Canada’s own Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, rode to a thrilling win in the $20,000 Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge on Saturday evening, November 2, at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
After leading off with a win in Friday’s opening round of the fan-favourite event at The Royal, Lehari was last to return for Saturday’s final. She rode Audacious, owned by her mother and former Canadian eventer, Gwen Lehari, to another clear round to secure her first-ever title in the Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge with a total time of 178.93 seconds.
“It’s such a rush having that many people in there cheering you on, as well as my family and supporters,” said Lehari, 37. “Everyone’s got your back and wants to see you do well.
“I think this is a really good showcase for our sport,” she continued. “Not a lot of people know much about eventing, so to be able to do it inside [in this environment] is so much fun.”
The Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge returned to the Royal Horse Show this year to deliver the adrenaline-pumping thrills of cross-country to an indoor setting. Featuring a combination of show jumping and cross-country obstacles, the course designed by world-renowned Captain Mark Phillips of Great Britain challenged horses and riders to be both daring and accurate to the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd in the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Lehari has known her winning mount, Audacious, since the Canadian Sport Horse gelding by Ironman was three years old. Now 11, Audacious is living up to his name in every way. “If you Google the word audacious, that is him to a T. He jumps out of the paddocks, he loves beer and Krispy Kreme donuts, and he’s a character,” joked Lehari with adoration of Audacious. “Everything is a bit too easy for him, so something like this is fun because it keeps him focused. He likes performing for a crowd, so he has been eating it all up [here at The Royal].”
Boyd Martin, the visiting U.S. rider and a four-time eventing Olympian, jumped clear in the final, but was off the pace in 182.63 seconds to finish second riding Catarina for owner Nancy Hathaway.
“I love this show, and what a huge honour and privilege it is to ride here,” said Martin, who last competed at The Royal in 2017. “It’s high energy, nerve-wracking and it happens fast. At a normal horse trial, we have a couple days to process how things are going to ride. I think Mark built a course that was horse friendly but still challenging enough, and these Canadian girls sure are quick!”
Three-time Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, rounded out the top three with a clear performance and total time of 190.14 seconds on Watson GS, owned and bred by Charlotte Schickedanz.
$20,000 Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge – Final Standings
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Kendal Lehari / Uxbridge, ON / Audacious / 0 / 178.93
2. Boyd Martin / Cochranville, PA / Catarina / 0 / 182.63
3. Jessica Phoenix / Cannington, ON / Watson GS / 0 / 190.14
4. Megane Sauve / St. Paul, QC / Nuance / 0 / 195.74
5. Colleen Loach / Dunham, QC / Major Chase / 10 / 179.66
6. Holly Jacks / Hillsburgh, ON / Summer Solstice / 10 / 199.75
7. Diana Burnett / Blackstock, ON / Whatsyourproblem / 10 / 208.02
8. Hanna Hansen / Toronto, ON / Don’t Blink / 20 / 189.72
9. Jamie Kellock / Cedar Valley, ON / Summer Bay / 50 / 109.82
Kelly Soleau-Millar kicked off derby competition at the Royal Horse Show by winning the $15,000 Braeburn Farms Canadian Hunter Derby riding Nitecap for owner Jeff Brandmaier and Margaret “Muffie” Guthrie’s Knightwood Stables. (Ben Radvanyi Photography)
Braeburn Farms Canadian Hunter Derby
Hunter competition was showcased on Sunday, November 3, in the $15,000 Braeburn Farms Canadian Hunter Derby. Kelly Soleau-Millar of Wellington, FL, topped a field of 21 entries on a leading score of 102 riding Nitecap for owner Jeff Brandmaier and Margaret “Muffie” Guthrie’s Knightwood Stables.
Soleau-Millar had never sat on Nitecap before Sunday, but picked up the catch ride in winning fashion with a base score of 84 before 10 high performance and eight handy bonus points were added. Kristjan Good of Campbellville, ON, finished second just one point off the lead with a score of 101 aboard Levi VDL, owned by John Kimmel. On a final score of 100, Ashley Arnoldt of Langley, BC, took third riding Light My Fire for owner Jennifer Arnoldt.
$15,000 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby Results
Sunday, November 3
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Score
1. Kelly Soleau-Millar / Wellington, FL, / Nitecap / 102
2. Kristjan Good / Campbellville, ON / Levi VDL / 101
3. Ashley Arnoldt / Langley, BC / Light My Fire / 100
4. Kelley Robinson / Russell, ON / Twelfth Nite / 99.5
5. Diana Dionisio / Waterdown, ON / Caran 5 / 98
6. Quincy Hayes / Aurora, ON / Chantilly Lace / 96
7. Emily Wulff / Claremont, ON / I’m Very Special Z / 96
8. Katrina Klimach / Victoria, BC / Black Pearl / 92.5
9. Brian Moggre / Flower Mound, TX / Fuerte Ferrero / 91
10. Wes Morrison / Kenilworth, ON / Coeur De Lion II / 91
For more information on the Royal Horse Show, including daily schedules and to purchase tickets, visit www.royalfair.org/royalhorseshow.
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