Category: April Season Opener

They came to tbird with something to prove. Kassidy Keith and Havana won the Grand Prix at the April Season Opener in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but last year—despite posting the fastest time—a single rail dropped them to third.

This week, the local favourites returned to the tbird Arena. And reclaimed their title!

Keith and her brilliant Dutch Warmblood mare (Cardento x Judgement) closed out the week with a commanding win in the Maui Jim 1.40m Grand Prix, stopping the clock in a blistering 34.32 seconds—more than three seconds faster than the runners up—to prove why they were the ones to beat.

“[Havana] was quite ready to go because I haven’t shown at all this week,” said Keith, noting that they jumped just the one class. “So I think she knew what her job was and she was pretty excited to go in the ring and show.”

Katie Laurie (NZL) and her promising new ride, the 8-year-old ZF Chacco Rio, finished second in 37.35 seconds. Three-time U25 winner, Sloane Betker, rounded out the top three, taking third on Indiana II in 38.36 seconds.

While the momentum of past successes is a boon for some riders, Keith says the weight of expectations with Havana is nerve-wracking.

“It’s actually very stressful,” Keith admitted of the spotlight at tbird. “I find it more stressful riding in the ring here at 1.40m than I find going into a three- or four-star anywhere else.”

Despite that pressure, Havana was ready to roll—with a new look in the ring. Keith credited a change in bit from a loose-ring gag to a combination hackamore for unlocking a new level in the speedy mare’s stride.

“I find it’s really opened up her stride and it gives me more adjustability. And she kind of thinks she has all the power. Now she can do her own thing, but I have control,” she smiled.

At age 14, Havana is entering the later stages of her career, but her offspring are coming up the ranks at tbird.

“She has a seven-year-old that’s jumping 1.30m. I think she’ll take a little bit more time [to develop], but she will jump the bigger divisions eventually,” said Keith. “Her other foal is four this year, it’s by my stallion, Fenelon WF. That one will hopefully compete at tbird in the fall.”

As for the spoils of victory? Keith has become something of a collector when it comes to the Maui Jim sunglasses gifted to the top 5 in the class.

“I have two pairs,” said Keith. “I’ve given a pair to my boyfriend. I’ve given a pair to Paige [my groom] and I’ve given a pair to her brother. And I’m going to give [today’s] pair to my dad.”

She will not be doling out shades to her mom, however.

“I love her,” she smiled, “but she loses them all the time.”

With the April Season Opener now in the books, world-class hunter/jumper competition returns to tbird next week for the Spring Festival, highlighted by the Crooks Show Jumping Young Horse divisions, USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, and the tbird Grand Prix.

Tickets are available on tbird.ca/tickets and start at just $7.50. Kids under 5 are free!

Maui Jim Grand Prix 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/0 34.32
2. ZF Chacco Rio / Katie Laurie / NZL / Carissa McCall / 0/0 37.35
3. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 0/0 38.36
4. Chebli / Jill Blunt / USA / Jill Blunt / 0/0 38.38
5. Roark OBF / Katie Laurie / NZL / Jamie Lee / 0/0 38.43
6. Brad 7 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 0/0 39.56
7. Connery / Jill Blunt / USA / Jill Blunt / 0/0 40.96
8. Hercule de Tamerville / Bonnee James / CAN / Bonnee James / 0/4 41.56
9. Dominard / Anne-Sophie Levesque / USA / Anne-Sophie Levesque / 4 70.99
10. Creative / Philip Carey / IRL / Tracey Epp / 4 71.72

Tracey Epp and the striking Czech Warmblood stallion Heartvit ZH are no strangers to the winner’s circle in the Amy Brattebo Real Estate Open 3’6″ Canadian Derby series. At this week’s April Season Opener, they started the 2026 season the same way they did in 2025—with a win.

