Category: Spring Festival

In a thrilling showdown in the sand tbird Arena on the final day of the Spring Festival, Australia’s Rowan Willis captured the $10,000 tbird Grand Prix, but not before hometown star Kassidy Keith left the crowd gasping with the fastest jump-off round of the day — undone by a single rail.

Willis piloted For Dilando PS to victory in 39.02 seconds, holding off New Zealand’s Katie Laurie, who claimed second and third aboard Pretty Women (39.95) and ZF Chacco Rio (40.38). Willis added fourth place with Cape Town (40.8), sealing a dominant lock on the top four from the Down Under.

But the electric moment of the 13-horse jump-off belonged to Langley’s own Kassidy Keith. Aboard her fleet-footed Havana, she stopped the clock at an astonishing 37.53 seconds — a second and a half faster than Willis’s winning time — but a single rail third fence from last dropped her to eighth place.

“He’s a naturally very fast horse, and I knew with who was in the jump-off that it would be fast,” Willis said of For Dilando PS, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (For Pleasure x Chacco-Blue) that has been in his string for just one year.

“I had to do one less from [fences] two to three and be tight back to the double. I was a bit lucky on the [tbird] vertical, but luck was on our side and he was great.”

The national grand prix drew an international start list featuring Ireland, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, but the battle narrowed to an Antipodean duel between Willis and Laurie.

Willis is currently laying over in Langley as he prepares for back-to-back weeks of international jumping at tbird in May, when competition moves to the grass Fort Grand Prix Arena for the highly anticipated CSI4* Canadian Premier, May 20–24 and CSIO4* Odlum Brown BC Open, May 26–31.

“We’re looking forward to the four-stars here and then Spruce Meadows,” Willis added. “I think he’s hopefully going to jump better on grass, and I love jumping on grass, so I’m really looking forward to these shows in the summer.”

Tickets for the CSI4* Grands Prix and crowd favourite Nations Cup are on sale now at tbird.ca/tickets and start at $7.50.

$10,000 tbird Grand Prix
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Score

1. For Dilando PS / Rowan Willis / AUS / Just a Cheeky One / 0/0 39.02
2. Pretty Women / Katie Laurie / NZL / Highland Farms Ltd / 0/0 39.95
3. ZF Chacco Rio / Katie Laurie / NZL / Carissa McCall / 0/0 40.38
4. Cape Town / Rowan Willis / AUS / Patricio Pasquel / 0/0 40.8
5. Clan de Nyze Z / Ashley Papalia / Ashley Papalia / 0/0 41.53
6. Olydo vd Bisschop / Katie Laurie / NZL / Highland Farms Ltd / 0/0 45.14
7. BP Lady Masterpiece / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 0/0 47.92
8. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/4 37.53
9. Dominard / Anne-Sophie Levesque / USA / Anne-Sophie Levesque / 0/4 41.75
10. Connecticut / Amanda Sinnett / CAN / Amanda Sinnett / 0/4 43.4

Molly Graham piloted Cornaidy to victory in the $2,500 Country Lane Farm USHJA 3′ Open National Hunt & Go Derby on Saturday of the Spring Festival, posting a winning score of 181 to top a competitive field at Thunderbird Show Park.

Chelsea Brittner and Encanto finished second with a score of 177, while Sara Petersen and Chaplin took third on 174.

The Hunt & Go Derby format is a single-round competition that seamlessly blends the Classic and Handy hunter rounds into one uninterrupted trip that rewards handiness, adjustability, and boldness. Graham and Cornaidy took both high-option fences, executing a series of tight inside turns and a cleverly shortened track to secure the win.

“I think today [we won it] doing all those tidy inside turns, and then I was really handy to the trot jump – she was really, really good there – and then it ended up being quite an inside line to the last line, so I ended up leaving a stride out and doing seven there,” Graham explained. “It just kind of got a little handier and handier as I went along.”

Cornaidy, a mare owned by Wendy Valdes, is a new to Graham’s string. The pair is still building their partnership, but the results are already turning heads.

“Cornaidy is a new ride for me,” Graham said. “She’s a lovely mare that I’ve actually seen for the last couple years. We’re still getting to know each other, but we’ve done enough classes now where I feel like I’m starting to know her quite well. She’s just so fun. She’s so brave – she never looks at the jump.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the derby season, Graham has high hopes for the mare.

“She’s just been getting better and better, so I think there’s big things in her future,” she said. “She’s just so brave and easy.”

