Stephenson and Deister Z Win U25 Grand Prix at Tbird

Olivia Stephenson thrives off a fast pace—and not just in a jump-off.

Stephenson, 16, rode Deister Z to the win in Sunday’s MarBill Hill U25 Grand Prix at tbird, besting a four-horse jump-off.

She acquired her mount as a birthday present—just last week—and Deister Z himself was imported less than two months ago. Needless to say, things have come together quickly.

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“This class was probably one of the biggest tracks I’ve ever jumped,” Stephenson said. “Last week, we jumped in [the U25 division], but we didn’t do the Grand Prix, because we didn’t want to show too many days in a row. This was a bigger, harder track today. I was pretty nervous going into the first round, [but] in the jump-off I was a lot more confident.”

Peter Holmes’ (CAN) 1.40m track proved challenging, and just two riders had produced clear rounds more than two-thirds through the start list. But when Kassidy Keith (CAN) and Aren Ozker (CAN) delivered back-to-back clears at the tail end of the first round, it doubled the jump-off field to four.

Still, clear rounds remained a rare commodity over the short course. Stephenson was the first to jump double-clear, and ultimately no one would catch her. Ozker and Dustin 254 finished second (51.71 seconds), with Stella Chernoff (CAN) and Connador third (4/47.62).

“Stella went before me and had a rail. I was just wanting to go for a clear round, and I just stuck with the plan [trainers] Dayton [Gorseline] and Lisa [Carlsen] told me to do,” Stephenson said. “He was very good.”

Stephenson first met Deister Z in June, when the gelding was at tbird with international show jumper Gareth Graves (CAN) to sell. Having only recently been imported from Greece, Deister Z was in need of some fitness, but Stephenson and the chestnut immediately connected. She took Deister Z to a show in Calgary and showed once more at tbird before the partnership became permanent.

“One of reasons really liked him from the start was that he has such a good canter. He has so much natural impulsion,” Stephenson said. “His stride is so adjustable, and he has just enough blood. He’s easy to ride [and] so sweet in the barn. We call him a Breyer horse: He has such a cute face, with white on his face and white stockings.”

According to Stephenson, horse and rider have become equally attached.

“He loves our horses. He’s very attached to them, [and] some days he thinks he should have a companion all the time,” Stephenson said. “He has his routine: He sleeps every morning from 8 to 10 after his breakfast. He’s so sweet. My little sister (12 years old) takes him on hand-walks.”

$15,000 MarBill Hill U25 Grand Prix 1.450m

1. Deister Z / Olivia Stephenson / CAN / Gareth Graves / 0/0 51.48
2. Dustin 254 / Aren Ozker / CAN / Aren Ozker / 0/0 51.71
3. Connador / Stella Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co Ltd / 0/4 47.62
4. Fenelon WF / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Cheryl Keith / 0/4 49.17
5. RK Vincent Santa Monica / Austin Krawitt / CAN / Austin Krawitt / 4 90.32
6. Gogolinus / Jarne Francken / BEL / Brylee Dickie / 4 92.34
7. Cella / Taylor Winther Blair / CAN / Sorine Winther / 8 90.93
8. Edesa’s Filippo T Z / Katie Kehring / USA / The Kehring Family / 8 92.81
9. Concelo / Ava Wong / CAN / Ava Wong / 9 93.61
10. Viva la Vida / Cassie Gorsline / CAN / Lisa Carlsen / 12 88.74