The pair cleared four of the five high options in Chris Jones’s Hunt & Go derby course to post a commanding score of 101, securing victory by a seven-point margin. It’s just the latest example of the seamless transition Heartvit has made from high-performance show jumping to the hunter ring. The 13-year-old stallion (Forever van de Noordheuvel x Caesar) formerly competed up to the three-star level before switching disciplines in 2024. Since then, he has become a fixture in the Canadian Hunter Derby series at tbird, claiming his first win in 2024 and adding two more in 2025.

Channay Lloyd and Imothas HS finished second with a score of 94, while Patty McKenna aboard Case in Point took third on 88.

For Epp, the partnership with Heartvit has been nothing short of extraordinary—even when the circumstances have been less than ideal.

Last year, the pair qualified for the Canadian Hunter Derby Final at the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in Toronto, ON based largely on their results at tbird. Despite a serious setback, Heartvit delivered a career-defining performance.

“I went to Toronto last year and he was a superstar,” Epp said. “Unfortunately, I got in a bad accident and went there with 11 broken ribs. But he was phenomenal and he ended up second in the final day.”

With that experience behind them, Epp and Heartvit are setting their sights on another trip to Toronto this fall.

“Our goal is to qualify again this year,” Epp confirmed.

Beyond the derby ring, Heartvit has a “full-time job” as an active breeding stallion, with offspring already making their mark in competition. Epp is quick to praise his qualities as a sire.

“His foals are quite lovely,” she said. “He stamps them with his good looks.”

The Amy Brattebo Real Estate Canadian Hunter Derby returns to tbird in May for the CSI4*/2* Odlum Brown BC Open.

Amy Brattebo Real Estate Open 3’6″ CND Hunter Derby
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Heartvit ZH / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 101
2. Imothas HS / Channay Lloyd / CAN / Zoe Lai / 94
3. Case in Point / Patty McKenna / CAN / Patty McKenna / 88
4. Carlyle / Brent Balisky / CAN / Shelley Ferris / 87
5. Fighting Falcon / Rhonda Thompson / CAN / Rhonda Thompson / 70
6. Oxo Van de Bien / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Joanne Dixon / 62
7. Carino / Natalie Adler / CAN / Natalie Adler / EL

Sloane Betker made it a clean sweep of the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 division, supported by Costa Palmas, this week at tbird’s April Season Opener. But her biggest victory came from learning to stop chasing perfection.

Betker capped off an extraordinary U25 week on Saturday, piloting Indiana II to victory in the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 1.40m. The win followed back-to-back red ribbons earlier in the week—Wednesday’s U25 1.35m jump-off class and Friday’s U25 1.40m speed—both aboard her other mount, Kristalstar.

“Obviously my goal [today] was to win, but my strategy was just to have a nice round,” she explained of Saturday’s victory. “Indiana is jumping the Grand Prix tomorrow as well. I saved him for just these two classes.”

For a rider who admits she has always felt the need to be flawless, the three-peat performance marked a turning point.

“I always felt that I had to be perfect,” Betker said. “I’ve been working on my confidence. Kristalstar is so talented, but I struggle with just trusting her, so I’ve been riding her a lot more forward and I think it showed. I trusted her a lot more [in the ring] and she’s been so good [this week].”

Betker has developed a strong bond with both 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding Indiana II (Numero Uno x Capitol II) and 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Kristalstar (Arezzo VDL x Stakkato).

“I’ve had Indiana for three years,” she said. “He’s super straightforward. He just wants to do his job. He’ll take a big look at the flowers [decorating the jumps], but once he’s on course he knows his job—and he’s really good at it.

“Kristalstar is really shy. She’s super sweet. She likes things her own way.”

With the summer season ahead, Betker is focused on building on her momentum—and on her consistency—in the U25 division at tbird.

“I’m pretty happy with my results today and all week,” she smiled. “Hopefully, I can win more in May.”

Showcasing rising talent in show jumping, the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 division, supported by Costa Palmas, returns to tbird May 20–24 for the CSI4* Canadian Premier.

Full results here.

Lindsay Sceats (USA) maintains quite a balancing act between her career as a colorectal surgeon and piloting horses to the higher levels, along with being a mom. Proving her mastery Sunday afternoon, she took the win in the $10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix aboard Amore From Second Life Z, a horse she’s been piloting for about three years.