The Country Lane Farm Open USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby returns to tbird in May for the Odlum Brown BC Open and again in June for the West Coast Classic and August’s Summer Fort Classic. The series winner, based on accumulated scores throughout all USHJA National and Hunt & Go Derbies, will be awarded a Butet hunter bridle, martingale and girth. For full class results, visit tbird.ca.

$2,500 Country Lane Farm USHJA Open National Hunt & Go Derby
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score

1. Cornaidy / Molly Graham / CAN / Wendy Valdes / 181
2. Encanto / Chelsea Brittner / CAN / Hazel McLean / 177
3. Chaplin / Sara Petersen / USA / Jan O’Brien / 174
4. Paddington / Georgia Hunt /  CAN / Ellen Brown / 171
5. Paraguay HDH / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Ellen Brown / 167
6. Nordeney / Gia Zhang / CAN / Catalina Berezan/ 158.5
7. Ruston OHF / Leila Templin / CAN / Kristi Lozinski / 158
8. Seville / Isabella Ferrara / CAN / Isabella Ferrara / 157.5
9. SP Scarlet / Julia Stanley / CAN / Julia Stanley / 156
10. Diplomat / Chelsea McNeill / CAN / Lindsay Morrison / 154.5

Tracey Epp (CAN) piloted the newly imported Irish Sport Horse mare BP Lady Masterpiece to a convincing win in the Crooks Young Horse 1.30m section on Friday of the Spring Festival at Thunderbird Show Park, stopping the clock at 35.85 seconds.

American rider Travis Root and Champ finished second with four faults in 36.15, while Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster and Bonnaroo Z rounded out the top three, with the fastest four fault first round time of 79.28.

Purchased at the prestigious Ballypatrick auction, BP Lady Masterpiece is by the legendary stallion Diamant de Semilly out of a Cruising mare and was imported into Canada in February of this year. The young mare comes from exceptional bloodlines with proven international pedigree.

“Her sister jumped the five-star at Aachen, so she’s destined for big things. She was the four-year-old champion in Dublin,” Epp said.

Epp, clearly impressed with her new partner, did not hold back her praise. “She is perfect. She’s perfect about everything. She does no wrong.”

The Crooks Young Horse Clear Round classes are now offered with no entry fee for the 2026 season and feature two classes per week at heights 0.90m, 1.0m, 1.20m, and 1.30m. Sponsored by Crooks Show Jumping, the series is designed to encourage the development of young show jumping talent by giving breeders, trainers, and prospective buyers the opportunity to view the industry’s best breeding programs in a competitive setting at Thunderbird Show Park.

The series returns to tbird next month for the Odlum Brown BC Open, May 26–31.

Crooks Young Horse 1.30m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. BP Lady Masterpiece / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 0/0 35.85
2. Champ / Travis Root / USA / Lindsay Wendt / 0/4 36.15
3. Bonnaroo Z / Tiffany Foster / CAN / Artisan Farms LLC / 4 79.28
4. Hurray K van Kattenheye Z / Philip Carey / IRL / Tracey Epp / 8 72.93
5. Otis VF / Katie Laurie / NZL / Ellicia Edgar / 8 84.75

LANGLEY, BC – Gareth Graves (CAN) piloted his homebred mare O’Maryanne (“Annie”) to a commanding victory in the Crooks Young Horse 1.20m section at Thunderbird Show Park’s Spring Festival on Friday, stopping the clock at 34.75 seconds—more than four seconds faster than the runners-up.

Alicia Gadban-Henaut (CAN) on Talk Talk de Longchamps Z finished second in 38.72. Georgia Hunt (CAN) and Chapter One took third in 36.24 with four faults.

Bred by Graves himself, the striking nearly 18-hand mare is the first foal out of Coupe Champagne, a “local celebrity” mare campaigned up to the 1.40m height by Brian Morton and Chelsea McNeill before Graves took over the reins. Retired in 2017, Coupe Champagne became a broodmare, producing five foals—with Annie leading the way.

“I’m just over the freaking moon. She’s so lovely,” said Graves, noting his special connection with the Diamant de Semilly mare.

“I’ve never had this kind of connection with one. I love horses, but this is just a very different feeling. We’re very proud. Anyone who gives me five minutes of their time, it always circles back to Annie. And I’m so proud because really, she’s very green. But she’s so gutsy.”

Now aged seven, Annie had a relatively late start in her jumping career. Graves believes that patience has paid off in her development.

“She’s seven, she’s almost 18 hands, so we started only jumping at five. I guess by a certain standard she’s a bit behind, but to me she’s almost where I wish she needs to be in her body, in her brain to do this.”

