Kara Chad Takes Two at Odlum Brown BC Open

Kara Chad (CAN) continued her winning streak on Thursday at the Odlum Brown BC Open at Thunderbird Show Park, adding the CSI2* $31,100 Friends of tbird 1.45m title to her earlier victory (see below) — this time aboard the 8-year-old Chicago.

Though it marked her first time winning two ranking classes in one day, Chad wasn’t surprised by the Anglo European gelding’s rapid success.

“He has so much jump,” she said of Chicago (USA Today x Cardento 933). “Everything’s a walk in the park for him. Every time I jump, he just keeps getting better. For how little he’s done, he just understands the game. Every time you ask him to do something or try to teach him something, the next time he’s better. It’s really exciting to work with the horse that you know is going to jump really big fences one day.”

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Purchased from the Whitaker family in Great Britain, where he was bred and started by Will and Jim Whitaker, Chicago has thrived under Chad’s guidance. Despite limited two-star experience, she trusted he was ready for the win.

One of just six clears, Chad faced stiff competition in the jump-off.

“My plan was to be really efficient,” she explained. “That’s maybe the second jump-off I’ve done on him. He’s very good at turning back on fences. He has so much scope that I could just sit quietly and he just fires through it. The last two [fences] were a bit of a run, but he has a massive stride and he really enjoyed it.”

Their winning time of 44.97 seconds held against strong challengers, including Conor Swail (IRL) with Count Me In (2nd) and Karrie Rufer (USA) aboard Stern Dei Folletti (3rd).

Chad credits her consistent focus on pace and rhythm for these results.

“Once you get to the highest level of the sport, that’s what wins classes,” she elaborated. “It’s really important when you have the right horses, and they’re ready for it, that you focus on teaching them to go fast and teaching yourself to learn how to make that horse fast.”

The day grew even sweeter when her fiancé, Matt Sampson, won a 1.45m class in St. Gallen with the British team. Partners in Maple Park Farm, their transatlantic operation has flourished over five years of producing top horses.

“Being in it together, we’re bouncing ideas off each other and feeding off confidence from each other. When he wins a class in the morning, I’m like, ‘I’m gonna win this class later!’ Healthy competition only benefits both of us. He’s taught me so much. He’s an extremely accomplished rider and such a natural horseman.”

CSI2* $31,100USD Friends of Tbird 1.45m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults/Time

1. Chicago / Kara Chad / CAN / Kara Chad / 0/0/44.97
2. Count Me In / Conor Swail / IRL / Mannon Farm / 0/0/45.31
3. Stern Dei Folletti / Karrie Rufer / Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC / 0/0/45.85
4. Ellouthago PS / Zume Gallaher / USA / Blue Gate Stables, LLC / 0/4/43.54
5. Glacier ZF / Shauna Cook / CAN / Zeidler Farm Canada 2017 Ltd / 0/4/44.10

A woman riding a bay horse over a fence at tbird.

Kara Chad and Corinna Z. (tbird/Kim Gaudry Photography)

Corinna Z is a Homegrown Winner

Kara Chad (CAN) had been chasing a four-star win since arriving in Langley for the Canadian Premier where she finished runner up in two CSI4* classes. On Thursday at the Odlum Brown BC Open, she seized it.

Partnered with Corinna Z, Chad was one of eight clears in the CSIO4* $31,100 Fobi 1.45m. Returning last for the jump-off, she sped to a career best finish on the 9-year-old mare, securing victory in 40.94 seconds—more than half a second faster than runner-up James Chawke (IRL) aboard Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z. McKayla Langmeier (USA) and Pepita VD Rollebeek took third.

“She’s actually a homebred, so it makes the win even more special,” Chad said. “I thought for 1.45m, it was quite a bold course, but a great jump-off course. I was able to watch James [Chawke] and Conor [Swail] and all those great riders to see the numbers and where I could make up time. Fortunately, it worked out.”

Corinna Z (Cornet Obolensky x Kannan) began her career in France before Chad took the reins at age 5, meticulously developing her to this level. Bred from a mare Chad rode as a junior, the young star has inherited her dam’s best traits.

“[Her dam] was actually a mare I rode when I was 12,” Chad explained. “[Winia Van’t Vennehof] was an amazing junior jumper—super game, super fast. Corinna definitely took on all the good qualities of her mom and, I think, all the good qualities of her dad. We were very lucky to end up with her.”

Competing in her first 1.50m just a week prior, Corinna is proving herself a rising star. “She’s quite small, so we weren’t sure how big she’d jump, but she’s proving that height is not an issue,” Chad said. “It’s so exciting. Even if she doesn’t win, it’s just amazing to be able to produce a horse up to that level from the beginning. I think we always knew that she was very, very special.”

In the barn, Corinna is as charming as she is competitive. “In the stall, she’s so sweet and cuddly—the type of horse that knickers when you walk in,” Chad shared. “And she’s very motivated by food. She loves her food. But when it’s game time, she knows.”

With multiple podium finishes this week and now a win, Chad is reaping the rewards of years spent developing her string. “I’ve been building these horses to this level for a few years,” she said. “All the pieces are coming together, and this is the best group I’ve had.”

Competing on home soil made the victory even sweeter. “I love this show,” Chad said of Thunderbird.

CSI4* $31,100USD Fobi 1.45m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults/Time

1. Corinna Z / Kara Chad / CAN / Kara Chad / 0/0/40.94
2. Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z / James Chawke / IRL / James Chawke / 0/0/41.46
3. Pepita VD Rollebeek / McKayla Langmeier / USA / Raffterty Farm LLC / 0/0/43.47
4. Casira / Mark Kinsella / IRL / Marisa Metzger / 0/0/45.76
5. Farinjo des Mec / Bliss Heers / USA / Bridgeside Farms L.L.C. / 0/0/50.44

International jumping continues Friday with the $117,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix 1.55m.

Results here.

Livestream here.