Among professional riders, Sceats was one of four to jump clear over the first-round course. Coming back last in the order, she had the benefit of knowing what it was going to take to win. With the 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion (Asca Z x Cassini I) she blazed around the short course in 37.60 seconds and came up over two seconds quicker.

“I think he was really fast from [fences] one to seven,” Sceats explained of where she thinks she was particularly quick. “He’s one you can just keep kicking and you don’t have to take a big pull. You can run up on a slice and he has a great front end so he’ll get out of the way.”

Just behind them in second place were Saturday’s winners, WH Corona and Carla Diewert (CAN) as the only other double-clear effort in 39.88. Kassidy Keith (CAN) and Havana were third on the fastest jump-off time of 35.15, but with one rail down.

While the riding part comes fairly easily to Sceats, the balancing act of all of life’s other responsibilities can be a challenge. “That is the hardest part,” she commented. “I have a little kid who’s 18 months, so it’s difficult.”

Amore From Second Life Z is making things easier. 

“Fortunately he’s such a good horse,” she continued. “He doesn’t take a lot of prep. I know he’s going to show up and be the same every time so that is the nicest thing. I came up here Friday after working all week and he jumped great on Friday and today.”

With a few years under their belts together, Sceats is thrilled with the way the horse has come along, and now it’s about refining and continuing to let the results come in.

“I got him at the end of his 8-year-old year,” she said of their partnership. “The people I bought him from got him as a 2-year-old and did all the young horse classes. They were thinking he’d be more of an amateur horse instead of doing the higher levels, so they thought he should have a different path than this. But the more he goes the better he goes.”

Sunday’s result ranks high in what they’ve achieved together so far, but it’s just knocking on the door of what Sceats thinks they can accomplish.

“He’s been so good,” she shared. “He won a big class down in Thermal; he moved up to the 1.45m down there, so he’s had some really good classes. My goal this year is to jump an FEI here this year. We’re going to jump National in May and I’m hoping if he’s good we’ll come back in August for FEI.”

With all she has going on in life, she isn’t reaching for the stars with Amore From Second Life Z, but she’ll see where their path can take them.

“If we can be consistent in the 1.40m and 1.45m, I’m happy,” she said of their long-term goals. “It’s hard for me to do much more consistently because I don’t ride enough. If we can do this well, we’re happy.”

Her whole family was happy as well, not just to see her win but to experience all that Thunderbird Show Park has to offer.

“It’s such a nice family show,” she remarked of the facility. “On Saturday I didn’t show, but my kid came up and we played on the playground. My dog played in the field. My family likes eating at the food place. It’s a place you can bring the whole group and have them feel like it’s a vacation too and they’re not just here for you.”

$10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Amore From Second Life Z / Lindsay Sceats / USA / Lindsay Sceats / 0/0 / 37.60
2. WH Corona / Carla Diewert / CAN / Carla Diewert / 0/0 / 39.88
3. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/4 / 35.15
4. Jillz / Natalie Popham / CAN / Natalie Popham / 0/4 / 44.00
5. A Crown Royale / Ayla Martinoff / CAN / Ayla Martinoff / 4 / 73.66
6. Maria 111 / Samantha Buirs-Darvill / CAN / Bryony Reid / 4 / 77.32
7. Iowa B / Travis Root / USA / Lindsay Wendt / 4 / 81.94
8. Brad 7 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 4 / 82. 96
9. Indy / Georgia Knight / CAN / Georgia Knight / 8 / 81.34
10. Iquira / Carl Webb / IRL / Crooks Show Jumping, LLC / 12 / 84.84

Twenty-three-year-old Ashley McKissock’s show jumping career might have forever changed as a result of her performance in the April Season Opener at Thunderbird Show Park. Partnered with Coralissa, a mare owned by MarBill Hill Farm, McKissock made her U25 division debut in the MarBill Hill U25, powered by Solaris Equestrian and protected by Western Pacific Emergency Response, and delivered a clear round.