Graves isn’t shy about Annie’s long-term potential, either.

“The Olympic Games, obviously,” he laughed.

“No, really, I think she’s got a big, big long future and I’m just trying to do my best for her and trying to keep up with her talent as best I can. I have a very strong feeling for the horse, as anyone with Instagram can probably tell. Check your socials!”

New this year, the Crooks Young Horse classes are now offered with no entry fee for the 2026 season. The series features two classes per week at each height level: 0.90m, 1.0m, 1.20m, and 1.30m. Designed to encourage the development of young show jumping talent, the Crooks Young Horse series gives breeders, trainers, and prospective buyers the opportunity to view the industry’s best breeding programs in a competitive setting at Thunderbird Show Park.

The Crooks Young Horse series returns to tbird May 26–31 for the Odlum Brown BC Open.

Crooks Show Jumping Young Horse 1.20m

1. O’Maryanne / Gareth Graves / CAN / Jillian Halina / 0/0 34.75
2. Talk Talk de Longchamps / Alicia Gadban-Henaut / Alicia Gadban-Henaut / 0/0 38.71
3. Chapter One / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Abigail Cantelon / 0/4 36.24
4. Clover B Sweet TL  / Travis Root / USA / Lindsay Wendt / 2 82.94
5. Up Pleasure / Allison Lagan / CAN / Allison Lagan / 3 83.97
6. Wailea / Katie Laurie / NZL / Attache Stables / 4 77.74

Carla Diewert is the winningest rider of Thunderbird Show Park’s spring series. But it’s her school-to-win strategy when the bell rings to signal the start of the 45 second countdown timer that she credits for her success in the ring.

“People always are in a rush when they get in there. I’m paying for this 45 seconds to school the horses properly in the ring and I’m going to use that time,” she explained.

“I show [my horses] the whole ring and I look at the clock to make sure that I cross the timers in time. But I might as well use my 45 seconds because both of my horses are quite spooky, actually. And then once they see everything, then they’ve got it dialled [in]. Then they’re really good.”

Her approach has been a winning one with WH Corona at Thunderbird Show Park these past two weeks. The Foothills, AB based rider won two classes and finished second in the Maui Jim Grand Prix at last week’s April Season Opener with the Canadian-bred gelding. This week at the Spring Festival, they topped both of the weekend’s feature classes, winning the Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1.35m Open Jumper Classic on Friday and the tbird Grand Prix 1.40m on Sunday.

“[WH Corona] hasn’t had a rail in two weeks. He’s been phenomenal!” she said of the 17.2 hand bay (Carthago Sun III x Charmeur). “He’s green at this level and I’m finally giving him a chance.”

“The chain on my bit broke in the jump off, so I was a little bit worried that I might lose control of him but he still listened to me pretty well. I didn’t make quite as quick of a turn after the double, but I’m glad that I was able to get him back to the vertical even after I opened the gallop up.”

Taylor Winter and Cella gave chase, crossing the timers half a second faster, but pulled a rail at the final oxer to settle for second. Izo and Locklyn Williamson finished third on a single time fault in the first round.

While Diewert is well acquainted with her partner of 10 years in WH Corona, the horse has never been the most straight forward ride.

“I got him as a 5-year-old sales horse from Beta Wachter and I said to Beta, ‘I don’t trust him to be tried out, he’s so difficult.’ He’d buck and he’d take off and he’d do a lot of random stuff. I said, ‘I don’t feel like it’s safe. Let’s work out a deal that he’d be a horse for me.’”

She bought the horse at age 6 and said the now 16-year-old Canadian warmblood is just starting to hit his stride.

“I’ve been doing this a really long time. I had a hiatus for a while due to a few injuries, but I try to just go with what the horses want to do. I don’t put a lot of pressure on myself at this point in my career. [That being said] it is hard to stop when you’re on a roll…”

International show jumping returns to Thunderbird Show Park next month with the CSI4* Canadian Premier, May 21–25 and the CSIO4* Odlumn Brown BC Open, May 27–June 1. Tickets are on sale now at tbird.ca.

tbird Grand Prix 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. WH Corona / Carla Diewert / CAN / Carla Diewert / 0/0 42.6
2. Cella / Taylor Winter / CAN / Taylor Winter / 0/4 42.04
3. Izo / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Desiree Johnson / 1 88.03
4. Brad 7 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 1 88.54
5. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 4 78.38
6. A Crown Royale / Ayla Martinoff / CAN / Ayla Martinoff / 4 78.46
7. EZ Ace / Dana Henson / CAN / Bradon Equestrian Ltd / 5 88.78
8. Pericola van de Looise Heide /  Ashley Papalia / CAN / Ashley Papalia / 17 92.73
9. Klasse One / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / RF
10. Infostar / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Georgia Hunt / RT

Most riders will stumble upon a heart horse in their career—one that captures their imagination, teaches them how to be a better horse person and fills their heart with gratitude. For Langley local Ariya Dinwoodie it happened at age four when she helped her mother, Sarah, select a BC-bred Oldenburg foal at Dreamscape Farms.

