Colby Winther Konig of Prince George, BC, was crowned the JC Medal National Champion on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 7, 2023, in the Canadian Championship presented by The Usherwood Family. The 15-year-old Winther Konig and Big Ticket were flawless in three phases in a field of 16 combinations.
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The group of riders qualified from across the country in four regions (Atlantic, British Columbia, Ontario and Prairie). Any regions that did not have enough qualified entries, the next qualified rider from the National Rankings was accepted. To be eligible for the National Final, riders had to have competed in a Regional Final.
Winther Konig rode homebred barn favourite and her partner for the past five years Big Ticket (Kupido K x Cabardino), an 11-year-old Canadian warmblood gelding owned by her mother and coach Sorine Winther of Ridge Country Farm in Prince George.
‘Snickers’ was the first horse that the young rider took on after the large ponies and the pair have been chasing the big medals for the last three years. Even though she came to this year’s Royal as a reserve having placed fifth in regionals, the pair’s talent and equitation skills in the ring saw them score the second highest in the jumping phase with an 83, then rise to the top of the flat.
The pair moved on with three other combinations to the final test on a score of 173 where they were then asked to hand gallop, canter, trot, and counter canter fences, halt midway and return to line. Winther Konig won the final with a score of 88 and earned themselves the first-place ribbon presented by members of the Equestrian Canada Jumping Committee and the Leslie P. Usherwood trophy by members of the Usherwood family.
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Colby Winther Konig and Big Ticket with Taylor Winther-Blair
“This is my first time at the Royal, and I’m so excited, it was really fun!” said Winther Konig after the win. She felt that even though Big Ticket ‘Snickers’ is a puppy dog, sweet and loveable personality, he was ready to win with her today. “I think he has adjusted to the atmosphere so well. I had the practice class this morning and he was so relaxed. Going into this today I was so ready to trust him, and I was like, okay, you got it.”
She was also very grateful for her support network. “I just want to thank everyone that has helped me get here. It’s been a long journey but I’m just so excited, this is amazing.”
Rounding out the top four positions were Madison Ride (Toronto, ON) and Media Luna, owned by Ontario Inc., Ava Campbell (Mono, ON) and her own Cellini and finishing in fourth place was Elodie Lemieux (Saint-Lambert, QC) and her own King’s Landing.
For more information on the JC Medal National Championship, presented by The Usherwood Family, please click here.
It was a full starting line up for the $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby at the Royal Horse Show on the evening of Nov. 7, 2023. After 18 of 19 combinations had gone, it was the night’s last competitors Taylor Brooks of Ashton, ON, and Spectre who were victorious. The pair were awarded their win as well as presented with the Lorna Jean Guthrie Challenge Trophy as the overall 2023 Canadian Hunter Derby Champions by Muffie Guthrie and Jeff Brandmaier and their daughter Liza Jean.
Taylor Brooks and Spectre with Wayne McLellan
Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark
On a roll after winning the $15,000 Braeburn Hunter Derby on Sunday, Brooks and Spectre, the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Taylor Bond, earned an impressive base score of 89, 10 high option points and an additional 10 handy bonus points for their efficiency over Ken Krome (USA)’s course for an overall score of 109. This bested second placed Kristjan Wood and Carano by a single point and their own 2022 reserve champion score from the Knightwood Derby last year of 105.
“I am pretty speechless, I think my body is still shaking after that last round,” she confessed when interviewed in front of the crowd. “Spectre is just truly spectacular in every way. I trust him explicitly; he’s never let me down and he just continues to show up and exceed all expectations I could ever have.”
The top five competitors scored above 100 with just a few points separating the leaders. This increased the pressure which Brooks was quick to admit. “Tons of pressure,” she said when asked if the high scores added any. “I mean it could have been anybody’s night. We’ve all worked hard to be here. There’s an amazing group of professionals, amateurs, and juniors in this class with great horses. That first 103 that Emily (Wulff with I’m Very Special Z) laid down, I knew the pressure was on. It was a great night everyone, congratulations and thank you for the opportunity to show here.”
When asked what it felt like to have such a big and strong field of competitors in the hunter derby at the Royal, she continued to be overwhelmed by the evening’s event and their result. “It feels incredible, and I have no words!”
Kristjan Good and Carano
Photo Credit: Jump Media
Rounding out the top six was Kristjan Good and Carano, owned by Alexandra Maletta in second; Kelly Robinson of Russell, ON and 2022 EC Horse of the Year Buckingham, owned by Cawthra Burns in third; Emily Wulff and her own I’m Very Special Z in fourth, Isabelle LaPierre and Carrera S owned by Johannie Legare in fifth and Olivia Groenewegen and her won Chatsworth in sixth.
Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to announce that Claire Robinson of Edmonton, AB, has been awarded the 2023 Orion Cup after consistently achieving outstanding results at the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Under 25 (U25) level.
The Orion Cup was created in memory of one of Canada’s most well-known equine dressage stars – Orion. The Orion Cup is presented to a promising dressage athlete in the process of transitioning from the Young Rider level to Grand Prix.,
Open to Canadian dressage riders aged 16 to 25, the award is presented to the rider with the highest average of three scores from the U25 Grand Prix level. Scores obtained at CDI-level competitions receive a 1% bonus. The program encourages young athletes to focus on training and planning at an elite level, with tangible goals and confidence.
Pia Fortmüller and Claire Robinson
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi
Coming off a successful 2023 season, it comes as no surprise Robinson captured the 2023 title, as she is the highest ranked Canadian currently in the FEI Dressage World Youth Ranking’s – U25, holding 25th place as of Nov. 7. Her impressive 67.618% qualifying average score was earned aboard Glamour Boy (Bonjengel x Jazz), a 12-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding owned by her mother Carol Robinson.
“Growing up in riding and the dressage world, Pia and Orion were local heroes to us here in Alberta – and of course a big inspiration. It’s long been a big dream of mine to compete at the Under 25 level,” said Robinson. She added, “on top of achieving this big goal, to win the Orion Cup is a surreal experience.
21-year-old, Claire Robinson has been competing at the FEI U25 level with Glamour Boy since the fall of 2022. “Of course, I share this success with my best friend and partner, Glamour Boy. His quirky, fun, over the top personality is something I treasure every day and above all, he is a fighter for me in the ring” said Robinson. She attests her gratitude for Glamour Boy, “I could not be more grateful, or more honoured to be receiving this award as a team with him.”
Robinson’s first qualifying score came on March 10 in the Grand Prix 16-25 at the CDI 2023 in Temecula, CA. The duo was awarded a score of 67.094%, plus a 1% CDI bonus, to finish with a score of 68.094%. On June 2, Robinson received her next qualifying score of 66.538%, plus another CDI 1% bonus, to a score of 67.538% at the Ginny Memorial CDI in Sherwood, OR. . She would clinch the Orion Cup on August 11, while representing Canada at the North American Youth Championships in Traverse City, MI. The pair would record a score of 66.231%, plus a 1% CDI bonus to 67.231%.
Claire Robinson and Glamour Boy
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi
Pia Fortmüller, who knows Robinson, is super excited to present the award to her and Glamour Boy. “I am very proud of Claire and her Glamour for winning this award. The U-25 has been an exciting step for them as Claire trained and moved Glamour up to the Grand Prix on her own.”
Fortmüller has strong aspirations for the Canadian duo, “they are both relatively green at this level as it’s also Claire first Grand Prix horse. But the trust that they both have in one another has created a very beautiful and strong partnership, especially because Glamour is an incredibly sensitive horse but has huge potential. And I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for this promising team!”
Orion (Jazz x Consul), a 1996 Dutch Warmblood gelding, was an Olympic Team horse for Canada and was trained to the advanced level by Fortmuller’s former coach, Leslie Reid, who rode Orion at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2009, Fortmuller took over the ride on this incredibly talented horse. The pair would go on to compete at the Grand Prix level, culminating with their selection as the reserve combination for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Sadly, Orion died at the start of 2014. His passing was a devastating loss to Fortmuller and her family, as well as the Canadian Dressage Team.
The Orion Cup pays tribute to this very special horse. Just as Orion was instrumental to the start of Fortmüller’s Grand Prix career, this award provides other talented Canadian dressage athletes with a leg-up in the sport.
Dressage and Para-Dressage Celebrates Outstanding Members
Dressage and para-dressage athletes, horses, owners and volunteers were in the main ring at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, on Nov. 7, 2022.
EC is honoured to recognize the following individuals for their achievements in and contributions to dressage and para-dressage in Canada for 2023. The committee chairs Wendy Christoff (Dressage) and Sue Foell (Para-Dressage) made the award presentation.
Senior Athlete of the Year
Beatrice Boucher
Horse of the Year
Summerwood’s Limei
Owner of the Year
Monica von Glahn
Wendy Christoff, Beatrice Boucher, Christilot Boylen and Monica von Glahn
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi
Athlete of the Year
Roberta Sheffield
Owner of the Year
Simone Williams (pour la location de chevaux au Festival de dressage d’Ottawa)
Horse of the Year
El Colorado
Jody Schloss and Sue Foell
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi