They came to tbird with something to prove. Kassidy Keith and Havana won the Grand Prix at the April Season Opener in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but last year — despite posting the fastest time — a single rail dropped them to third.
This week, the local favourites returned to the tbird Arena. And reclaimed their title!
Keith and her brilliant Dutch Warmblood mare (Cardento x Judgement) closed out the week with a commanding win in the Maui Jim 1.40m Grand Prix, stopping the clock in a blistering 34.32 seconds — more than three seconds faster than the runners up — to prove why they were the ones to beat.
“[Havana] was quite ready to go because I haven’t shown at all this week,” said Keith, noting that they jumped just the one class. “So I think she knew what her job was and she was pretty excited to go in the ring and show.”
Katie Laurie (NZL) and her promising new ride, the eight-year-old ZF Chacco Rio, finished second in 37.35 seconds. Three-time U25 winner, Sloane Betker, rounded out the top three, taking third on Indiana II in 38.36 seconds.
While the momentum of past successes is a boon for some riders, Keith says the weight of expectations with Havana is nerve-wracking.
“It’s actually very stressful,” Keith admitted of the spotlight at tbird. “I find it more stressful riding in the ring here at 1.40m than I find going into a three- or four-star anywhere else.”
Despite that pressure, Havana was ready to roll, with a new look in the ring. Keith credited a change in bit from a loose-ring gag to a combination hackamore for unlocking a new level in the speedy mare’s stride.
“I find it’s really opened up her stride and it gives me more adjustability. And she kind of thinks she has all the power. Now she can do her own thing, but I have control,” she smiled.
At age 14, Havana is entering the later stages of her career, but her offspring are coming up the ranks at tbird.
“She has a seven-year-old that’s jumping 1.30m. I think she’ll take a little bit more time [to develop], but she will jump the bigger divisions eventually,” said Keith. “Her other foal is four this year, it’s by my stallion, Fenelon WF. That one will hopefully compete at tbird in the fall.”
As for the spoils of victory? Keith has become something of a collector when it comes to the Maui Jim sunglasses gifted to the top 5 in the class.
“I have two pairs,” said Keith. “I’ve given a pair to my boyfriend. I’ve given a pair to Paige [my groom] and I’ve given a pair to her brother. And I’m going to give [today’s] pair to my dad.”
She will not be doling out shades to her mom, however.
“I love her,” she smiled, “but she loses them all the time.”
With the April Season Opener now in the books, world-class hunter/jumper competition returns to tbird next week for the Spring Festival, highlighted by the Crooks Show Jumping Young Horse divisions, USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, and the tbird Grand Prix. More info here.
Maui Jim Grand Prix 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/0 34.32
2. ZF Chacco Rio / Katie Laurie / NZL / Carissa McCall / 0/0 37.35
3. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 0/0 38.36
4. Chebli / Jill Blunt / USA / Jill Blunt / 0/0 38.38
5. Roark OBF / Katie Laurie / NZL / Jamie Lee / 0/0 38.43
6. Brad 7 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 0/0 39.56
7. Connery / Jill Blunt / USA / Jill Blunt / 0/0 40.96
8. Hercule de Tamerville / Bonnee James / CAN / Bonnee James / 0/4 41.56
9. Dominard / Anne-Sophie Levesque / USA / Anne-Sophie Levesque / 4 70.99
10. Creative / Philip Carey / IRL / Tracey Epp / 4 71.72
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