnett / CAN / Amanda Sinnett / 0 67.4
- Colorado M / Iris Hickey / USA / Linda Rae Hickey/ 0 68.14
- Qarabag / Jessie Rechs / USA / Rose Equestrian Group LLC / 0 68.19
- Qualitissimo / Jesus Francisco Orantes Haua Jr. / MEX / Jesus Francisco Orantes Haua Jr. / 0 69.47
- Kristalstar / Sloane Betker / CAN / Betker Horse Park Inc / 0 72.43
- Galahad / George Balderston / CAN / Pamela Balderston / 4 65.99
- Gunfire PJ / Olivia Stephenson / CAN / Victoria Stephenson / 4 70.46
- Gregory Tag Z / Ryan Davis / USA / The G Group /4 73.38
- Cadeau W Z / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Graham Williamson / 4 73.84
- Clique / Ryan Davis / USA / Danielle van der Werf / 0 74.45
Photo credit: Kim Gaudry for tbird.
