It was Conor Swail week at tbird. And he saved the best drama for last.
The Irishman closed out the CSI4*/2* Canadian Premier at Thunderbird Show Park with his fourth victory of the week — this time aboard the spectacular 10-year-old Clonterm Obolensky in the CSI4* Grand Prix 1.55m, the week’s feature event.
But the win was far from routine. Swail lost his left stirrup and a front shoe during the first round—and still managed to be one of only four pairs to advance to the jump-off of the Gregory Bodo-designed track.
“I mean, honestly, I do lose stirrups more often than I should,” Swail admitted.
The mishap unfolded through the triple combination, he continued. “We came around the corner and jumped the liverpool-oxer and it was quite a long distance. That’s actually where he lost his shoe. And then the balancing nine [to the triple] got a bit short at the end. Thankfully I have enough scope that my horse was really good to jump the back rail [at B]. I think I was also trying to jump that back rail, and that’s where I lost my stirrup.”
Swail’s response? Calm, collected, and all business. “It doesn’t really bother me too much. It’s just about trying to get it back. And even if you can’t get it back, just continue with the plan.”
That plan produced a clear, putting Swail into the jump off alongside Olympians Katie Laurie (AUS) aboard Django and Amy Millar (CAN) on Jagger HX. Australia’s Rowan Willis completed the quartet.
Millar was first to reproduce the clear effort, crossing the timers of the short course in 48.86 seconds, but the lead was short lived. Swail snagged it just one round later, with a jump-off time of 46.65 seconds — this time stirrups firmly in place. It was ultimately good enough for the win and the scopey grey’s first Grand Prix title.
“I’ve had him just over a year, and the horse was a very big prospect as a young horse,” said Swail. “You can see the ability that he has… We’ve done already maybe three or four five-star Grand Prixs, so we’re starting to get more comfortable at that level. This is a great stepping stone for him. It’s a great win.”
Amy Millar was 2nd twice with Christiano over the week. (Quinn Saunders Media)
Describing the horse’s powerful personality, Swail added: “He is very, very powerful. He’s a Cornet Obolensky [son], so he’s got a lot of spirit in him. He can be challenging, but I think that’s all good horses—they have a little quirk to them here and there. It’s just about trying to gauge that ability and power and use it in a positive way.”
The international field was stacked with Olympians including Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Amy Millar, USA’s Lucy Davis Kennedy, Australia’s Katie Laurie and Hilary Scott, and New Zealand’s Uma O’Neill, as well as proven tbird winners Kyle King (USA), James Chawke (IRL), and Charlie Jones (GBR). Yet Swail’s dominance was undeniable: he previously won Wednesday’s CSI4* Welcome on Theo 160, and Thursday’s CSI4* Challenge on Nadal Hero & DB (Thursday), and the CSI2* Qualifier on Kazelli VDL.
Millar continued her strong week, collecting her third runner-up finish in the 4* division, this time aboard 12-year-old KWPN gelding Jagger HX. The result marked a career-best finish for the Team Eye Candy and Millar Brooke Farm owned horse.
Laurie rounded out the top three on Django with a jump-off time of 49.49 seconds and four faults.
Looking ahead to next week’s CSI4* Odlum Brown BC Open, Swail will be doing double duty for Team Ireland, riding and serving as stand-in chef d’equipe as they look to defend their 2025 the Nations Cup title. “I think it’s going to be good fun. I think all the teams are quite inexperienced—a lot of our riders haven’t done so many Nations Cups. I think that’s the same for Mexico, the same for the States. So it’s gonna be fun. I am the old stalwart that’s done many Nations Cups. Looking forward to doing a different job.”
Results here.
Horn Writes Comeback Story in CSI2* Grand Prix
Susan Horn said she’s out of practice after being sidelined by surgery, but you’d never know it from the way she streaked around the jump-off on Saturday.
In a dramatic comeback, the Canadian rider piloted Chacca Keeps II to victory in the CSI2* Grand Prix, shaving more than a second off the leading time to stop the clock at 35.36 seconds. It was her first international appearance of 2026.
Susan Horn and Chacca Keeps II won the CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday. (Kim Gaudry / tbird photo)
“I’m a bit rusty. I sustained a pretty bad injury in 2024 and [had] three surgeries, the last of which was in December of last year,” Horn explained. “This is the first time I’ve actually jumped over 1.35m [this year].”
Gregory Bodo’s 1.45m short course saw five return and the lead change hands with nearly every combination. As the final pair in the ring, Horn saved the best for last, relegating USA’s Laura Hazlett and Avianna to second in 36.68 seconds. Canada’s Kassidy Keith and Havana rounded out the all-female podium in 37.02 seconds.
Horn was quick to credit her veteran partner for making her return to the ring possible:
“I’m so glad that she’s so experienced and has been maintained so well by everyone to get me back here. She knows exactly where she’s going. I just encourage her when I need to, sit back when I need to and she knows the job.”
The partnership between the Canadian rider and 16-year-old mare is a proven one, spanning eight years—and appears to be only getting better. Both of their two career Grand Prix wins have been earned in the past year.
“A good friend of mine found her as an eight-year-old,” said Horn. “She’s a very special mare. She is very sensitive. She’s very forward-going. She has more blood than most creatures I’ve ever sat on, and when he identified that, he knew exactly who that horse should be for. She is now 16, so I’ve had her for a very long time. She has been a very reliable partner.”
Also special, noted Horn: three women standing atop the leaderboard.
“It’s meaningful. It’s very good to see other women going around and dominating.”
Results here.
Sloan Betker won the U25 1.40m aboard Kristalstar. (Kim Gaudry / tbird photo)
Sloan Betker Blazes to U25 Win on Kristalstar
“She’s so talented that she can win every class you enter,” said Sloane Betker after piloting Kristalstar to a decisive victory in the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 1.40m, supported by Costa Palma’s, at the tbird’s Canadian Premier. “It’s just whether I ride well enough that day.”
On Sunday, Betker rode well enough—and then some.
First to go in the eight-horse jump-off round, the Canadian rising star laid down a blistering track on the Gregory Bodo-designed 1.40m, stopping the clock at 35.8 seconds. They left nearly two full seconds between themselves and the runner-up, USA’s Iris Hickey and Colorado M (37.6 seconds).
Taking trainer Braden James “go fast” advice to heart, Betker and the 11-year-old KWPN mare Kristalstar (Arezzo x Stakkato) setting a daring pace from the first fence and only grew faster.
“I thought I actually had the rail at the double,” Betker admitted. “I couldn’t add a step [into the combination], so I had to just commit to the long distance. But she backs herself off so well [from the jump] that I knew she could get out at B.
“When I saw it wasn’t down on the next turn, I just kept going, because I knew I was lucky enough at that—I might as well.”
Betker had planned an even tighter inside turn in front of the Booster Juice island but adjusted on the fly. “She jumped the oxer [before it] so well, it just flowed a little nicer [to go] right around.”
The gamble secured a commanding victory, with none of the remaining seven jump-off entries able to mount a serious challenge.
Canada’s Olivia Stephenson and Gunfire PJ slotted into third in 37.95 seconds to complete the podium.
Showcasing rising talent in show jumping, the Western Pacific Emergency Response U25 division, supported by Costa Palma’s, returns to tbird in August for the Summer Fort Welcome.
Results here.
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