Thunderbird April Season Opener Wrap-Up

Lindsay Sceats Wins $10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix

Lindsay Sceats (USA) maintains quite a balancing act between her career as a colorectal surgeon and piloting horses to the higher levels, along with being a mom. Proving her mastery Sunday afternoon at the 2025 April Season Opener at Thunderbird Show Park, she took the win in the $10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix aboard Amore From Second Life Z, a horse she’s been piloting for about three years.

Among professional riders, Sceats was one of four to jump clear over the first-round course. Coming back last in the order, she had the benefit of knowing what it was going to take to win. With the 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion (Asca Z x Cassini I) she blazed around the short course in 37.60 seconds and came up over two seconds quicker.

“I think he was really fast from [fences] one to seven,” Sceats explained of where she thinks she was particularly quick. “He’s one you can just keep kicking and you don’t have to take a big pull. You can run up on a slice and he has a great front end so he’ll get out of the way.”

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Just behind them in second place were Saturday’s winners, WH Corona and Carla Diewert (CAN) as the only other double-clear effort in 39.88. Kassidy Keith (CAN) and Havana were third on the fastest jump-off time of 35.15, but with one rail down.

While the riding part comes fairly easily to Sceats, the balancing act of all of life’s other responsibilities can be a challenge. “That is the hardest part,” she commented. “I have a little kid who’s 18 months, so it’s difficult.”

Amore From Second Life Z is making things easier. “Fortunately he’s such a good horse,” she continued. “He doesn’t take a lot of prep. I know he’s going to show up and be the same every time so that is the nicest thing. I came up here Friday after working all week and he jumped great on Friday and today.”

With a few years under their belts together, Sceats is thrilled with the way the horse has come along, and now it’s about refining and continuing to let the results come in.

“I got him at the end of his eight-year-old year,” she said of their partnership. “The people I bought him from got him as a two-year-old and did all the young horse classes. They were thinking he’d be more of an amateur horse instead of doing the higher levels, so they thought he should have a different path than this. But the more he goes the better he goes.”

Sunday’s result ranks high in what they’ve achieved together so far, but it’s just knocking on the door of what Sceats thinks they can accomplish.

“He’s been so good,” she shared. “He won a big class down in Thermal; he moved up to the 1.45m down there, so he’s had some really good classes. My goal this year is to jump an FEI here this year. We’re going to jump National in May and I’m hoping if he’s good we’ll come back in August for FEI.”

With all she has going on in life, she isn’t reaching for the stars with Amore From Second Life Z, but she’ll see where their path can take them.

“If we can be consistent in the 1.40m and 1.45m, I’m happy,” she said of their long-term goals. “It’s hard for me to do much more consistently because I don’t ride enough. If we can do this well, we’re happy.”

Her whole family was happy as well, not just to see her win but to experience all that Thunderbird Show Park has to offer.

“It’s such a nice family show,” she remarked of the facility. “On Saturday I didn’t show, but my kid came up and we played on the playground. My dog played in the field. My family likes eating at the food place. It’s a place you can bring the whole group and have them feel like it’s a vacation too and they’re not just here for you.”

$10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Amore From Second Life Z / Lindsay Sceats / USA / Lindsay Sceats / 0/0 / 37.60
2. WH Corona / Carla Diewert / CAN / Carla Diewert / 0/0 / 39.88
3. Havana / Kassidy Keith / CAN / Kassidy Keith / 0/4 / 35.15
4. Jillz / Natalie Popham / CAN / Natalie Popham / 0/4 / 44.00
5. A Crown Royale / Ayla Martinoff / CAN / Ayla Martinoff / 4 / 73.66

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Consistency Paves the Way for Sloane Betker and Indiana II

Sloane Betker (CAN) and Indiana II are still new to the U25 levels, but you wouldn’t know it by watching them compete at the 2025 April Season Opener at Thunderbird Show Park. The duo has won both classes in the division so far, winning Wednesday’s MarBill U25 1.35m and following it up with a win in Friday’s MarBill U25 1.40m. The MarBill Hill U25 division is powered by Solaris Equestrian and protected by Western Pacific emergency response.

