Category: BCHJA Fall Finale

Rachel Long had a talisman in the ring and Talisman D under her saddle in the 1.30m Grand Prix on Sunday at Thunderbird Show Park’s BCHJA Fall Finale.

The Horseshoe Bend, Idaho-based rider topped an 11-horse jump off on the 7-year-old Swiss Warmblood to take the win in the final Grand Prix of tbird’s 2024 season.

Justin Prather and Grazie, second to return, set the time to beat early in Meghan Rawlin’s short course at 37.21 seconds. Only two pairs managed to eclipse it. Kassidy Keith and her multi-hyphenate winning mare Havana shaved more than half a second off in 36.59 s, only to have Long and Talisman D, the final pair in the ring, take it down nearly a full second further in 35.75 s.

“This is a very new horse to me—I’ve had him about six weeks—and he’s quite young. He’s just seven,” said Long.

“Honestly, I just wanted to be tidy [in the turns]. I watched [a few other riders go] and I kind of knew where I wanted to be. I didn’t know if I could get there, but you go and hope for the best and he was unbelievable. He was fantastic. He felt amazing. He was right there with me.

“He actually saved my bacon at the last jump. I got a little too excited,” she laughed.

Long got the seven strides too early to the final fence, but said the turns are where she believes she caught Keith’s time.

“He’s a naturally quick horse across the ground. He doesn’t necessarily look it, but he has a massive stride. So going through the corners and keeping that rhythm going took care of the rest.”

Long is leaving tbird on a high note after returning for the first time in five years.

“I love it here. I would show here every weekend if we could.”

$10,000 Grand Prix 1.30m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Talisman D / Rachel Long / USA / Alexia Honegger / 0/0 35.75
2. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/0 36.59
3. Grazie / Justin Prather / CAN / Bradon Equestrian Ltd / 0/0 37.21
4. Fulenn Du Chatillon / Gareth Graves / CAN / Cinzia Moran / 0/0 37.81
5. Cassandro / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Graham Williamson / 0/0 39.34
6. Greannanstown Max A Million / Laina Summers / USA / Bayview Farm / 0/0 39.48
7. EZ Ace / Dana Henson / CAN / Bradon Equestrian / 0/0 40.25
8. Cella / Taylor Winther / CAN / Taylor Winther / 0/4 36.48
9. Good Craic / Braden James / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch and Cattle Co Ltd / 0/4 37
10. Caponerhall / Kaylie Martinoff / CAN / Inga Martinoff / 0/4 39.13

Three years ago Charlotte Reeve, then 15, had just moved to a new province and a new barn—for the third time in seven years—and was looking for her next horse when Corona OS entered the chat.

The Dutch Warmblood gelding had a proven show record, having competed at the Royal Winter Fair with Carly Stevens in 2016 and up to 1.30m with Brooklyn Deacon in 2020, but had lost confidence by the time he landed at Andrea Strain’s Villa Training Stable in Langley, BC.

“When we first had him at the barn, you couldn’t stay on him for more than ten minutes without him spinning,” Reeve explained.

Still, Reeve and her new trainer saw the potential and, importantly, the lease fit her budget. But if the junior rider was looking for reassurance they could make the relationship work, Corona didn’t offer it willingly.

“The day we signed the lease on him, he spun me off and ran around the property,” smiled Reeve.

And so began their long journey to the equitation ring.

While Reeve’s peers were moving up divisions, she spent her first year with Corona (aka Ronie) in the .80m to 1.0m jumpers rebuilding the horse’s confidence.

“I just had to be really gentle with him, really easy on him. Don’t ask him to do too much. And it did take a lot of time. We brought him to tbird in April the first year and I didn’t show him at all. I just kind of walked around the property with him,” she recalled.

“We probably spent up until this year in the 1.0m jumpers because he’s just so technical [to ride]. He’s not easy.”

Reeve invested much of her efforts on the ground with the horse, slowly developing their bond.

