You could say U.S. rider Brooke Morin is living a teenage dream. Though it’s certainly not that of your average 19-year-old.

Morin’s dream of soaring 1.50m through the air with her first love, NKH Carrido, and winning their first international class became reality on Friday. After besting a five horse jump-off, the pair clinched the CSI3* Uryadi’s Village Cup at Langley’s Thunderbird Show Park (tbird). Morin was the youngest in the field, but her plan to win was on par with the rest.

“My plan was definitely to go for it, to go as fast as I [could] and to take the best turns I could to make my time better,” she said.

Morin and the 12-year-old gelding crossed the timers in a brisk 40.68 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of runner up Jeffrey Fields (USA) aboard 10-year-old mare Sherlina Ale (42.17). Rounding out the podium was Uma O’Neill (NZL) and 15-year-old stallion Clockwise of Greenhill Z, who finished in 43.04.

Friday’s victory is a special page in their story, which began two years ago.

“I got him two years ago. I watched him do a big Grand Prix at [Desert Horse Park], and I was just obsessed with him. I was lucky enough to try him and I just fell in love with him,” gushed Morin.

Now, Morin is looking ahead to her own Grand Prix pursuits with NKH Carrido. Morin is set to compete in the highly anticipated $100,000 CSI3* ATCO Cup 1.50m on Sunday.

The secret to taking these challenges in stride?

Simple, be confident.

“I feel super confident. I did a lot of high junior classes and [my experience] at Spruce helped…I would say the key for doing these big classes and wanting to win is being confident,” said Morin.

Photocredit: Photo ©tbird/Quinn Saunders