September 23, 2022 
One year ago, Grace Debney and Zarina De Vidau were competing in the High Junior jumper classes at the American Gold Cup in Traverse City, Michigan.
Twelve months later, they were dominating the international leaderboard in the CSI5* Premier Equestrian 1.45m at the same horse show. It’s a feat in itself, but not one the rider for Great Britain or her trainer, Shadow Ridge Farm’s Samantha Schaerfer, saw coming.
“I bought [Zarina] as an eight-year-old. She was actually more meant to be my [Junior jumper] and she kind of just kept stepping up, especially this past year,” Debney, 18, said. “She’s always been my rock, you know? Like, I don’t think I could ride any of my other horses without having ridden her first.”
This winter in Wellington, Florida, the pair earned a series of CSI3*, 4*, and 5* victories at the 1.45m height and, after a successful summer in Knokke, Belgium and then Traverse City, the pair shows no sign of slowing down. The now-11-year-old Spanish Warmblood mare may have been intended as a stepping stone for Debney, who’s also earned some big wins aboard newer partner Boheme de la Roque. But in true #BossMare fashion, Zarina refuses to fit any box—especially when it comes to the jump-off round.
“I think the best part about her is she [doesn’t have] the biggest stride. So I can go fast [without slowing down], compared to some of the other horses that kind of have to slow down even for the leave outs,” Debney explained.
“[Zarina] is [just] all game face; she’s a total pro. She has no time for anyone. She just wants to go in the ring and win.”
One of the many things Zarina doesn’t have time for? Prize giving ceremonies, where she can apparently be a bit of a handful.
“If anything, she’s a little bit [in] her head [and] her mind’s always racing. As you can see, I couldn’t get her to stand still in the presentation [for the CSI5* Premier Equestrian 1.45m]. That’s kind of how she is in the barn, too—that’s her one fault, but it’s better than anything else,” Debney said.
“She’s honestly everyone’s favorite. She’s so easy to deal with [otherwise].”
Yet while they’re more than simpatico in the ring these days, Debney says she and the former Reed Kessler (USA) mount took a bit of time to get acquainted. “She was my third jumper [at the point when I bought her] and I hadn’t had much experience. I think I was just really excited to be riding a horse of that caliber,” Debney explained.
“It took about a year for me to truly start to understand her. I think the first time I showed her, [it was in a 1.20m class], and I had three or four down. We were a little like, ‘Okay, we might have made a mistake.’ But I think I always knew it would come together, and I’m just glad it has.”
That may well be an understatement. According to JUMPR App, Debney and Zarina De Vidau finish in the top-10 of 1.45m classes 50 percent of the time. Not bad for a horse intended for the Junior jumper ring.
“Honestly, [it’s] just the confidence that [she has given] me,” Debney says. “Never for a minute do I ever walk into a class and think it’s too big. I just [know] she’s always got it.”