“I’m very grateful to sit on such a wonderful mare and she’s had so much experience at the level,” McKissock, who hails from Langley, said about Coralissa, a 15-year-old Holsteiner mare (Com Air x San Patrignano Corrado). “So going in I was confident knowing that she knew her job. It was just about navigating the course and just sticking to the plan, then riding it to the best of my abilities.”

After exiting the ring crying happy tears, the week just went up from there. On Sunday, they pulled off a double-clear effort for the win in the 1.30m Open Jumper Classic. 

“It was such a great feeling knowing that we have that partnership and we can do it,” she said of the boost she got from that first clear of the week. “After that day, it gave me so much confidence knowing that when we’re going in the ring, she is game, she knows her job, and I just have to pilot her properly. I love it.”

McKissock rides and trains with Cheryl and Kassidy Keith at Keepsake Farms, located just a stone’s throw away from tbird, and she was in the right place at the right time for an opportunity with Coralissa.

“Cheryl and Kassidy have a great relationship with Marion Cunningham and Bill Tilford of MarBill Hill Farm, so we are lucky enough that we have a few of their horses in our program,” McKissock explained of how Coralissa came into her life in November of 2024. “She came available for lease at a perfect time for me. I was just growing out of my other horse and they presented me with the opportunity to lease her.”

The entire team knew the mare well, so they figured it would be obvious from the start whether it’s a good match.

“I sat on her the first day and just fell in love with her,” McKissock said. “We luckily had the winter to grow our partnership and get to know each other, and it’s just been wheels up ever since. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to ride her and there are not enough thank-yous to Marion and Bill for the opportunity.”

Anyone in show jumping knows it takes a team effort, but this horse brings a particularly close-knit team with her, which helps McKissock tremendously in learning how to ride her and how to step up.

“Kassidy knows the mare like the back of her hand and she understands her so well,” she continued. “And Cheryl and Kassidy’s program just seems to work for her so well. Then having the support of Marion, who has had her for at least eight years now, she knows her so well. With the whole team coming together with tips and advice, it’s made the world of a difference for us.”

McKissock had been jumping the 1.15-1.20m with her horse Billy Bolton prior, and Coralissa has opened up doors for her she never imagined possible, especially considering she works full time as a sales associate for an electrical wholesaler and has to fit in riding time around her work schedule. With an early shift, she’s able to get to the barn around 3:00 p.m. each day, then also dedicates her weekends to riding time.

“I did not imagine we could do this,” she said of her most recent accomplishments and what her future goals are. “Even at this show, I came thinking I’d jump the 1.20m and the 1.25m and just see how things go. Then we jumped the class on warm-up day and I realized I actually do understand her, and it was so simple. She loves being at the show. She’s a total show horse, so it’s much more simple at the shows than it is out in a warm-up ring or at home. She knows her job and as long as you’re there with her, she will do her job all day.”

The goals for the upcoming year are lofty, but they’ve already proven they can take on a challenge and handle it with grace.

“Our goals for this year are to continue the U25 division here at Thunderbird and just get more consistent at this level,” she shared. “I just want to get more consistent at that level and then we would like to jump the two-stars in the fall.
That would be our big goal, but it’s mainly about just staying consistent in the U25, getting faster, me getting stronger, and just trying to keep those results going.”

Adding even more meaning to her big successes at the April Spring Opener is having them take place at such a special venue for McKissock.

“I’ve been coming to Thunderbird for so many years,” she explained. “They have just created such a beautiful facility for us. The environment here is so welcoming and the rings are well taken care of. The jumps are always nice. I think the overall overall environment is just such a welcoming environment. It makes you want to come back over and over again.”

She will continue to keep coming back, but she’ll aim to keep raising the consistency and reaching new heights as a U25 competitor and beyond.

Nicola Gillam had a stellar first outing in the Devoucoux Adult Amateur Hunters at the April Spring Opener, piloting Laura Williams’ Costa de Will Z to championship honors. At just 7 years old, Costa de Will Z is impressing on all fronts and ready for a successful year in the three-foot division.

