Sam Walker
Sam Walker and Evita clearing a jump in San Miguel de Allende, MEX on Oct. 29
Photo Credit: Ashley Neuhof
On Oct. 29, Sam Walker of Nobleton, ON, brought home the win at the CSI 5* 1.45 Ranking FEI D Banbajio in San Miguel de Allende, MEX. Walker riding Evita (Canturano x Farmer), a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Marion and Bill Cunningham’s MarBill Hill Farm. The pair raced around the jump-off course in 63.76 to beat Mexico’s Francisco Pasquel on Naranjo, who stopped the clock at 63.93.
A day later in San Miguel de Allende, Walker and Evita topped a starting field of 36 entries in the CSI 5* 1.45 Ranking FEI C Aqua. Walker knew what he needed to do to win, executing his plan, finishing with a time of 40.26 to earn the victory over Mexico’s Patricio Pasquel, who settled for second with a time of 40.71 riding Yoga Santa Rosa
Nikolaus Leckebusch-Peters
Nikolaus Leckebusch-Peters of Georgetown, ON topped a field of 21 duos of athlete and horse to earn the win on Oct. 30 in the CSIYH 1* in San Giovanni in Marignano, ITA. Leckebusch-Peters rode Excentrique Z (Echo Van T Spieveld x Hamlet), a six-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare who is owned by Timur Leckebusch, to a score of 28.09 over Switzerland’s Jane Richard Philips and Aequitus Vh Bergerhof Z, who recorded a 28.19.
Lauren Esdale
On Oct. 31, Lauren Esdale and Missy van de Neerheide (Emerald van’t Ruytershof x Heureka de la Loge), owned by Pauline Esdale, earned the win at the CSI 2*1.35 Big Tour Gas Express in San Miguel de Allende, MEX. The nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare carried the Seagrave, ON, native finished with a time of 40.19 and zero faults in a five-horse jump-off, over Argentina’s Juan Bautista Pidutti Hortas and Baral rua do Carnaval, who stopped the clock at 40.27.
Tiffany Foster
Tiffany Foster and Figor competing at Tryon, NC on Oct. 30
Photo Credit: Shawn McMillen Photography
On Oct. 30, The two-time Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster of North Vancouver, BC earned the win in the CSI 4* Table A in Tryon, NC. Foster rode Figor (VDL Groep Zagreb x Indoctro), a 11-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding owned by Foster and Artisan Farms LLC, topped a four-horse jump-off. The duo’s time of 35.73 was enough to win over USA’s Alessandra Volpi and Berlinda, who stopped the clock at 36.52.
Erynn Ballard
On Oct. 28, Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON outlasted 41 entries at the CSI 2* 1.40 Gold Tour Premier Equestrian in San Miguel de Allende, MEX, Ballard rode Monty Python de L’Amitie (Emerald x Mr. Blue), a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Esperanza Imports LLC and Ilan Ferder, to a 36.78 time in an eight-horse jump-off, outlasting Richard Vogel, who took second place with a time of 37.40 riding Clooney SC.
On Nov. 19, Ballard switched reins to Nanini van D’Abeldreef, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Kannan x Heartbreaker) owned by Esperanza Imports LLC and Ilan Ferder, to earn the win in CSI 4* Table A $25,000 event in Las Vegas, NV. The duo raced around the jump-off course in 28.89 to beat USA’s Karl Cook on E’Special P.S., who stopped the clock at 29.13.
Tik Maynard
On Nov. 10, Tik Maynard captured the top position in the CCI 2*-L event in Tryon, NC. Riding Galileo (San Remo x Rousseau), a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Richard Maynard, recorded a score of 21.8 over USA’s Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp, who took second place with 25.1, while riding Quite Nice 11.