Mom’s hope was that the foal would be her daughter’s future show horse. “The whole goal was for me to bring a horse up for her, because we can’t afford to buy a $150,000 horse. So we thought we’d try to make one,” explained Sarah.

Eight years later, that dream is being realized—and in spectacular style. Now 12-year-old Ariya made her first rated show appearance on Dramatic DSF, aka “Rosie,” at tbird’s Spring Festival and won their derby debut.

We caught up with Ariya and Sarah to hear more about their journey.

You were only four when you helped your mom pick this horse, Ariya. What do you remember about the first time you saw Rosie?

Ariya: My mom was looking to buy a foal, so I came with her to Dreamscape Farms. I saw Rosie and I said, ‘You should buy this one.’ I liked her because she was very friendly and she looked like she was black and I really wanted a black horse, but it turns out she’s just a really dark chestnut.

[Once she was old enough to start training] my mom and Kristen Johnson started her and then Cheryl Keith showed her in the Pre-Green and Baby Green divisions and did some derbies. My mom showed her up to the 3’ Adult Amateur hunters. Last year she was leased to [junior rider] Sylvie Haas and [her trainer] Elizabeth Nelson at Legacy Hunter Jumper and they took her all around the USA, which really helped with her training to get her ready for me. I couldn’t really ride her before—I had to wait a long time so I could get stronger because she was lazy.

Sarah, what was Dramatic like to develop as a young horse?

Sarah: She was pretty simple, but of course she’s a boss mare. She shows every emotion. If you leg her, her ears go back. She doesn’t like other horses. At the beginning, the warm up ring used to be pretty hard—she’d get so distracted from the other horses. Sometimes, we’d skip the warmup and just go in the ring and do a low round and hope for the best because she gives you her full concentration when she’s in the room alone. She’s gotten much better about it with age and experience.

We decided to lease her out last year because Ariya wasn’t quite ready for her and she was foot shorter. She’s grown a lot. But we’d see Rosie at the horse shows, and Ariya has been dreaming about getting her back. Now it’s all worked out.

Talk a bit about your reunion. How does it feel to have her back and what’s she like in the barn?

Ariya: I love her! I was really happy to see her come back. I started riding Rosie in November. She’s been really good. She’s more lazy at the barn. She kind of wakes up at the horse show. She can be funny sometimes. She’s not very nice to other horses, but she’s nice to people and she knows her job at the horse show. She knows how to get down the lines.

She likes Stud Muffins. My mom taught her how to smile, so she smiles every time to get a treat. She likes outside rings better than indoor rings. Sometimes it can be hard for me to get her cantering, but when she sees the jump, she’s good.

You two made your derby debut on Saturday in the tbird Hunter Teams Challenge. Was it extra pressure to ride your first derby together on a team?

Ariya: I was really excited to wear tails for the first time! I wasn’t actually as nervous as I thought I would be. I was mainly nervous for the course because I was scared I was going to forget it. I knew that Rosie could do it and the jumps weren’t that big so I knew I could do it. I was a bit worried that I was going to let my team down but it turned out all okay.

A little better than all okay, I’d say. Your team won against nine other teams.

Ariya: I got the highest score in the 2’6” round. We did all the high options too.

Sarah: After the Derby, she said: “I love you so much to Rosie. We’re never selling her.” She was so happy.

Mom, is it more or less nerve wracking watching Ariya on a horse you developed?

Sarah: I’ve known Rosie since she was a foal, so I trust her. She never stops. She goes for it, no matter what. I mean, I’m sure I’ll be a more of a wreck when the jumps get to 3′ and up, but I just know the horse so well, so it’s awesome. It was so amazing to see my two babies out there all grown up. 

Looking ahead, what are your plans for the summer show season?

Ariya: I hope we can go up to 3′ and I’ll probably do some jumpers to work towards the equitation classes in August or September, like the Good Hands & Seat or the Mini Medal. She’s really a good hunter, but I think she can do the lower level jumpers. She’s never done a 3’6” round before, but maybe we’ll try it one day next year.

