August 13, 2023 
Some partnerships take years to develop. Others, mere months.
Kara Chad and Easy Boy D’Aubey Z fall into the latter category.
The French bred gelding previously campaigned by Nicolas Pizarro (MEX) has only been in the Canadian rider’s string for a couple months, but already they’ve earned two international podium finishes.
“I started competing him at the May Thunderbird,” shared Chad. “He’s only nine years old, but he’s super, super talented. He’s a good jumper. Loves to be competitive. So, he’s an absolute dream to have.”
On Saturday, the pair logged their first international win with the CSI3* Uryadi’s Village Winning Round 1.45m at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC. The two-round format sees the top 10 combinations, regardless of faults, return in reverse order for the second round where the slate is wiped clean and the speed contest begins.
As the fastest clear in the first round, Chad and fleet-footed chestnut were last to return in for Anderson Lima’s short course and used the prime placing to their advantage.
“He’s naturally quick. He covers so much ground. He has such a big stride for a little horse, so it’s easy to go fast on him and he likes that rhythm a bit more,” shared Chad.
“It also helps when you are in these Winning Rounds to be the last person to go, because you know what you need to do to give the win a go anyway.”
Chasing the time to beat set by Thursday’s FEI victors Katie Kruger and Goodwill VB (41.39 seconds), they pair executed an efficient rollback to the third fence on course and galloped to the final three, crossing the timers in 38.91 seconds. Only Shauna Cook (CAN) and Glacier ZF were faster (38.73), but a rail at the final fence relegated them to sixth.
“You’ve got to know your horse,” Chad said, “and I know that as soon as you ask him to open up his stride, you’re like two strides ahead of [where you were!]”
The CSI3* Uryadi’s Village Winning Round featured the Clear the Jump initiative. Every time a horse-and-rider combination cleared the Uryadi’s Village vertical, a donation was made to the permaculture-based village for orphaned children in Soddo, Ethiopia. The charity is run by former international rider Jennifer Crooks and her family.
To learn more about their mission and donate, visit UryadisVillage.org.