“I’m lucky enough I lease him from one of Justine’s sponsors in our barn and she does some of the smaller stuff on him,” Gillam, of Richmond, BC, explained. “I showed him a little bit last year in the 2’9” and this is our first show at the 3’.”

“He’s very, very kind,” Gillam said of what makes Costa special. “My favourite thing about him is how kind he is. He’s so forgiving and such a good amateur horse. He jumps really good—he sometimes jumps me out of the tack!”

With only smooth rounds put in this weekend, their overall performance was more than enough to take the top call in the division. Gillam hopes for much more to come as a partnership, but is grateful for any time she gets in the irons aboard Costa.

“It’s nice that Justine lets me have the rides on him,” she continued. “I hope to show him for a while in the Adults. He’s a special one and I think he’s going to be nice.”

Taking the Devoucoux Children’s Hunter championship was Seville with Isabella Ferrara aboard. The pair captured three blue ribbons in the division to lead to their overall win.

Heartvit ZH made the transition from FEI into the hunter ring last year and has taken to his new job quite well. The 12-year-old Czech Warmblood stallion (Forever van de Noordheuvel x Caesar) has won two consecutive hunter derbies in his new lifestyle, topping Saturday’s Amy Brattebo Real Estate Hunter Derby at the April Season Opener.

With Tracey Epp (CAN) aboard, the duo’s international show jumping background helped them navigate Kirsten Rodel’s derby track. Jumping up to the CSI3* level, the jumps are now quite easy for Heartvit ZH, but he’s also flashy enough to catch attention.

“I thought the course was lovely,” Epp said. “He’s an ex-jumper so I was able to showcase some of the turns nicely, which was very helpful. You just look and he goes. The three-star experience helped him out a little bit.”

The score earned over the course was a 104, handing Epp and Heartvit the win by a margin of only one point. Light My Fire took second place with Ashley Arnoldt aboard for Jennifer Arnoldt, and OXO Van de Bien was third with Allison Lagan in the irons for Joanne Dixon.

Heartvit ZH is a breeding stallion, and he’s an appealing option for those wanting both hunters and jumpers alike.

“He has a lot of offspring that do jumpers in Europe,” Epp explained. “Last year was his first year doing the hunters so we’re starting that way of life.”

Still ahead are more big challenges, which Epp believes Heartvit can rise to. Last year the stallion was fifth at Derby Finals in Toronto at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and she hopes to bring him back for a higher placing this year.

Amy Brattebo Real Estate Open 3’6″ Canadian Hunter Derby
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score

1. Heartvit ZH / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 104
2. Light My Fire / Ashley Arnoldt / CAN / Jennifer Arnoldt / 103
3. OXO Van de Bien / Allison Lagan / CAN / Joanne Dixon / 98
4. Cold Brew / Olivia Buffoni / CAN / Ashleigh Taylor / 91
5. Follow Suit / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Ellen Brown / 89
6. Diamond Contender VF / Ava Mikkelsen / CAN / Lauren Mercer / 86
7. Morrison / Olivia Alstad / CAN / Anika Kasian / 59
8. Lovely PJ / Mairead Gurney / CAN / Robyn Kopala / 86

Carla Diewert (CAN) didn’t know she was going to have to bring her A-game into the Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1.35m Open Jumper Classic on Saturday afternoon. Among a competitive field, all entries jumped clear in the first round, so the win was going to take something great.

In her partner WH Corona, a 16-year-old gelding (Carthago Sun III x Charmeur), she felt prepared and confident. With the $10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix still to come on Sunday, she created a solid plan, executed it, and left gas in the tank for another round.

“I actually did my original plan,” Diewert, of Foothills, AB, said of her jump-off track. “I did all the counts I wanted to because I wanted to have enough horse for tomorrow but it worked out because I was a hair faster anyway so I didn’t have to leave one out. I was glad I was a little quicker. I think I had a slightly faster gallop to fence one than the other two and I think that’s where I caught them. I did the same counts as the others.”

