Shenae Johnston and Fanta picked up right where they left off. The pair swept the CET Mini Medal and Jump Canada Regional Finals at Thunderbird Show Park’s BCHJA Fall Finale last year. On Friday, they returned to take the overnight lead in the CET Medal Regional Finals, sponsored by Equi-Products, with a score of 88 in the flat and gymnastic phase.
Johnston guided Fanta, her partner of three years, through a test that featured two changes of lead on a serpentine, a trot jump into a double combination, and an oxer–double combination–vertical bending line in both directions that tested varying stride counts. They were the only combination to land and hold the counter canter into the triple combination—a moment that separated them from the field.
“He’s really good about landing leads if you ask him,” Johnston said. “He’s right there with you and he’ll do whatever you ask.”
The test also required competitors to execute a rein back, hand gallop to the final fence, and both posting and sitting trot.
Payton Betker and Canberre 59 sit second on a score of 84, with Teia Fennell and Graffiti in third on 82.5. All riders will return Saturday for the jumping phase, held in reverse order of Friday’s standings. The top six after both phases return for a mandatory “ride off.”
Johnston credits her trainers, Jordan Scott and Katrina Klimach, with preparing her for the challenge.
“I know my horse,” Johnston said. “Their advice was to have a good enough canter because sometimes I like to go too slow everywhere or gallop around, so just have a strong canter and do the flat work well.”
Johnston describes Fanta as a horse with plenty of personality. “He’s really sweet, he loves cookies, he thinks it’s all about him,” she said with a laugh. “He’s a great equitation horse, but he’s also a very hard equitation horse. He’s so big, he’s so much to put together. But when he’s on it, he’s great.”
The CET Medal Regional Final, sponsored by Equi-Products, is a qualifier for the National Final held in November at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. The Regional Final is open to the top 20 riders in the BC region up to age 21, with the flat/gymnastics phase counting for 50 per cent of the combined score and Saturday’s jumping phase making up the other half. The top four finishers advance to the Final.
CET Medal Regional Final, sponsored by Equi-Products, Top 8 — Flat/Gymnastic Phase
| Rank | Horse | Rider | Nation | Owner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fanta | Shenae Johnston | CAN | Shenae Johnston | 88 |
| 2 | Canberre 59 | Payton Betker | CAN | Sloane Betker | 84 |
| 3 | Graffiti | Teia Fennell | CAN | Teia Fennell | 82.5 |
| 4 | Cynergy Z | Ellie Boon | CAN | Ellie Boon | 82 |
| 5 | Cool Wodka | Elizabeth Perkins | CAN | Audrey Cole | 77 |
| 6 | Diamir 4 | Isla Moldenhauer | CAN | Ashin Colburn | 72 |
| 7 | Heartline | Stephanie Lu | CAN | Stephanie Lu | 50 |
| 8 | Chacco’la | Katherine Zhang | CAN | Jamie Ackerman | 35 |
Photo credit: Kady Dane Photography
