Gryffindor House in the fictional world of Harry Potter favours students who are bold, courageous, and adventurous. The same qualities could describe Dylan Munro’s U25 winning mount Gryffindor de Hay.
“He’s probably my favorite [horse] to ride right now,” said the 22-year-old Canadian rider. “He’s really simple. He’s such a straightforward dude. Nothing really seems to faze him.”
Munro and the 8-year-old Warmblood gelding (Armitages Boy x Levisto) jumped to the top of the MarBill Hill U25 1.35m, powered by Solaris Equestrian, on opening day of the 2024 Summer Fort Welcome, the first of two international weeks of competition at tbird this month.
Twenty combinations came forward for the Peter Holmes’ designed track with 11 cracking the code to advance to the jump off.
Georgia Knight, last season’s U25 champion at tbird, looked poised to add to her win count when she and Ecolano VS Romano set the time to beat at 33.02 seconds. It held for only one round, however. Munro and Gryffindor de Hay shaved more than two tenths of a second off, crossing the timers in 32.88. Knight was relegated to second. Olivia Stephenson and Deister Z finished third in 33.28.
“He’s naturally pretty quick across the ground, so I knew going in I had a pretty good shot to be competitive,” said Munro of his compact grey partner.
“I have so much faith in the horse. He’s been fantastic for me all year and we’ve really developed a great partnership. I just went in there and trusted the homework and tried to do the best I can—and it worked out today.”
Based in Foothills, AB, Munro rides for Attache Stables and is primarily responsible for developing young sales prospects. Gryffindor de Hay was purchased as a six-year-old from German Olympian Ludger Beerbaum and has been under Munro’s saddle for the past two years.
“He’s come a long way,” continued Munro. “Ultimately, all the horses that I ride are sales horses. But, I’ve had him for a while now, and he just keeps getting better and better. I am just so happy for him and really proud of him today.”
The MarBill Hill U25 division continues Thursday with the 1.40m Against the Clock and concludes Saturday with the 1.40m Jump Off.
$5,000 MarBill Bill U25 1.35m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Gryffindor de Hay / Dylan Munro / CAN / Attache Stables / 0/0 32.88
2. Ecolano Vs Romano / Georgia Knight / CAN / Georgia Knight / 0/0 33.02
3. Deister Z / Olivia Stephenson / CAN / Olivia Stephenson / 0/0 33.28
4. Chaccalanda / Oliva Stephenson / CAN / Olivia Stephenson / 0/0 34.01
5. Laviata / Cashelle Levasseur / CAN / Gerard Developments / 0/0 37.19
6. Kristalstar / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker 0/4 35.07
7. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Conor Swail / 0/4 37.84
8. Lurello Z / Katrina Komitsch / CAN / Katrina Komitsch / 0/4 38.38
9. Cassandro B / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Graham Williamson / 0/4 41.24
10. Jillz / Natalie Popham / CAN / Natalie Popham / 0/8 37.6
