Rayne Dubois, 19, of Ottawa, ON had a Royal Horse Show debut to remember after taking the 2019 Running Fox CET Medal National Final title on Nov. 7 in Toronto, ON.
Riding Ferraro K, a 17-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding sired by Olympic Ferro and owned by the Brookstreet Stables Corporation, Dubois bested a field of 16 up-and-coming athletes who qualified for the Final from four regions across Canada (Atlantic, Ontario, Prairies and British Columbia).
“This is my first time at The Royal, it’s so surreal,” said Dubois, who was a student at the Ian Millar School of Horsemanship at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON before moving to Millar Brooke Farm in April 2019 to train with Ian and Jonathon Millar and Kelly Soleau-Millar. “It’s been an incredible opportunity from start to finish.”
Dubois first entered the Coca-Cola Coliseum on Nov. 6 for the Flat & Gymnastic Phase, which demanded everything from three consecutive lead changes to extended and collected gaits to pole work – plus a variety of jumps and gymnastics, including a double-bounce combination and a line that had to be ridden twice with a different stride count each time.
“The Flat & Gymnastic phase is my worst enemy, I get so nervous,” explained Dubois. “I’m usually not that much of a nervous rider, but just the intricacy, the details – I really get wrapped up in it. So, I could barely breathe, but I just wanted to keep my cool and let it happen.”
She did just that, earning a score of 87 for her smooth execution of each question on course, to finish second. The phase was won by Ellah Dubeau-Kielty, a 16-year-old from Burlington, ON, who scored 89 aboard Jalisco, Katy Hughes’ eight-year-old Warmblood gelding (Daimler d’Adriers x Rio Grande).
The following day Dubois achieved even greater success, topping the leaderboard in the Jumping Phase after a foot-perfect performance around the challenging course full of bending lines, short turns, and even a five-part combination.
“The jumping is just fun. I love jumping a course, I’m a jumper at heart I think, and that’s the fun part for me,” said Dubois, who earned a score of 87 for her efforts for a two-round total of 174 that secured her spot in the final test for the top four competitors.
Immediately following the jumping phase awards presentation, the top four riders were read a set of instructions from the judges and asked to complete a shortened course just minutes later. As the leader after the first two phases, Dubois had the advantage of going last, and laid down an impressive test, which included jumping from the trot, counter-canter and hand gallop, to secure the title.
“This is something I’ve been working for all year long. This was our last show to wrap up the season and it was a really good way to finish up, I’m super happy,” said Dubois.
She also spoke to how grateful she was to win with Ferraro K, explaining, “I started riding him in April. He’s been in the equitation ring now for quite a while. He’s done the Royal for a couple of years, so he just took it in stride – he’s a pro at it. He taught me how to equitate, basically, he’s such a good partner and I probably couldn’t have done it without him.”
Finishing second overall was Mikayla Brabant, 18, of Chestermere, AB. Paired with Cortofino, an eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Brabant Holdings Inc. and sired by Corlensky G, she earned her way into the top-four test after receiving a score of 85 for third place in the Flat & Gymnastics Phase and 75 for fourth in the Jumping Phase. Brabant was sitting third heading into the final test, but moved up to the Reserve Champion position after an impressive performance highlighted by a flawless jump from the hand gallop.
Ludovic Richer, 19, of Montreal, QC took third place aboard W General VD Lindehoeve Z, his 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, while Dubeau-Kielty rounded out the top four.
As the Running Fox CET Medal National Final winner, Dubois was presented with the W. Douglas Hood Memorial Trophy, as well as a brand new Luc Childeric saddle from Debra Smith, co-owner of Running Fox. The title sponsor of the CET Medal series and National Final for over 20 years, Running Fox also provided coolers to the top eight finishers, as well as halters to every entry in the Final.
For full results from the 2019 Running Fox CET Medal National Final, visit www.royalfair.org.
Running Fox CET Medal National Final – Overall Results
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Total Score*
1st / Rayne Dubois / Ottawa, ON / Ferraro K / Brookstreet Stables Corporation / 174
2nd / Mikayla Brabant / Chestermere, AB / Cortofino / Brabant Holdings Inc. / 160
3rd / Ludovic Richer / Montreal, QC / W General VD Lindehoeve Z / Ludovic Richer / 162
4th / Ellah Dubeau-Kielty / Burlington, ON / Jalisco / Katy Hughes / 154.5
5th / Emma Prupas / Langley, BC / Quadrigo 4 / Meredith Ellis / 147
6th / Cassandra Mes / Ottawa, ON / Lia / Cassandra Mes / 145.5
7th / Stephany Powers / Okotoks, AB / Kolibri / Rodney Tulloch & Stephany Powers / 143
8th / William Martin / Vineland, ON / Quince Z / William Martin / 137.5
*Note – the top four placings were determined by additional testing, not by the total score.
Running Fox CET National Medal Final – Jumping Phase
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Rayne Dubois / Ottawa, ON / Ferraro K / Brookstreet Stables Corporation / 87
2nd / Ludovic Richer / Montreal, QC / W General VD Lindehoeve Z / Ludovic Richer / 85
3rd / Kyara Semrau / Okotoks, AB / Gentleman / Madison Mitchell / 81
4th / Mikayla Brabant / Chestermere, AB / Cortofino / Brabant Holdings Inc. / 75
5th / Sandrine Arsenault / Sainte Martine, QC / Look Again / Allison Zlepnig / 74
6th / Natalie Popham / Victoria, BC / Cheers / Ella Cole / 73
7th / Emma Prupas / Langley, BC / Quadrigo 4 / Meredith Ellis / 71
8th / Stephany Powers / Okotoks, AB / Kolibri / Rodney Tulloch & Stephany Powers / 68
9th / Cassandra Mes / Ottawa, ON / Lia / Cassandra Mes / 69
10th / Ellah Dubeau-Kielty / Burlington, ON / Jalisco / Katy Hughes / 65
11th / Cassie Gorsline / Okotoks, AB / Gotye / Brett Taylor / 65
12th / William Martin / Vineland, ON / Quince Z / William Martin / 63.5
Running Fox CET National Medal Final – Flat & Gymnastic Phase
Placing / Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Ellah Dubeau-Kielty / Burlington, ON / Jalisco / Katy Hughes / 89
2nd / Rayne Dubois / Ottawa, ON / Ferraro K / Brookstreet Stables Corporation / 87
3rd / Mikayla Brabant / Chestermere, AB / Cortofino / Brabant Holdings Inc. / 85
4th / Mariah Barisoff / Langley, BC / Quincy / Mariah Barisoff / 79
5th / Kennedy Ballard / St. Lazare, QC / Nite Air / LeeAnn Rose / 78
6th / Ludovic Richer / Montreal, QC / W General VD Lindehoeve Z / Ludovic Richer /77
7th / Cassandra Mes / Ottawa, ON / Lia / Cassandra Mes / 76.5
8th / Emma Prupas / Langley, BC / Quadrigo 4 / Meredith Ellis / 76
9th / Stephany Powers / Okotoks, AB / Kolibri / Rodney Tulloch & Stephany Powers / 75
10th / William Martin / Vineland, ON / Quince Z / William Martin / 74
11th / Natalie Popham / Victoria, BC / Cheers / Ella Cole / 56
12th / Kyara Semrau / Okotoks, AB / Gentleman / Madison Mitchell / 55
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