Consistency is actually Betker’s main goal as she steps the horse up through the levels. It’s evident as she does that “Indy” is up for the challenge. About two years into their partnership, Betker and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Numero Uno are unlocking the secrets to clear rounds.

“With Indy, I knew he can win,” Betker said. “He sometimes gets a little complacent with his hind end so you just have to manage his step and then he can jump clear. He has a huge step so he covers the ground very well.”

Having confidence on her side served her well. The pair cruised around Friday’s 1.40m course clear and in 62.69 seconds, the best of the field. Betker was also third with Canberre 59, with Georgia Knight slotting into second with her own Indy.

“With Bear, my first one, she hasn’t jumped anything really since we got back from Thermal, so I just wanted to be fast and efficient,” Betker said of her strategy heading into the class. “She had the second to last one so I pushed her to the base of the last one. I thought with one rail I wasn’t going to win anyway, and we’re schooling for the Grand Prix. I wanted to have a good round after Thermal.”

Indiana II was a ride Betker acquired from Conor Swail (IRL) and his wife, Samantha Vanderwoude (CAN). Hailing from a program versed in how to jump clear rounds, Indiana II had a solid education to build upon.

“Between the two of them they jumped him up to 1.35m,” Betker said of Indy’s experience prior to joining her team. “He jumped his first 1.40m in May last year and his first 1.45m in Thermal. He’s just been getting better at jumping the bigger heights. He’s still pretty new to jumping the height and also managing his step.”

The training regime at home is quite simple for Betker and Indy, but it proves to be working. She doesn’t take his talent for granted and knows he’ll show up in the show ring for her.

“He’s really lazy to flat and jump at home so I don’t tend to jump much,” she explained. “He’s a really different horse in the show ring than he is at home, so we save his legs by not overjumping him at home. Hopefully, we have more classes and more time left with him.”

With two top placings this week, Betker will vie for a third win in the $10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

“[My goals are] just being more consistent in the U25 and having him be able to jump clear round after clear round,” Betker continued. “There will be occasional rails but being more consistent at 1.40m and maybe jump some FEI [classes] later this summer at Thunderbird or Spruce Meadows.”

MarBill Hill U25 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 0 / 69.62
2. Indy / Georgia Knight / CAN / Georgia Knight / 0 / 72.75
3. Canberre 59 / Sloane Betker / CAN / Sloane Betker / 8 / 66.59
4. Izo / Locklyn Williamson / CAN / Desiree Johnson / 12 / 68.29
5. Coralissa / Ashley McKissock / CAN / MarBill Hill Farm / 16 / 68.24

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A woman jumping a fence at tbird on a bay horse.

Carla Diewert and WH Corona won the 1.35m Open Jumper Classic. (tbird/Kady Dane Photography)

Carla Diewert and WH Corona Take 1.35m Open Jumper Classic

Carla Diewert (CAN) didn’t know she was going to have to bring her A-game into the Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1.35m Open Jumper Classic on Saturday afternoon. Among a competitive field, all entries jumped clear in the first round, so the win was going to take something great.

In her partner WH Corona, a 16-year-old gelding (Carthago Sun III x Charmeur), she felt prepared and confident. With the $10,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix still to come on Sunday, she created a solid plan, executed it, and left gas in the tank for another round.

“I actually did my original plan,” Diewert, of Foothills, AB, said of her jump-off track. “I did all the counts I wanted to because I wanted to have enough horse for tomorrow but it worked out because I was a hair faster anyway so I didn’t have to leave one out. I was glad I was a little quicker. I think I had a slightly faster gallop to fence one than the other two and I think that’s where I caught them. I did the same counts as the others.”

Going last in the order always helps, since Diewert could see what needed to be done, although it can sometimes add pressure when everyone delivers, like they did Saturday. She ended up a fraction of a second quicker than second-place finisher Dana Henson aboard EZ Ace for Brandon Equestrian Ltd. Tracey Epp claimed third with Klasse One, all three on double-clear efforts.

Time was on their side in more than one way, as Diewert has owned WH Corona for about a decade.

“I’ve had this horse a long time, 10 years,” she said of their partnership. “He was hard to start but he’s been great lately. He’s really grown up. I’ve done him in some grand prixs—he’s the greener of my two grand prix horses—but I thought this week I have to start treating him as more of a priority because he’s ready now.”

The gelding proved he’s ready, and his next task will be jumping Sunday’s Maui Jim Grand Prix to attempt to duplicate the success.

Regarding what she likes about Thunderbird Show Park, Diewert replied, “There are so many things. I grew up here, so it’s always nice to come home and see familiar faces and catch up with everyone. It’s great to see all the changes here. It’s a wonderful venue to compete. It’s so nice to see old friendly faces. And it’s not raining so it’s a good time to come!”

Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1.35m Open Jumper Classic
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time

1. WH Corona / Carla Diewert / CAN / Carla Diewert / 0/0 / 38.20
2. EZ Ace / Dana Henson / CAN / Brandon Equestrian Ltd / 0/0 / 38.64
3. Klasse One / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 0/0 / 39.55
4. Infostar / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Georgia Hunt / 0/0 / 40.37
5. Brad 7 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 0/0 / 43.21

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A woman riding a bay horse over a hunter fence.

Tracey Epp (CAN) and Heartvit ZH. (tbird/Kady Dane Photography)

Heartvit ZH Wins Amy Hunter Derby

Heartvit ZH made the transition from FEI into the hunter ring last year and has taken to his new job quite well. The 12-year-old Czech Warmblood stallion (Forever van de Noordheuvel x Caesar) has won two consecutive hunter derbies in his new lifestyle, topping Saturday’s Amy Brattebo Real Estate Hunter Derby at the April Season Opener.

With Tracey Epp (CAN) aboard, the duo’s international show jumping background helped them navigate Kirsten Rodel’s derby track. Jumping up to the CSI3* level, the jumps are now quite easy for Heartvit ZH, but he’s also flashy enough to catch attention.

“I thought the course was lovely,” Epp said. “He’s an ex-jumper so I was able to showcase some of the turns nicely, which was very helpful. You just look and he goes. The three-star experience helped him out a little bit.”

The score earned over the course was a 104, handing Epp and Heartvit the win by a margin of only one point. Light My Fire took second place with Ashley Arnoldt aboard for Jennifer Arnoldt, and OXO Van de Bien was third with Allison Lagan in the irons for Joanne Dixon.

Heartvit ZH is a breeding stallion, and he’s an appealing option for those wanting both hunters and jumpers alike.

“He has a lot of offspring that do jumpers in Europe,” Epp explained. “Last year was his first year doing the hunters so we’re starting that way of life.”

Still ahead are more big challenges, which Epp believes Heartvit can rise to. Last year the stallion was fifth at Derby Finals in Toronto at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and she hopes to bring him back for a higher placing this year.

Amy Brattebo Real Estate Open 3’6″ Canadian Hunter Derby
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score

1. Heartvit ZH / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey Epp / 104
2. Light My Fire / Ashley Arnoldt / CAN / Jennifer Arnoldt / 103
3. OXO Van de Bien / Allison Lagan / CAN / Joanne Dixon / 98
4. Cold Brew / Olivia Buffoni / CAN / Ashleigh Taylor / 91
5. Follow Suit / Georgia Hunt / CAN / Ellen Brown / 89

Full results here.

Hunter/jumper competition returns to Thunderbird Show Park next week with the Spring Festival, April 23–27. Tune in live on tbird TV!

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