Tiffany Foster is a household name at Thunderbird Show Park (tbird), but her new partner, Anton, is still getting acquainted with the place.
The pair took their first win together in the tbird CSI4* Challenge 1.45m on Thursday of the Canadian Premier, proving they鈥檒l be ones to watch as their partnership grows.
鈥淭his is a new horse that we just got at the end of [the Florida winter circuit],鈥� Foster said of the 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion (Arko III x Quintero Z).
鈥淗e鈥檚 with my owners, the Cox family and 5 Roosters, who I鈥檝e been working with for a few years now. They are amazing. They recognized that I had a few horses that retired and we were looking for another one,鈥� she said.
Anton came into Foster鈥檚 string in April and made his FEI debut with her that same month in Florida.
She knew from the start that they鈥檇 found something special.
鈥淚 call him a luxury purchase because I don鈥檛 often get to buy a 10-year-old horse,鈥� she explained, as a rider who typically brings along younger horses.
鈥淗e was developed by Max K眉hner in Europe. He鈥檚 already jumped some big classes, so we鈥檙e just getting to know each other, but I鈥檓 really excited. He鈥檚 got a great heart, he鈥檚 always with me, and I feel like every class we get a little bit better.鈥�
In Thursday鈥檚 1.45m competition, Foster was the first to produce a clear round, so she came back first for the jump-off.
Having jumped only two international classes together prior, it was her first opportunity to test the speed gears on Anton.
鈥淗e鈥檚 new so I don鈥檛 totally know his stride,鈥� she shared.
鈥淚n hindsight, I probably could鈥檝e done eight [strides] from [fences] one to two. Same thing after the double, I could鈥檝e done five [strides]. Once I get going with him, I鈥檒l be able to drop those strides, but I made a decision after those two lines to opt for six in the last line. He ate up that line really easy. As Conor Swail said, 鈥榊ou did six, no bother.鈥� I never drop a stride, so I was proud.鈥�
The pair came home on a clear effort in 37.64 seconds, and the next four riders had at least one rail down.
The final rider, Samantha Buirs-Darvill (CAN), was the only other double-clear but finished nearly a second off the pace with Bryony Reid鈥檚 Maria 111. Buirs-Darvill also claimed third with Chic D Emma Z.
Foster grew up competing at tbird and spends part of the year based in 91原创. She routinely has horses that can tackle an expansive Fort Grand Prix arena. Anton is no exception, however that is not his primary role in her string.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very careful, and I have a lot of horses that really suit big grass rings with bulky jumps, so I bought him more as not that horse,鈥� she went on.
鈥淏ut I live in 91原创 so he鈥檚 going to have to jump at tbird and go to Spruce Meadows. I鈥檓 going to give him a little time and let him get used to this kind of material. I鈥檒l let him tell me what he wants to do over the next little bit.鈥�
The three-time Olympian has high hopes for Anton鈥檚 future.
鈥淚鈥檇 love to aim for some of the big indoor shows in the fall with him,鈥� she said regarding what the rest of the year might look like. 鈥淎 lofty goal would be to try to go to the World Cup Final with him next year. He鈥檚 super easy to ride. He鈥檚 agile and nimble and easy to navigate around a small ring, so I think that鈥檚 a bit more his thing. He鈥檚 also pretty awesome in the grass ring.鈥�
As the day wound down, Foster was very pleased to be in the winner鈥檚 circle yet again in her hometown.
鈥淚 bought a house recently here so we鈥檙e laying roots down,鈥� she shared. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to have a farm [in 91原创] and I love showing here, especially on a sunny day like this.鈥�
International athletes were competing Friday in the $62,500 CSI4* Grand Prix Qualifier 1.50m for a chance to enter into Sunday鈥檚 $116,050 USD CSI4* Grand Prix 1.55m. Hundreds of spectators are expected for the Sunday's world-class show jumping event, set to run from about 2 to 4 p.m. But gates open at 10 a.m.
