Ashley Arnoldt and Light My Fire Take Derby ‒ and More

Langley, BC’s Ashley Arnoldt could hardly carry her winnings following the completion of the Canadian Hunter Derby National Championship on Tuesday, November 5, at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show.

Arnoldt, 23, rode Light My Fire, owned by her mother Jennifer Arnoldt, to the win in the $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby, following their third-place finish in Sunday’s $15,000 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby. They also won the Posh Award, generously donated by Cawthra Burns in memory of her beloved hunter Posh, presented to the highest scoring Junior/Amateur rider in the Canadian Hunter Derby Championship; as well as the Lorna Jean Guthrie Challenge Trophy, awarded to the horse with the highest combined score following the two Derby classes.

These were on top of winning the $25,000 Represent the West Championship (for the fifth year in a row), presented by Equestrian Canada, to the highest-placed horse in the standings representing the West at the National Championship.

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Light My Fire, Arnoldt’s 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion, is a full-time breeding stallion at the family’s Dreamscape Farm. Bought in 2021 to be Ashley’s Grand Prix horse, he was too slow and “chill” for that task but has proven to excel at all things requiring bravery and scope.

“I know, especially at an indoor show like this, that the atmosphere is a LOT.” Remarked Arnoldt. “But I can walk into that ring and know he will go over any jump that you put in front of him.”

When asked if she rode the plan she walked, Arnoldt admitted to making a last-minute decision to take a risk, which thankfully paid off.

“I rode it almost exactly the way I walked it,” she said. “But there was one inside turn I told myself I would watch and see who would do it, and if anybody did it, then I would do it. And if nobody did it, then I wouldn’t do it. Kelley Robinson who rode before me did it. So I said to myself ‘You know what? We’re here. It’s the Royal. It’s such a fantastic show. I’m going to jump the first three jumps and if he’s following me for that handy turn and he seems well, we will do it.’ We took the risk, and it paid off.”

They earned a base score of 87 points before 10 high performance and nine handy bonus points were added for a total score of 106. The 21 horse and rider combinations competed over a beautifully set hunter derby course designed by Meghan Rawlins of Victoria, BC, and decorated by Evie Frisque of Alliston, ON.

Results here.