Junior rider Charlotte Reeve from Coquitlam made her debut appearance in Thunderbird Show Park's Good Hands & Seat 1.10m Medal Final on Thursday evening, Sept. 12, alongside 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Corona OS.
Open to amateurs junior riders, the Thunderbird Good Hands & Seat Medal Final is a jumper-style equitation class that features both 0.9m and 1.10m height divisions.
Over the first round course, riders are judged on their ability to readily control their horse while navigating the course with good timing, rhythm, ease, and good form. The top four combinations will return for a work-off to determine the final standings.
Thursday's work-off test in the 1.10m division required riders to canter the JustWorld International vertical, make a short rollback to an oxer followed by a trot jump and a change of lead before jumping the final tbird oxer.
"It means a lot [to win this class] because, for the past two years, I've been working so hard to get [Corona] to come together and just trust me. It's taken a lot of sweat and tears, and it just feels unbelievable to finally have it pay off," said an elated Reeve.
Reeve was the clear winner, earning a first round score of 83 from the judges. She had a ten point lead heading into the work-off, in which she clinched the title.
Amryn Takhar and Caramelo finished second and Ava Mikkelsen took third on Diamond Contender VF.
“I was hoping to win, but honestly, there’s some pretty good competition,” continued Reeve, who trains with Andrea Strain and has been partnered with Corona for three years.
“He was jumping overall really good, but I think the trot jump was [where we won it].”
Reeve and Corona OS will attempt to repeat their winning formula in the CET Regional Finals at tbird’s BCHJA Fall Finale, which started Tuesday, Sept. 17 and goes until Sept. 22.
