By Chris Gould / CWHBA
Photography: tbird/Kady Dane Photography, private collection
April in Canada sees the first outdoor shows of the summer season following a long winter of indoor competitions. Two of the earliest take place on the West Coast, in Langley, BC, at the Thunderbird Show Park.
This year, as in the past, Canadian Warmbloods made their presence felt, celebrating several successes in competitions held April 16-20 and April 23-27.
WH Corona, a registered Canadian Warmblood gelding bred by Wachter Horses of Innisfail, Alberta led the way with a win in the Tbird Grand Prix. Partnered with longtime rider Carla Diewert from Calgary, Alberta, WH Corona also claimed two consecutive wins in the Emily Sandhack Equestrian Realty 1m35 Open Jumper Classic, a class offered in both shows. The dynamic pair also took top honours in the YETI 1m30 Open Jumper, and finished second in the Maui Jim 1m40 Grand Prix. These were all splendid performances that strongly showcased the talent and quality of Canadian Warmbloods on the West Coast circuit.
Now 16 years old, WH Corona (Carthago Sun III x Charmeur) has been Diewert’s trusted partner for over a decade. Despite his years of experience, the spirited gelding still shows lots of enthusiasm, According to Diewert “He has his own fun and games sometimes, but once we’re on coursehe knows it’s time to focus.”
Sharing the spotlight was Cella (Cabardino x Graf Top) a 12-year-old mare bred by Sorine Winther of Prince George, BC and ridden by her daughter Taylor. With a second place in the Grand Prix close behind WH Corona, Taylor and Cella confirmed their talents as an up-and-coming combination. Taylor was previously featured as a junior rider Canadian Equestrian Team Equitation Medal winner at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair. In spite of these credentials, credit for their success has to be shared with Sorine, who consistently breeds and mounts her family on top quality, competitive Canadian Warmbloods...
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