Aldergrove-based rider Kassidy Keith came just shy of first place in the FEI CSI3* Fort Summer Welcome opener aboard her trusty mount Havana on Thursday, Aug. 7. 

Her time placed at 60.12 seconds, putting her in second place behind Ireland's James Chawke at 57 seconds. 

The Irish rider tested the waters on Wednesday, Aug. 6, jumping a few fences in the CSI3* Happy Welcome 1.40m with his mounts Daido Van't Ruytershof Z and Nacara Van Berkenroeck Z. 

Later that evening, Chawke tested the gears in the $31,100 CSI3* tbird Speed 1.45m. 

鈥淣either of my horses have shown since [we were] here in May. So that鈥檚 why I jumped the 1.40m and just did a couple of jumps on both of them to see where they鈥檙e at,鈥� he explained. 

Fourth of 24 in the ring for the day鈥檚 feature class, he set a speedy standard on Daido Van鈥檛 Ruytershof Z on Peter Holmes鈥� 13-effort track, stopping the clock at 57 seconds flat.

鈥淪he鈥檚 naturally quick. So I was just trying to do all the steps and I figured it鈥檚 going to be up there or thereabouts.鈥�

鈥淲hen she goes in the ring, she鈥檚 very game. You just point to the jumps and she goes,鈥� continued Chawke.

Daido Van't Ruytershof Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide mare, jumped internationally under four riders prior 鈥� most recently Italy's Linda Bratomi 鈥� and is somewhat of a 1.45m specialist. 

Chawke took over the ride earlier this year.

鈥淚 originally went to try her for someone else. We liked her, but we just decided she maybe wasn鈥檛 the one for them. I didn鈥檛 know exactly how much jump she had, but I thought she would be a useful ranking horse鈥攕he [has blood] and is quick鈥攕o I bought her.鈥�

In their four shows together since April, she鈥檚 proved his hunch correct. The pair has jumped to four podium finishes in ranking classes鈥攁nd counting.

Next, Keith and Havana compete in the FEI CSI3* Steel Craft Grand Prix at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11.