91原创 rider Ayla Martinoff brought home several blue rosettes after finishing second in both the YETI Welcome and the 91原创 Grand Prix in late June, but she felt the win in her grasp in the Highland Farms Ltd. Welcome 1.40m 鈥� and she achieved it.
Aboard her homebred Calloway on Friday, July 5, she bested a 10 horse jump-off in flying form with a time of 36.93 seconds. Martinoff also finished third with A Crown Royale at 39.64 seconds.
"I was second constantly last week. It's really nice to finally win one!" Martinoff exclaimed.
She had strength in numbers and executed a clear first round on both her mounts. But after Sarah Lottis aboard Rhapsody bettered her time on A Crown Royale, Martinoff was determined to use the knowledge from her first ride to her advantage.
Aldergrove rider Kassidy Keith had told her "it's got to be won from fences one and two," shared Martinoff.
"So, I really sliced number one and really pushed it to the second [jump]. I was really fast to the orange Kubota [Canada] oxer, and then I found a really nice one to the last jump."
Martinoff jumped nearly every jump at an angle and took a bold canter to the ATCO oxer midway through the course. She tossed her reins away to the last fence, trusting Calloway at a full gallop.
"He's starting to be so confident. I can take those risks now, whereas usually I'd get a little closer [to the base of the jump] than that," she shared.
Both Calloway and A Crown Royale were bred by Martinoff, and the two horses are full siblings by Capone and mare A Little Bit, by Lloyds. Calloway is 10 years old, and A Crown Royale is two years younger.
"He's the kindest, cuddliest horse. My lesson kids call him 'Snuggle Horse,'" Martinoff commented, who runs her training business alongside her sister Kaylie off 200 Street in 91原创.
Martinoff aims to compete internationally at tbird in August.