Going last in the order always helps, since Diewert could see what needed to be done, although it can sometimes add pressure when everyone delivers, like they did Saturday. She ended up a fraction of a second quicker than second-place finisher Dana Henson aboard EZ Ace for Brandon Equestrian Ltd. Tracey Epp claimed third with Klasse One, all three on double-clear efforts.

Time was on their side in more than one way, as Diewert has owned WH Corona for about a decade.

“I’ve had this horse a long time, 10 years,” she said of their partnership. “He was hard to start but he’s been great lately. He’s really grown up. I’ve done him in some grand prixs—he’s the greener of my two grand prix horses—but I thought this week I have to start treating him as more of a priority because he’s ready now.”

The gelding proved he’s ready, and his next task will be jumping Sunday’s Maui Jim Grand Prix to attempt to duplicate the success.

Regarding what she likes about Thunderbird Show Park, Diewert replied, “There are so many things. I grew up here, so it’s always nice to come home and see familiar faces and catch up with everyone. It’s great to see all the changes here. It’s a wonderful venue to compete. It’s so nice to see old friendly faces. And it’s not raining so it’s a good time to come!”

Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1.35m Open Jumper Classic
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. WH Corona / Carla Diewert / CAN / Carla Diewert / 0/0 / 38.20
2. EZ Ace / Dana Henson / CAN / Brandon Equestrian Ltd / 0/0 / 38.64
3. Klasse One / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 0/0 / 39.55
4. Infostar / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Georgia Hunt / 0/0 / 40.37
5. Brad 7 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 0/0 / 43.21
6. Pericola van de Looise Heide / Ashley Papalia / CAN / Ashley Papalia / 0/8 / 46.78

On the eve of the Amy Brattebo Real Estate Hunter Derby, featuring sections for Open, Junior/Amateur and Pre-Green riders and horses at 3’6″, 3’3″, and 3’0, we spoke with Kirsten Rodel, who is tasked with designing the track for Saturday afternoon’s class. 

Hailing from Maple Ridge, BC, Rodel has been course designing for over 10 years and feels very at home at Thunderbird Show Park. 

Keep reading to find out what goes into designing Rodel’s optimal hunter derby course and what you may expect to see play out on Saturday in the Grand Hunter Arena.

In your opinion, what makes an ideal hunter derby course?

I really enjoy designing hunter derby tracks. They have to be a little bit more creative than hunter courses in general. There is a little more freedom for creativity, and it’s a lot of fun watching them be ridden, especially if people are doing something that you don’t expect them to do or if they ride the course really well. It’s a great feeling to see your course being ridden really well, and the way you intended it when you designed it.

With a hunter derby course, you’re trying to design a course that is more challenging than a regular hunter course. You want to create room for the horses to travel with a little bit more pace than they would on a normal hunter track. You also want to create opportunities for the horses to show off their athleticism and their handiness, so there are going to be options for tighter turns and high-performance options as far as the jumps are concerned, so you can accumulate more points by taking those options.

How have hunter derbies evolved over the past five to ten years? 

In the last 10 years that I’ve been designing derbies, I would say they have evolved in that the horses — and the tests you can ask of them — have improved so much. That comes from experience doing the derbies. You get horses now that are specifically good derby horses. And that’s just because derbies have been around long enough that the horses are trying to figure out how to work. The tracks have gotten more challenging because the horses are more capable.

Are there particular elements or fences that are very challenging in a hunter derby? 

Any high-performance option, especially off a turn or off a gallop. You always want to try to put a jump or two in the course to give the riders an opportunity to show off the horse’s jump out of a gallop or off the turn. I also like to challenge them in different areas of the ring where they wouldn’t be jumping in a regular hunter course. The horses have to be braver because the jumps can be a little bit spookier, just because you’re using different types of fill and different types of jumps sometimes than you would in a regular hunter course. 

Are there tests you like to go back to when it comes to designing your courses?