“I spent a lot of time with him. Even now, I’ll go and sit in the corner of his stall or spend time grazing him and just kind of be around him, one on one, so he can understand I’m here for him and that I am a person he can trust,” she continued.

“He’s the type of horse that likes having one person only. He doesn’t want a bunch of kids or people riding him.”

When the lease came up in February 2023, the Reeves bought the horse, despite their slow progress in the show ring.

“I just felt a bond with him. I had put so much work in during the year that we leased him. I knew he had a big heart and he just needed someone to put the time and effort in. And I was willing to do that.”

It was two  years before her belief in the horse started to pay consistent dividends.

“There wasn’t a moment when it clicked. It happened slowly. I could ask him to do more while I was riding him, I could ask him to use his body correctly. Before, he would throw a tantrum and spin you off. That was his escape plan. His favorite way to go around is with his head up in the air and his mouth wide open,” said Reeve.

“I couldn’t ask him to [go in a frame] up until probably a month ago.”

This year the pair has come full circle at Thunderbird Show Park, finding their stride and considerable success as a triple threat in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. They’ve moved up to the 1.20m height and earned top placings and multiple wins in all three rings. Notably, in the final two weeks of the tbird show season, they swept the 1.10m Thunderbird Good Hands & Seat Finals and the Regional Finals for the Jump Canada and the Equine Essentials CET Medals.

It’s their most successful two weeks on record.

“I mean, I’m still in shock. None of it has really like sunk in yet. But I’m super, super happy and I going to try to enjoy this moment. I think I’ll give him a little break mentally—it’s asking a lot of them to do all the medals and I think me and him both need a little mental break. Then probably October we will start really focusing on prepping for [the National Finals in] Toronto.”

In the meantime, she’s feeling grateful for her trainer—”I don’t think I would be where I am now without Andrea”—and for her best teacher, the now 17-year-old Corona.

“I had to work with the horse I have, and it ended up being one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. He’s my heart horse. I don’t think I would ever let him go. We’re going to let Corona decide when he’s done jumping and as soon as he is, we’ll probably end up retiring him ourselves,” said Reeve.

“He definitely taught me patience and to take it slow—and how to sit a good spin.”

Charlotte Reeve crossed an item off her bucket list on Saturday night: qualify for the CET Nationals in Toronto.

“It’s been my goal for probably seven years,” said an elated Reeve. “So it was means a lot to be able to finally go.”

The 18-year-old rider, trained by Langley’s Andrea Strain, jumped to the top of the Equine Essentials CET Medal Regionals with her mount of three years, Corona OS. Reeve, alongside Katrina Klimach, Sloane Betker and Bryn Harvey, is now one of four BC riders to have qualified for Nationals where they’ll compete against the top four riders from the Prairie (AB, SK, MB), Ontario and Atlantic (QC, PEI, NB, NS, NF) regions.

Held over two days, the Canadian Equestrian Team namesake class sees qualified competitors compete in a Flat/Gymnastics phase on Friday, followed by a 1.10m to 1.15m Jumping phase on Saturday. The equitation competition is scored by how judges perceive the athlete as a show jumping rider with scoring weighted evenly between the two phases.

The top six riders then return for mandatory additional testing.

Reeve was called back in third position for the Work Off and climbed her way into first, besting leader Klimach on Fanta.

“I thought it was a really good [first round] course. It was a bit tricky with some of the blind corners, but overall it rode out quite nicely,” said Reeve of the Peter Holmes-designed track.

The Regional Final is designed to test not only how well riders can execute the test but also their strategy for how to ride it. All competitors are required to train their own horses over the two days of competition and must walk the Jumping and Work Off courses without their trainers. Still Strain’s words were in Reeve’s ear as she made her plan: “stay positive and make sure you’re on your count. Don’t get distracted—just stay focused and on task.”

That’s precisely what she did.