We look forward to watching you two progress this summer!

Amara Gottwald, Amryn Takhar and Ariya Dinwoodie brought their ‘A’ game to the Spring Festival on Friday.

Dubbed the A-Team for the shared letter of their first names, the trio topped the $10,000 tbird Hunter Derby Teams Challenge.

Ten teams came forward in the most competitive field yet for the unique competition, which features teams of three horse-and-rider combinations, each of which jumps a derby course at a different height—2’6″, 3′ or 3’3″. Scores are accumulated for an overall score.

The winning team—comprised of riders hailing from Eliza Hunt’s Obsidian Hunter Jumper Farms in Delta, BC—finished on a total score of 250.5.

All three riders are new to Hunt’s program and all three managed to crack the 80 barrier.

Dinwoodie, 12, jumped the 2’6″ height on 9-year-old mare Dramatic DSF, earning a score of 83.5 in her derby debut.

“She had a stellar round, and that was her first derby ever, and first derby on ‘Rosie,'” said Hunt. “Ariya actually helped pick the mare as a foal when she was about five years old, so it’s kind of cool that she actually gets to ride her and show her now.”

Gottwald and her partner of two years, Pac Man TW, led the way for the team with a high score of 84.5 at the 3’ height, despite limited derby experience.

“She doesn’t generally do Pac Man in the hunters,” said Hunt of Gottwald’s 11-year-old 1.20m jumper and equitation horse. “They had a really, really smooth round. All the distances were nice. Super rhythm for her and Pac-Man.”

Rounding off that group was Takhar on her 15-year-old gelding Carmelo, another new student that moved to Hunt’s facility in March. “She showed last week in the hunters and was champion in the Large Junior Hunters. This week, she decided she wanted to do a little bit more of the equitation and the medals and then also help us with the team derby.”

Hunt also captained the second place finishing team—Pony in the Middle—represented by Sylvi Jenkins,  Hazel McLean and Ashley Arnoldt.

Carla Diewert and WH Corona are on a podium streak. The pair picked up their second win in the Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1.35m Open Jumper Classic in as many weeks on Friday. They also won the YETI 1.30m Open Jumper and were second in the Maui Jim Grand Prix 1.40m at last week’s April Season Opener.

At the Spring Festival, they were back to their winning ways, topping the six-horse jump off by over a second. Their winning time was 37.62 seconds. Georgia Hunt and Infostar took second in 38.73 seconds. Amanda Sinnett and Connecticut slotted into third in 42.8.

“After the double I really sliced the vertical, then I really turned quickly to the last jump,” said Diewert, who qualified both her mounts for the jump off. “I definitely tried to go too fast on my first horse [Cogito]. I’m a little rustier on that one. I haven’t shown him outdoors since August last year, but [WH Corona] I showed last week so I felt more comfortable to go fast.”

Diewert’s partnership with WH Corona is a long one—she’s been in the irons with the 16-year-old gelding (Carthago Sun III x Charmeur) for 10 years. But the speedy bay still keeps her on her toes. A spook on their way to the first fence in the first round had Diewert making an unplanned circle to re-organize before they got down to business.

“He was just goofing around. He has his own fun and games sometimes. But then once I start on course, he’s like, ‘Oh, I guess I better concentrate.’ He thinks he’s pretty funny,” smiled the Foothill, AB based rider.

“Last week before the jump off [in the Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1.35m Open Jumper Classic] he did the same kind of thing, but only half as badly. This time I was thought, okay I’ve got to circle and get this a little more organized.”

Diewert will look to keep their win streak alive on Sunday in the $10,000 tbird 1.40m Grand Prix. Tickets are available on tbird.ca.

$2,500 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 37.62
2. Infostar / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Georgia Hunt / 0/0 38.73
3. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/0 38.87
4. Connecticut / Amanda Sinnett / CAN / Amanda Sinnett / 0/0 42.8
5. Brad 7 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 0/0 43.24
6. A Crown Royale / Ayla Martinoff / CAN / Ayla Martinoff / 0/8 39.92
7. Cogito / Carla Diewert / CAN / Carla Diewert / 0/8 41.75
8. Samba de Landetta / James McDonald / CAN / Diana McDonald / 1 85.29
9. Cella / Taylor Winther / CAN / Taylor Winther / 4 77.35
10. EZ Ace / Dana Henson / CAN / Bradon Equestrian Ltd / 4 80.15