I like to provide some variety. You try not to repeat your patterns or repeat what you have done too often. It’s more about being creative and changing it up. I always like to make sure that I’ve got a good jump that they can jump off the gallop. When I design my tracks, the turns that I try to do are not jerky. You want them to be able to stay on the gallop and stay on the pace through the turn — even if they’re tight turns they don’t have to be changing their pace to execute them. 

Who have you learned from in the course design world? 

I have mentored a lot with Peter Holmes.
He’s more of a jumper course designer. He does some work with the hunters as well, but he’s definitely the person that I go to if I have a question or need a second opinion on something. He’s worked at Thunderbird for years. He was the first person I learned under and he does brilliant courses.

What is special about designing at Thunderbird specifically? 

I really enjoy it here. It’s a very high-class facility. The rings and the footing are always immaculate and the equipment that I get to work with is beautiful, especially when it comes to designing hunter derbies. There are lots of options to work with as far as the jumps. Every year there are new jumps built that add the flavour. And the staff there are fantastic. It has a family feel. Everyone’s very supportive of one another there.

To watch the Amy Brattebo Real Estate Hunter Derby on Saturday, April 19, tune into the livestream on ShowGrounds Live.

Sloane Betker (CAN) and Indiana II are still new to the U25 levels, but you wouldn’t know it by watching them compete at the 2025 April Season Opener at Thunderbird Show Park. The duo has won both classes in the division so far, winning Wednesday’s MarBill U25 1.35m and following it up with a win in Friday’s MarBill U25 1.40m. The MarBill Hill U25 division is powered by Solaris Equestrian and protected by Western Pacific emergency response.

Consistency is actually Betker’s main goal as she steps the horse up through the levels. It’s evident as she does that “Indy” is up for the challenge. About two years into their partnership, Betker and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Numero Uno are unlocking the secrets to clear rounds.

“With Indy, I knew he can win,” Betker said. “He sometimes gets a little complacent with his hind end so you just have to manage his step and then he can jump clear. He has a huge step so he covers the ground very well.”

Having confidence on her side served her well. The pair cruised around Friday’s 1.40m course clear and in 62.69 seconds, the best of the field. Betker was also third with Canberre 59, with Georgia Knight slotting into second with her own Indy.

“With Bear, my first one, she hasn’t jumped anything really since we got back from Thermal, so I just wanted to be fast and efficient,” Betker said of her strategy heading into the class. “She had the second to last one so I pushed her to the base of the last one. I thought with one rail I wasn’t going to win anyway, and we’re schooling for the Grand Prix. I wanted to have a good round after Thermal.”

Indiana II was a ride Betker acquired from Conor Swail (IRL) and his wife, Samantha Vanderwoude (CAN). Hailing from a program versed in how to jump clear rounds, Indiana II had a solid education to build upon.

“Between the two of them they jumped him up to 1.35m,” Betker said of Indy’s experience prior to joining her team. “He jumped his first 1.40m in May last year and his first 1.45m in Thermal. He’s just been getting better at jumping the bigger heights. He’s still pretty new to jumping the height and also managing his step.”

The training regime at home is quite simple for Betker and Indy, but it proves to be working. She doesn’t take his talent for granted and knows he’ll show up in the show ring for her.

“He’s really lazy to flat and jump at home so I don’t tend to jump much,” she explained. “He’s a really different horse in the show ring than he is at home, so we save his legs by not overjumping him at home. Hopefully, we have more classes and more time left with him.”

With two top placings this week, Betker will vie for a third win in the $10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

“[My goals are] just being more consistent in the U25 and having him be able to jump clear round after clear round,” Betker continued. “There will be occasional rails but being more consistent at 1.40m and maybe jump some FEI [classes] later this summer at Thunderbird or Spruce Meadows.”

MarBill Hill U25 1.40m

Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 0 / 69.62
2. Indy / Georgia Knight / CAN / Georgia Knight / 0 / 72.75
3. Canberre 59 / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 8 / 66.59
4. Izo / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Desiree Johnson / 12 / 68.29
5. Coralissa / Ashley McKissock / CAN / MarBill Hill Farm / 16 / 68.24