“I thought I had to be efficient [in the Work Off] because no one was under the time allowed. I needed to make sure that I kept my good canter everywhere around the turn,” she explained, noting that she didn’t let the other riders impact her ride.

“I get pretty locked into my plan and it doesn’t really switch up very much.”

Saturday’s win caps a spectacular two weeks for Reeve who has positively dominated the equitation ring at tbird, winning all three 1.10m equitation finals. Her streak started with the Thunderbird Good Hands & Seat 1.10m Medal Final at last week’s Harvest Celebration. At this week’s BCHJA Fall Finale, she added the Regional Finals for the Jump Canada Medal and the CET Medal to her resume as well.

“It’s pretty unbelievable. I’m still in shock!”

The final international event on Thunderbird Show Park’s 2024 calendar is the CSI2* BCHJA Fall Finale. But it might be better known as The Chawke Show after this week.

Husband-and-wife team James and Jacqueline Chawke swept the international division, winning all four classes, including the week’s feature event, the CSI2* Grand Prix.

Jacqueline kicked off the Chawkes winning week with a victory in the CSI2* Welcome on Wednesday on their homebred LFS E’toile (Etoulon x Harlequin de Carel). It was the 8-year-old gelding’s international debut.

James picked up the slack on Thursday, winning the CSI2* Qualifier with Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z. On Friday, he doubled down with a 1-2 finish in the CSI2* Winning Round, taking the victor’s spoils on Daido van’t Ruytershof Z and the runner up’s spot on Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z.

Needless to say, the on-form Irishman was the favorite heading into Saturday’s CSI2* Grand Prix—and he didn’t disappoint.

Aboard Daido van’t Ruytershof Z (aka Tally), James was first to find a clear path around Meghan Rawlin’s 1.45m course. He was also the last to do it on Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z (aka Nicky) to bookend the six-horse jump off.

He went on to make short work of the short course. James set the time to beat in a deceptively quick 42.72 seconds on Daido van’t Ruytershof Z with an exceptionally tight rollback after the first line and bending track through the double combination.

“She’s so quick. I just try to be nice and tidy on my turns,” said James of his strategy with the 10-year-old mare.

By the time he returned four horse’s later with Alison Locke’s 11-year-old stallion (Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster opted to withdraw from the jump off) none had come within three seconds of his time and James already had the win in the bag. That didn’t stop him from taking a run at it with Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z. A small stumble in the first turn ultimately put them a second place on 44.2s. Samantha Buirs-Darvill (CAN) and Chic D Emma Z took third in 46.52s to round out the all-Zangersheide podium.

As speedy as James’s horses are in the ring, they are equally calm walking out of it. Neither of his mounts reacted to the cheering crowd as they sauntered out of the ring on a long rein, prompting livestream host Jenny Rudall to observe that Chawke makes winning look “frustratingly casual.”

“Well, that’s the point,” smiled James in the post-class interview. “Being stressed doesn’t get you anywhere.”

It’s a strategy that’s clearly working for the Abbelyleix import.

Saturday’s victory brings Daido’s Grand Prix win count to three this summer at tbird. The speedy pair topped the 1.50m Steel-Craft Doors Grand Prix and the ATCO Cup during the August Summer Series. Nacara, meanwhile, has logged five FEI podium finishes at tbird this season, including two wins.

“I couldn’t ask for two nicer animals to have,” said James.

$74,000 USD CSI2* Grand Prix 1.45m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Daido van’t Ruytershof Z / James Chawke / IRL / James Chawke / 0/0 42.72
2. Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z / James Chawke / IRL / Alison Locke / 0/0 44.2
3. Chic D Emma Z / Samantha Buirs-Darvill / CAN / Samantha Buirs-Darvill / 0/0 46.52
4. Beneficial / Alicia Gadban-Lewis / CAN / Alicia Gadban-Lewis / 0/4 46.27
5. Iwan / Charlie Jones / GBR / Stone Ridge Farms LLC / 0/8 45.24
6. Battlecry / Tiffany Foster / CAN / Artisan Farms LLC / 0 WD
7. Grandeur WP / Bretton Chad / CAN / Stone Ridge Farms LLC / 1 80.08
8. Parabell Jmen / Eric Krawitt / CAN / Claire Wen / 4 75.12
9. SIG Chiari / Kyle King / USA / The CHI Group / 4 75.37
10. Ezio de Emeraud / Kyle King / USA / Patricia Vasey / 4 76.97

