Photo ©tbird/Kady Risby
Langley, BC – Thunderbird Show Park hosts the final event of its 2023 season this week in Langley with the BCHJA Fall Finale, featuring three-star international competition and the CSI3* $100,000 Grand Prix.
Thirty-five equine athletes were brought forward Tuesday for the international horse inspection—a competitive group of horse-and-rider combinations already with winning records during tbird's 50th Anniversary season.
A powerful female lineup will be on display this week, as Tiffany Foster (CAN), Bretton Chad (CAN), Kassidy Keith (CAN) and Brooke Morin (USA) all return to tbird after recording memorable victories in August and September.
Just a week ago at the Harvest Celebration, Keith topped the MarBill Hill U25 League final for the third consecutive year, doing so aboard her longtime partner, Havana. In August, this pair also jumped double-clear for a third-place finish in the CSI3* The Keg Grand Prix—the biggest finish of their respective young careers.
Local favorite Foster claimed four international victories at tbird in August, including the CSI3* Kubota Canada Winning Round 1.45m with Jetoulle-S at the Summer Fort Classic. The 9-year-old mare has blossomed under Foster's tutelage this summer and may jump her first international 1.50m class at the BCHJA Fall Finale.
Chad revealed a talented mount of her own this summer in 9-year-old CSF Princess Blue, who was best in the Maui Jim Grand Prix at August's Summer Fort Welcome. The agile bay will contest the second three-star event of her career this week. Meanwhile, Morin will return to the level with her veteran partner NKH Carrido, with whom she jumped her first five-star classes in Calgary this summer. In August, the duo took a U25 win at tbird, setting them up for a confident finish to their season in Langley.
Travis Root (USA) shined brightest at the jog, receiving the Equi-Products Best Dressed Award. Sporting an orange tbird logo cap and ribbon, Root went home with a $100 gift card for his standout style down the jogging lane.
Competition at the Summer Fort Classic CSI3* kicks off Wednesday with the CSI3* tbird 1.40m Speed.
All classes in the Thunderbird Jumper Arena Arena stream live on tbird.ca.
Tickets are available for Saturday's CSI3* $100,000 Grand Prix 1.50m at tbird.ca/tickets.
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