Canadian driver Kelly Houtappels-Bruder, originally from Ariss, ON, who now lives in Steensel, NED, has reclaimed the top spot in the FEI Driving Singles World Ranking, moving ahead of Switzerland’s Mario Gandolfo with 84 points to his 74. Houtappels-Bruder had previously secured top spot in the World Rankings in November 2022.
Kelly Houtappels-Bruder and Flip
Photo Credit: S. Bailly Centaure Production
Together with Flip (Fidertanz x Carprilli), a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding she co-owns with Frank Houtappels, the duo has had an impressive season, winning the CAI3* at Haras du P in in France in July and the CAI3* in St. Margarethen, Austria, in August, both against large international fields. The 41-year-old and Flip also had a pair of second-place finishes at Buhl and Wettringen in Germany earlier in the year.
“This was our last international competition of the season, and it was so nice finishing the season this way,” Houtappels-Bruder remarked after her latest win. “The entire year has gone well, but we always had one phase that didn’t quite go according to plan – our progress ultimately peaking at the right moment gives a shot of confidence going into next year and ultimately the 2024 World Championships in Le Pin-au-Haras in September.”
Where completion is an enormous feat for horse and rider, 41-year-old Canadian Shannon Thorndyke and gelding Cairo were one of eight athlete and horse combinations who tackled the 120 km course in Llay Llay, Chile on Sept 9. With their fourth-place result, Thorndyke has qualified for the FEI Endurance Pan American Championships in November.
“We completed our final qualifying ride for the PanAms!” Thorndyke shared when reflecting on her result. “My horse, Cairo claimed the coveted title of Best Condition too. It was amazing to be able to race such a fantastic horse!”
Thorndyke is all smiles with Cairo as they return on their 120km track through the orange groves of Llay Llay, Chile
Aboard the 12-year-old gelding owned by Leo Wang, Thorndyke finished in her fourth top 12 placing over the past three months. The duo started the first 40 kilometres (07:30:00) in eighth place, moved up to fifth after 70 km (10:50:30), third place after 100km (13:04:20) and completed the 120km distance in a time of 15:36:20 for fourth place.
Thorndyke holding her trophy for Best Condition together with local groom David.
This performance has paved the way for her to come back to Llay Llay approximately 45kms east of the Pan Am Games Equestrian venue of Quillota during for the FEI Endurance Pan American Championships that will take place November 23-26, 2023.
“I am really excited to be part of the ‘North American’ team with the others coming from the US. It is a great group and the local people are all so wonderful!”
Just 45 minutes from his base in Gloucester, UK, Canadian Olympian Mike Winter captured the British Eventing Five-Year-Old Championship sponsored by The Howden Way riding Happy Time (sired by Dibadu L) at the Cornbury House Horse Trials on Sept. 9.
Winter’s daughter Amelia also competed in the CCI** YH championship while, Winter competed on his World Championships mount El Mundo in the Open Intermediate as a last run as he awaits a selection decision ahead of the upcoming Pan American Games.
Michael Winter and Happy Time
“It is so amazing to be able to produce young horses, be given the opportunity to showcase them and be rewarded for the work we have done,” shared Winter. “British Eventing, David Howden, through Cornbury House International and young horse Championships, has created an amazing showcase for the emerging talent in our sport, for the owners and supporters, as well as a place for the public to enjoy.”
Happy Time, sired by Dibadu L, finished on their dressage score of 26.1. Second place Gemma Gurvidi and Nistel O also finished with a score of 26.1, but since Winter was closer to the optimum time of four minutes and 48 seconds on the cross-country, they secured the victory.
“We purchased Happy Time in Holland as a rising 4yo, and we soon brought in long time supporters Hazel and Josh Thompson as half owners to share with us in his journey,” explained Winter about the rising star. “He has been so straight forward to produce and has won or placed in every competition he has done. He is a real professional and always performs when called upon.”
Fresh off her Nations’ Cup debut in Belgium, Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, joined her Canadian Eventing teammate at the Cornbury International & Young Horse Championships. In their first UK competition, Lehari and her grey gelding competed in the CCI-S 3* event and finished in sixth place in a field of 50 athlete and horse combinations.
Kendal Lehari and Audacious
Photo Credit: Kendal Lehari Instagram
Riding Audacious (Iron Man x Rumlum Star), a 10-year-old Canadian Sport Horse she co-owns with Gwen and Rein Lehari, the 36-year-old Lehari began the weekend with a dressage score of 31.2. The Canadian pair added just 0.4 to their score in stadium and with just 2.80 time penalties in cross-country, finished on a final score of 34.40 .
Fresh off a bronze team placing in the BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, Tiffany Foster of Langley, BC, soared her way to a second-place finish in the CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping on Sunday at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament in Calgary, AB.
The famous $3,000,000 Grand Prix is one of the richest in the world and featured some of the top international riders from around the globe. Aboard Figor (VDL Groep Zagreb x Indoctro), a 13-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding that Foster co-owns with Artisan Farms LLC, the pair was one of only five athlete and horse combinations to jump clear in the first round and advance with eleven other pairs to round two.
Beaming with pride for her horse, she reflected on his performance. “We were clear over all the jumps both at the Nations’ Cup and then also today; he was just really with me, he was unbelievable,” said Foster. “He’s matured a lot as a horse and, and now, I think he actually appreciates the noise the crowd makes and all of the atmosphere that comes with Spruce Meadows.”
Tiffany Foster and Figor completing a jump during competition
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
With a tie after two rounds, it came down to a jump-off between Foster and Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and his grey gelding Leone Jei. Foster was first into the ring and had an unfortunate rail in the combination, which left the door open for Fuchs to jump clear and secure the win.
“For me, it was a dream result,” Foster shared. “Of course, we would like to win, but to be second here is also a huge, huge accomplishment for me. There’s been several really important figures in my life and one of them is Laura (Tidball) Balinksy and she was also second here once with the great Lavendel and third here once on Easy Boy. It was just such a dream to me to even compete in this class, so to have a result in the top three I think is something I will be proud of the rest of my life.”
Tiffany Foster and Figor
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
When asked what this means for the Canadian Show Jumping Team, Foster was full of encouragement. “One thing to really acknowledge here is that we had four riders in the top 12, which I don’t think has ever happened before. It gives us a good indicator of where the Canadian team is at right now.”
“The strong performances from all our teammates, Mario, Amy and Erynn, and all of our horses,” she continued, “they have proven that they belong jumping classes like this. I think that this can only give us confidence that we can continue this form.”