Katrina Klimach emerged from the opening Flat/Gymnastics phase of the Equine Essentials CET Regionals a clear leader, posting the only score above 80 and sitting five points ahead of the pack with an 84.

Charlotte Reeve sits second (79), followed by Livia Cox (77) ahead of Saturday’s second Jumping phase, after which scores will be combined (The Flat/Gymnastics and Jumping phases each make up 50% of the score). Following that tally, the top six competitors will return for a “jump off” style course to determine the final placings.

Klimach and her mount Fanta—a former winner of the event in 2022 with Chloe Mache—displayed the polish of a seasoned partnership as they seamlessly navigated the gymnastics tests presented on course, including landing the counter lead and finding a beautiful rhythm to the final triple bar. But Klimach has only been riding the large but superbly balanced 18-hand gelding for two weeks.

“Luckily, [owner Shenae Johnston] let me borrow him for these two weeks,” said Klimach, 20. “He’s just been wonderful, and it was super exciting to step into [the ring] here and have a [partner] that knows what he’s doing.”

From Victoria, Klimach spent her brief time of preparation with Fanta training at home with her coach, Jordan Scott, and building off of information she gained from her first Regionals experience last year.

“We had a lot of flat lessons in the indoor. We schooled probably in the indoor every day,” Klimach shared. “We didn’t really show last week or this week.”  

The best qualifying athletes from the BC region have congregated at tbird for the regional championship; these riders will return in reverse order of Friday’s standings in the Jumping phase. The equitation competition is scored by how judges perceive the athlete as a show jumping rider, and the top four finishers will qualify for the National Finals, set for November in Toronto.

“I’m a little bit nervous now about going last, but I’m excited for the course that Peter [Holmes] is going to set,” Klimach said. “We’re just going to come in and have some fun.”

Equine Essentials CET Regionals Flat/Gymnastic
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score

1. Fanta / Katrina Klimach / CAN / Shenae Johnston / 84
2. Corona OS / Charlotte Reeve / CAN / Charlotte Reeve / 79
3. WH Contiago / Livia Cox / CAN / Livia Cox / 77
4. Caprice KDW Z / Bryn Harvey / CAN / Bryn Harvey / 75
5. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Samantha Vanderwoude / 73
6. Tintoretto / Lindsay Iacoviello / CAN / Brownwyn Alexander / 67
7. Quibbela Bee / Ava Murray / CAN / Ava Murray / 62
8. Bandagold MLF / Kaia Kochan / CAN / Kaia Kochan  / 60
9. Caramelo / Amryn Takhar / CAN / Amryn Takhar  / 56
10. Diamond Contender VF / Ava Mikkelsen / CAN / Lauren Mercer / 40

Langley, BC — When Rodney Tulloch (CAN) entered the ring aboard Fleetwood for the USHJA International Hunter Derby—the highlight of World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week at Thunderbird Show Park—he could feel that his mount was dialed in.

When the 13-year-old grey Westphalian gelding known by many as “Mashmallow” is on his game, he’s proven hard to beat. He and Tulloch were commanding winners on this occasion, leading wire-to-wire in the class with a total score of 360.

The podium was well spread out. Tracey Epp (CAN) and her international show jumper turned rising hunter derby star Heartvit ZH finished second (347), with Raymond Texel (USA) and Navigator third (333).

The reigning Canadian Hunter Derby National Champions, Tulloch and Fleetwood did not need to take many risks in the handy to secure a victory, but they still received six points more from the judges than the next-best handy score.

“Our strategy was just to not be too crazy—just be looking for the inside turns that were available, jump the high sides, and make it as smooth as possible,” Tulloch said.

Tulloch has learned to make the most of his opportunities to partner with Marshmallow. Owned by Christine MacLean, the gelding would typically meet up with Tulloch at shows, allowing for little practice time. But this time around, the grey has been stabled with Tulloch since the start of the winter show season.

“Christine MacLean from Kelowna owns him, and she is an amazing owner, [but] I’ve never had him for long periods of time. We’d just show up at a show together, and he’s just such a nice horse that it would come together,” Tulloch shared. “But I’ve had him now since December, so I feel a bit more in sync with him.”

There’s no questioning the gelding’s quality, but what has set Fleetwood apart is his bravery. The gelding is unfazed by spooky fences, his reliability radiating confidence back to his rider.

“He always gets to the other side. Most times, he doesn’t even look where he’s going,” Tulloch gushed. “He just canters forward and will leave the ground. No matter how spooky or big the jump is, he’s going to give it a good shot.”

Tulloch plans to try to defend his Canadian Hunter Derby title with Fleetwood later this year and also hopes to add a start at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to the horse’s show schedule. But there’s another important job to be done.

“His favourite job would be walk-trot and 2’6″, and that is going to be in his future with Christine’s daughter Asia. He will absolutely be doing that,” Tulloch said. “If they were here this weekend, he would probably have done that already today.”

Can Marshmallow pull double-duty in the walk-trot and the derby?  Tulloch showed no hesitation in his response:

“Oh, heck yeah.”

Forest Edge Farm USHJA International Hunter Derby
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score

1. Fleetwood / Rodney Tulloch / CAN / Christine MacLean / 360
2. Heartvit ZH / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 347
3. Navigator / Raymond Texel / USA / Philippa Melski / 333
4. Light My Fire / Ashley Arnoldt / CAN / Jennifer Arnoldt / 332
5. Black Pearl / Katrina Klimach / CAN / Katrina Klimach / 311
6. Diarado Dream / Emma Edwardson / CAN / Imagine Equestrian / 307
7. Closing Time / Kelsey King / USA / Kelsey King / 306.5
9. St Martin’s Lane / Chloe Mache / CAN / Chloe Mache / 303.25
10. Folklore / Oliva Aul / USA / Oliva Aul / 296

Langley, BC – Through 18 riders in an action-packed jump-off in the Hillcrest Show Jumping “Seize the Day” Grand Prix 1.30m, the leaderboard couldn’t have been much closer. First and second were separated by a half-second. So, too, were third through eighth.

Then James Chawke entered the arena and blew the entire class open. Last to go, he and Alison Locke’s Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z took the most expedient of tracks around Joey Rycroft’s (CAN) short course, crossing the timers nearly three seconds in front (27.94s). Catherine Brentzel (USA) and Quintago VA finished second (30.39s), with Georgia Knight (CAN) and Ecolano vs Romano third (30.97s).

“The horse is very fast, so I know that if I’m a bit smart about my plan, I should be right up there,” Chawke said. “There were a lot of horses in the jump-off. Of course, it’s handy being last, because then you know what you have to do. You’re not taking any unnecessary risks and you have to kind of go fairly fast.”

Chawke weighed the risks that came with a leave-out no one else had attempted between the jump-off’s first two fences, and he determined riding an eight-stride track was the best strategy for success. It was smooth sailing from the moment he left the ground to the first jump.

“I walked one to two, and I thought there would be an eight there,” Chawke said. “I figured most people would do nine or ten [strides], but I knew eight was there if I needed to, so I didn’t actually watch that many. But I saw [Brentzel] before me go the last little bit. She looked very fast, so I figured I probably should try and get eight there and be tight back to the double if I could.”

