Rachel Rules in Young Horse Development Series

It was Rachel ridden by Tonya Henning who rode away the winner in the Six-Year-Old Division of the 2005 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series held July 9 in Halton Place, ON.

Four horses advanced to the jump-off over the course set by Danny Foster, and three of those horses were Canadian-bred by the well-known Hannoverian sire, Rio Grande. It was Simon McCarthy vs. Tonya Henning in the jump-off with each rider qualifying two mounts. First to challenge, Henning, 20, of Cambridge, ON, posted a clear round in a time of 50.91 seconds riding Rico, a result that would eventually place her fourth.

Tonya Henning and Mill Creek Stables’ Rachel won the Six-Year-Old Division of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series on July 9 in Halton Place, ON. Photo © Action Pix

McCarthy went next riding Lorna Guthrie’s Robbie, an Oldenburg gelding by Rio Grande, and was also clear in a time of 49.11 seconds, putting him in eventual second place. Henning mounted her final challenge with Rachel and stopped the clock at 48.52 seconds. McCarthy still had one chance left with Kinsale, an Irish-bred gelding by Puissance owned by Burmonds & Wetmore, but his time of 50.80 left him in third place and gave the victory to Henning.

Mill Creek Stables of Cambridge, ON, bred Rachel and Rico, as well as McCarthy’s Robbie. Registered Oldenburgs, Rico and Rachel are by Rio Grande and out of High Valley Z dams. Both horses enjoyed competing on the HITS Ocala, Florida, circuit this past winter with credible results.

The fastest four-fault round belonged to Bernadette Gernon-Rossi riding Eireann View’s Jack of Diamonds. Despite having the first fence down, the pair went on to complete the rest of the course without fault. Owned by Elaine Gray and Bronte Gray-Roch, Eireann View’s Jack of Diamonds is an Irish Sport Horse by Crosstown Dancer that was imported to Canada in 2004.


Things were divine in the Five-Year-Old Division for Michelle Vandal who piloted her own Divine Diva, a Canadian Sport Horse mare by Vice Chancellor, to the top of the standings. Finishing second was Marimbera, an imported Holsteiner gelding by Candillo, who is owned by The Livery International and shown by Simon McCarthy.

Mill Creek Stables took the next two placings. Sebastian Kapel rode Millesime du Valy , a selle francais stallion by Verdi, to third place while Henning, who will represent Ontario at the upcoming North American Young Riders’ Championship, rode the Mill Creek-bred Oldenburg stallion, Sancho by Skorpio, to fourth place. Rounding out the top five was Natty Hunt who showed the American-bred Oldenburg stallion, Arts Aero by Art Deco, for owner April Wayenberg and Blazing Colours Farm.

Roger Rabbit hopped to the top of the Four-Year-Old Division for owner Mill Creek Stables. In fact, Sebastian Kapel rode three of the top five entries for his owner. Roger Rabbit by Raphael, the second-placed entry of Valvoline by Voltaire, and the fourth-placed entry of Downtown by Drosselklang II, are all German-bred Hannoverians.

Natalie Smith rode Josephine, a Canadian Sport Horse mare by Forever, to third place for owner Liz Salmon while Jean-Francois Santerre took fifth place riding Rio’s Diorella W, a Canadian Sport Horse gelding by Rio Grande, to fifth place for owner and breeder Augustin Walch of W. Charlot Farms.


The purpose of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. Competing on a level playing field, the horses are divided according to age and jump at a level suited to their development as four, five and six-year-olds. This careful development allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels of show jumping competition with confidence. The Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series also gives prospective buyers for the hunter and jumper markets an opportunity to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.

The 2005 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series has been extended to include ten events. The next competition will take place on Sunday, July 17, at the ‘Kubota’ Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament in Ottawa, ON.

The Ontario Hunter Jumper Association, together with its proud supporters - 4 Star Trailers, TD Waterhouse, Scotia McLeod, Peter Miller, Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association, W. Charlot Farms, Gary Cooper Chev Olds, Henry Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd., Dutch Masters Construction Services Ltd., Dr. Al Manning, Brubacher’s Harness Shop, KingRidge Stables, Mr. Charles Ormston, the Hannoverian Breeders Club of Eastern Canada, Mr. Michael Boyd, Mrs. Elaine Gray, and other friends present the 2005 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series.

Horse Owner Rider
1. Rachel* Mill Creek Stables Tonya Henning
2. Robbie* Lorna Guthrie Simon McCarthy
3. Kinsale Nancy Wetmore Simon McCarthy
4. Rico* Mill Creek Stables Tonya Henning
5. Eireann View’s Jack of D. E. Gray and B. Gray-Roch Bernadette Gernon-Rossi



Horse Owner Rider
1. Divine Diva * Michelle Vandal Michelle Vandal
2. Marimbera The Livery International Simon McCarthy
3. Millesime du Valy Mill Creek Stables Sebastian Kapel
4. Sancho* Mill Creek Stables Tonya Henning
5. Arts Aero Blazing Colours Farm Natty Hunt



Horse Owner Rider
1. Roger Rabbit Mill Creek Stables Sebastian Kapel
2. Valvoline Mill Creek Stables Sebastian Kapel
3. Josephine* Liz Salmont Natalie Smith
4. Downtown Mill Creek Stables Sebastian Kapel
5. Rio’s Diorella W* W. Charlot Farms Jean Francois Santerre

NOTE – The star * beside a horse’s name denotes that it is Canadian-bred.