Chloe Mache (CAN) and St Martin's Lane. ©tbird/Kady Dane Photography
Chloe Mache (CAN) recorded a milestone victory Saturday at tbird, as the junior rider bested a field of accomplished professionals in the Amy Brattebo Real Estate Canadian Hunter Derby.
It marked the first derby win at the 3’6″ height for Mache, whose winning partner was her longtime mount, St Martin’s Lane. The pair boasted a winning score of 106 points from the judges, followed by Tracey Epp (CAN) and Heartvit ZH (105) and Charlotte Reeve with Corona OS (96).
The Canadian Hunter Derby is a one-round competition judged as a handy hunter class. Additional bonus points are awarded for jumping up to five high options on courses as well as for additional handiness and high performance displayed on course. The competition also serves as a qualifier for the Canadian Hunter Derby National Championship, held at the Royal Horse Show in November.
Saturday’s derby track was both big and technical, offering several opportunities for inside tracks, and a new fence at the back of the arena caught several experienced pairs by surprise. For Mache, navigating that fence in strong form was a highlight of her round.
“I quite liked the inside turns that I took. We’ve been working on that a lot at home, and it was fun to be able to go inside and slice [the angles on] some of those jumps,” explained Mache, who trains with Eliza Hunt. “I think my favourite part of the course was probably the spooky jump at the top, because he jumped it super well.”
Mache and the now-11-year-old St Martin’s Lane have been paired for the better part of four years, and they’ve climbed the ranks together, competing most frequently in the Large Junior Hunter 3’6″ division. Mache’s next goal is to jump a USHJA International Hunter Derby.
“It’s been a bit of a learning journey with [St Martin’s Lane]. We were both pretty young and new to each other [when we were first paired],” Mache shared, “but we’ve really gown our partnership, and it’s become quite a good bond over the years.”
Derbies have quickly become a specialty, given the bay’s game-for-anything attitude and affinity for fresh challenges.
“He’s a bit of a silly guy. He loves to scratch your head and lay his chin on your shoulder,” Mache shared. “He can be a bit sensitive, but he’s a super good guy, and he just loves [to have] fun and do different things.”
Amy Brattebo Real Estate Canadian Hunter Derby
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score
1. St Martin’s Lane / Chloe Mache / CAN / Chloe Mache / 106
2. Hertvit ZH / Tracey Epp / CAN / Tracey App / 105
3. Corona OS / Charlotte Reeve / CAN / Charlotte Reeve / 96
4. Oxo van de Bien / Allison Lagan / CAN / Signe Dixon / 92
5. Candelo Edel / Thea Muller / CAN / Thea Muller / 83
6. Grayt Tito’s Encore / Shannon Haney / CAN / Shannon Haney / 62
7. Cavendish / Jessa Rae Girard / CAN / Jessa Rae Girard / 59
8. Light My Fire / Ashley Arnoldt / CAN / Jennifer Arnoldt / 52