Chawke has been partnered with the 10-year-old bay for about a year, and it’s been a successful summer for the pair, with the gelding also winning the Diamond Valley Ranch U10 Young Horse 1.35m at the Summer Fort Welcome. After his latest victory, he’ll get a well deserved rest before a winter season of showing in Thermal, CA.

“He’s a very good jumper, very careful. He’s got quite a bit of blood and is a bit strong, but he’s improved,” Chawke said. “He’s got a great mindset. He always wants to do the right thing. He’s always trying to win.”

Hillcrest Show Jumping “Seize the Day” Grand Prix 1.30m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z / James Chawke / IRL / Alison Locke / 0/0 27.94
2. Quintago VA / Catherine Brentzel / USA / O’Neill Show Jumping LLC / 0/0 30.39
3. Ecolano VS Romano / Georgia Knight / Georgia Knight / 0/0 30.97
4. Caponerhall / Kaylie Martinoff / CAN / Inga Martinoff / 0/0 31.61
5. Eloise / Rachel Cornacchia / CAN / Eventyre Farms Ltd / 0/0 32.02
6. Livius P / Lilah Nakatani / USA / Lilah Nakatani / 0/0 32.03
7. Lucky Strike / Andrea Strain / CAN / Andrea Strain / 0/0 32.29
8. Fenelon WF / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/0 32.36
9. Infostar / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Georgia Hunt / 0/0 32.86
10. Darling Sherlock / Niko Keshtkar / CAN / Niko Keshtkar / 0/0 33.27

Langley, BC — Throughout the two days of competition at the Equine Essentials CET Regionals in the indoor arena at Thunderbird Show Park, Sloane Betker kept herself in the hunt.

She didn’t win either of the Flat/Gymnastic or Jumping Phases, but she was close, finishing third and fifth, respectively. That was all she needed to make the top six, all of whom returned for a final “jump off” style course to determine the final placings.

This was where Betker, with a strong show jumping background, could shine. She received the highest marks of the jump-off phase to take a narrow victory over Chloe Mache, with Colby Winther Konig finishing third. Georgia Knight secured fourth honors; these four earned invitations to compete in the CET Finals at the Royal Horse Show later this fall.

“My goal was just to be top four. I wasn’t going in to win; I just wanted to stay consistent,” Betker explained. “I was aiming for CET Finals again this year. Last year I ended up third at the Royal, and my goal this year was to qualify and have another shot.

“When I went into the jump-off, I knew that I had to step up,” she added. “We were all super close, and I knew that one mistake could cost us the top four. I just went for it, and it all came together.”

Betker has had a banner year, winning her first USHJA International Hunter Derby—also aboard Crack—at the Summer Fort Classic and representing Canada at the North American Youth Championships. Her equitation and derby mount, Crack, was originally leased until her family bought him outright at the lease’s conclusion.

“I think the way he goes and his style is just really suited to the equitation ring,” Betker shared. “He has quite the personality. You can’t tell how he is going to behave until you are in the ring, but when he is on his game, there is no better horse.”

Equine Essentials CET Regionals 
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score

1. Crack / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 79/85/86
2. Fanta / Chloe Mache / CAN / Chloe Mache / 83/86/83
3. Bit Ticket / Colby Winther Konig / CAN / Sorine Winther / 80/87/81
4. Cortofino / Georgia Knight / CAN / Brabant Holdings Inc. / 81/78/85
5. Annorlunda / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Graham Williamson / 78/83/80
6. Black Pearl / Katrina Klimach / CAN / Katrina Klimach / 73/82/82
7. Pac Man TW / Amara Gottwald / CAN / Amara Gottwald / 63/77
8. Special K IV / Bianca Duronio / CAN / Katie de Witt / 61/72

Langley, BC – Two fences from home in the first round of the CSI3* tbird Grand Prix Saturday at Thunderbird Show Park, a clear round looked unlikely for Uma O’Neill (NZL) and Clockwise of Greenhill Z.

