Brylee Dickey (USA) had never jumped her new partner Etalon above 1.30m in competition before this week’s Canadian Premier at Thunderbird Show Park. In fact, they’d only jumped two classes total before entering this week’s MarBill Hill U25 division, powered by Solaris Equestrian and protected by Western Pacific emergency response. And on the first day, they came out with a win.
“I was just in Temecula a few weeks ago, and I did a 1.20m class and a 1.30m class, so this is our third class ever,” Dickey, of Bend, Oregon, said after her win. “I was just looking for something a little bit more competitive so I could get into the bigger classes. I have two great horses.”
Etalon is the former five-star partner of Dickey’s trainer, Kyle King. Before his show jumping career, the now 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Otangelo x Concorde) was originally imported to be a hunter.
“Kyle didn’t want to let him out of the barn, so it just worked out perfectly,” Dickey said of how the partnership came to be. “He just sat me on him one day, and it was a perfect match. He’s really smooth and he can be both light and strong, depending on if he’s wanting to take me to a jump or if I’m wanting him to come back to me. But overall he’s just a unicorn.”
Jumping at this level was already a step up, as Dickey, 21, is competing in the U25 for the first time. Winning their first U25 class together felt even more special.
“Oh my gosh, [this feels] so amazing,” she said of taking the top prize. “I haven’t competed in a big class like this in a long time or had a win ever like this before, so it was a huge step forward for me and ET’s relationship.”
Dickey also placed fourth on Quidam’s Rose in Wednesday’s class.
“I’ve been training with Kyle for about two years,” she explained. “He helps with literally everything. He is just such a big inspiration and so kind and patient with me, especially because I don’t ride all the time. I live in Bend, Oregon, so I only come to shows and don’t get to train a lot.”
King’s faith in Etalon played a big role in the duo’s win. “He obviously trusts that horse so it definitely helps me a lot, since I still don’t know the horse that well,” Dickey continued. “Today in the jump-off Kyle told me to go for it and trust him. And I just gave it my all.”
Dickey’s main focus this week, and in their career as a pair, is on consistency.
“I just want to stay super competitive in the big classes,” she explained. “I don’t know how far I want to take this sport, but I definitely want to show and compete here and at Thermal as much as I possibly can.”
Coming in a close second in Wednesday’s MarBill Hill U25 was Georgia Knight (CAN) aboard Indy, crossing the timers less than half a second short in the jump-off. Just behind her was Hayley Mercer (CAN) with Crown Royal.
U25 athletes get their next shot to compete on Friday in the $5,000 MarBill Hill U25 1.40m.
$5,000 MarBill Hill U25 1.35m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults/Time
- Etalon / Brylee Dickey / USA / Brylee Dickey / 0/0/35.02
- Indy / Georgia Knight / CAN / Georgia Knight / 0/0/35.43
- Crown Royal / Hayley Mercer / CAN / Hayley Mercer / 0/0/35.96
- Quidam’s Rose / Brylee Dickey / USA / Brylee Dickey / 0/0/36.11
- WH Foxxy Cleopatra RC / Jessica Raiwet / CAN / Jessica Raiwet / 0/0/36.31
- Coralissa / Ashley McKissock / CAN / MarBill Hill Farm / 0/0/38.95
- Lovejoy JK SR / Olivia Stephenson / CAN / Olivia Stephenson / 0/0/40.23
- Ierdita / Zoe Brown / AUS / E V Equestrian LLC / 0/4/39.56
- Lestat OLD / Ashley Arnoldt / CAN / Jennifer Arnoldt / 0/4/40.05
- Connecticut / Amanda Sinnett / CAN / Amanda Sinnett / 0/
- Casino / Emmeline Adamick / USA / Hawk Hollow Farm / 0/24/58.15
- Marble Bridge B / Reagan Tomb / USA / Greg Tomb / 4/64.04
