Isis Landsbergen (CAN) didn’t have much time to celebrate her win in the $5,000 MarBill Hill U25 League 1.35m. The 25-year-old had another horse to show and a student to teach before her workday was through.
Landsbergen cut her college education short to pursue a riding career full-time, and it’s proven to be the right move. The Alberta native has successfully stepped up to the grand prix level, and on Thursday afternoon she rode her own Witja to top honors in the opening class of the MarBill Hill U25 League at the Summer Fort Classic CSI3*, besting a five-horse jump-off.
Leadoff rider Stella Chernoff finished second aboard Chinell, with Hayler Mercer rounding out an all-Canadian podium with Royal Crown.
“I love [this division],” Landsbergen said. “I think, with the 1.35m class and then two 1.40m classes, it sets you up nicely. It’s nice to be in a division with riders of similar ages and experience. It tells you where you’re at.”
Peter Holmes’ (CAN) shortened track was characterized by long gallop lanes and tight rollbacks. Entering at the halfway mark, Landsbergen set off with deliberate pace and caught a brilliant angle to the second fence before turning back deftly to the oxer at Fence 3. That start would carry her the rest of her way around the course.
“I was a little bit worried, because in the turn to fence one, [Witja] was cross-cantering and not paying attention,” Landsbergen said. “After fence one, I had to gallop and get her back listening to me.
“Our angle to Fence 2 was really good, and the turn back to the oxer at Fence 3 was probably the best part. She was right there with the move up, and she jumped great,” she added.
There’s nothing about Witja that Landsbergen doesn’t know. The mare is a family homebred, and Landsbergen has brought her up from the time she was a foal. Together, they’ve climbed the ranks. Horse and rider debuted at the level together and thrive off the strength of their partnership.
“She was probably the most difficult horse to start. She didn’t like to have a bit on and didn’t like to be told what to do,” Landsbergen recalled. “She had a mind of her own, but always, anytime you put a jump in front of her or put her in the [show] ring, she was always game on. She’s always wanted to do it and loves her job. It’s been a real learning process for both of us.
“I’m really proud of her,” she added. “She really always gives me her all.”
The $25,000 Foxstone Stables USHJA International Hunter Derby was the highlight of hunter competition in tbird’s Grand Hunter Arena. Robert Blanchette dominated the feature class, riding to both first and second aboard Flight Instructor and Mr. Worldwide, respectively.
While Mr. Worldwide already boasts a derby victory on his record, the class marked just the second International Derby outing for the 11-year-old Flight Instructor. That’s all the bay needed to get in the win column. Blanchette and the gelding catapulted to the top of the leaderboard in the first round and stayed there through the handy, receiving an impressive total score of 370 from the judging panels.
It was a comfortable victory, with Mr. Worldwide finishing second on a 352-point score; Nicole Bourgeois and Duck Duck Goose were third (342.5).
“The best thing about him is his mind. He has a perfect brain,” Blanchette said of Flight Instructor. “The next best thing is the jump. He has a wonderful jump.”
The picturesque derby course spanned the entirety of two hunter arenas, with ample room to show off stride and scope. Flight Instructor’s quality shined brightly, but Blanchette admits, he didn’t see it as clearly when he first met the bay, just six weeks ago.
“The owners just came to us about six weeks ago. [Flight Instructor] showed up, and I didn’t really like him!” Blanchette exclaimed. “He looked unassuming. I rode him once, and I thought, ‘He’s alright.’
“My wife [Tammy Blanchette] taught the owner [Amanda Rudin] on him and told me that this was a really good student and a good horse,” he continued, “so I rode him more, and we jumped a little bigger. Then I thought he was really good. Before we got him, he had only started doing the three-foot hunters. We decided to try 3’6” and it felt good, so we decided to do an International Derby.”
Competition at the Summer Fort Classic continues Friday with the CSI3* $37,000 Steel-Craft Doors Cup 1.50m. The week will culminate Sunday, August 22 with the $100,000 CSI3* ATCO Cup 1.50m and the $15,000 MarBill Hill U25 League 1.40m Grand Prix.
All classes from the Fort Grand Prix Arena will be livestreamed on tbird TV.
$5,000 MarBill Hill U25 League 1.35m
Place / Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Witja / Isis Landsbergen / CAN / Isis Landsbergen / 0/0 44.37
2. Chinell / Stella Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co. / 0/0 45.15
3. Crown Royal / Hayley Mercer / CAN / Hayley Mercer / 0/0 46
4. Concelo / Ava Wong / CAN / Ava Wong / 0/0 46.13
5. Marquis le Beau Courally / Claire Doty / CAN / Claire Doty / 0/0 49.8
6. Casino de Vincy / Jenna Whitehead / CAN / Laura & Brent Balisky / 1 76.31
7. Texas / Justine Cha / CAN / Christine Cha / 1 79.44
8. Fay / Stella Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co. / 4 72.91
9. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Cheryl Keith / 4 73.61
10. Patronus / Hannah Rajotte / CAN / Daryl Krause / 4 73.72
$25,000 Foxstone Stables USHJA International Hunter Derby
1. Flight Instructor / Robert Blanchette / IRL / Amanda Rudin / 370
2. Mr. Worldwide / Robert Blanchette / IRL / Shannon Stevens / 352
3. Duck Duck Goose / Nicole Bourgeois / USA / Amy Bean / 342.5
4. The Great Gatsby / Paige Brusatore / USA / Paige Brusatore / 342
5. Givenchy / Nicole Bourgeois / USA / Barbara Lovre / 339
6. Light My Fire / Ashley Arnoldt / CAN / Jennifer Arnoldt / 336
7. Avalon 280 / Elizabeth Gingras / CAN / Elizabeth Gingras / 325
8. McNamara / Lindsey Paton-Garner / CAN / Sophie Ruder / 323.1
9. Salvatore / Maddy Riddle / CAN / Maddy Riddle / 323
10. Diega de la Vega / Ella Marchant / CAN / Ella Marchant / 319
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