Heading toward the penultimate vertical, Clockwise’s bridle slipped over his ears. The tack fell beneath his nose, but the stallion held onto his bit.

Instead of trying to pull up, O’Neill determinedly continued on, managing to steer right to the final oxer. The pair cleared the fence and returned without issue to the ingate, where the stallion was safely stopped, and his bridle was repositioned—not that he seemed to need it at that point.

The pair would go on to win the class, besting a five-horse jump-off in the final international Grand Prix event of the 2023 Thunderbird Show Park season.

“It was very wet from the rain, and as I kept going around the [first round] course, I noticed that there was more and more bonnet sticking up above his ears,” O’Neill shared. “Over [the B element] of the triple [combination] I got a little concerned, and cantering to the Odlum Brown oxer, I thought the bonnet might be covering his eyes, and I wasn’t quite sure where his vision was, but he still felt amazing.

“I landed off the next jump, and the bridle went over his ears,” she continued. “He started to back off, but I kept my leg on, and he felt confident, so I decided to keep going. There was only one jump left, and he felt great.”

They jumped clear again in the second round, crossing the timers of Joey Rycroft’s (CAN) short course in 41.11 seconds. Jaehee Jeon (KOR) finished just behind the winning pair in second with Kadans van de Mispelaere (41.78s), followed by Kassidy Keith (CAN) and Havana, who had the time but also a single knockdown on their scorecard (4/40.57s).

There was an option to sneak inside of the combination to the vertical three fences from home in the jump-off, but the top three combinations all elected to forgo it, after Tiffany Foster attempted the track and had the rail down aboard exciting 8-year-old, Kadans. That pair ultimately finished fourth.

“I watched Tiffany go, and I was not confident, especially turning right, about the inside turn after the double,” O’Neill said. “I decided that the best decision for me was to go quickly around to that vertical. If anyone wanted to try that inside turn after me, they would be taking that risk. [Clockwise] just felt really on it and smooth and followed me everywhere.”

O’Neill and Clockwise have been partnered for nearly a decade, climbing the ranks from the junior jumpers and the North American Youth Championships (then called the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships) to the Tokyo Olympic Games. The stallion is feeling as fresh as ever at age 16. According to Jumpr App, this year Clockwise is jumping clear 40 percent of the time at 1.50m.

“I have so much confidence in him. I know he knows the job, and it’s just about keeping him fresh, happy and loose in his body. He’s ready to go,” O’Neill said. “He had a little bit of a lighter spring and summer this year. He came back feeling really fresh. He spent most of that time swimming at Premier Equine Center [in Oakdale, CA]. It’s been super beneficial at his age, just keeping his fitness up with less concussion on his joints.”

Many memorable results have come at tbird over the course of their partnership, including a win in the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Vancouver, when they produced the only clear effort of the class.

“Tbird is a place that has really done a lot for my career and Clockwise’s career,” O’Neill said. “We’ve had many special memories here, and the Tidball family and staff at tbird have always felt like family.”

CSI3* tbird Grand Prix 1.50m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Clockwise of Greenhill Z / Uma O’Neill / NZL / Uma O’Neill / 0/0 41.11
2. Kadans van de Misplelaere / Jaehee Jeon / KOR / Brother Fortune Equestrian Ltd / 0/0 41.78
3. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/4 40.57
4. Kadans / Tiffany Foster / CAN / Artisan Farms LLC / 0/4 43.12
5. Un Diamant des Forets / Jim Ifko / CAN / Eventyre Farms Ltd / 0/8 39.95
6. NKH Carrido / Brooke Morin / USA / Strasburg Morin Inc / 3 91.74
7. Odysseus / Kyle King / USA / Patricia Vasey / 4 83.65
8. Capitale 6 / Charlie Jones / GBR / Morning Star Sporthorses / 4 86.19
9. SIG Chiari / Kyle King / USA / Kyle King / 4 86.28
10. Igali LN / Braden James / CAN / James James Sport Horses / 4 86.32