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