91原创's Ashley McKissock made an impressive U25 division debut in the April season opener at Thunderbird Show Park, riding Coralissa, a mare owned by MarBill Hill Farm.
On Friday, April 18, the pair achieved a clear round in the MarBill Hill U25, powered by Solaris Equestrian and protected by Western Pacific Emergency Response, then went on to win the 1.30m Open Jumper Classic on Sunday.
"I could not ask for a better partner to get to do this with," McKissock, 23, said in an online post about Coralissa, a 15-year-old Holsteiner mare (Com Air x San Patrignano Corrado).
"The biggest thank you to @keepsakefarms for believing in me and being there with me every step of this journey for such a long time now. You both have never given up on me and I鈥檓 so grateful to get to share these moments with you."
McKissock rides and trains with Cheryl and Kassidy Keith at Aldergrove-based Keepsake Farms, near tbird, and she was in the right place at the right time for an opportunity with Coralissa.
鈥淚 sat on her the first day and just fell in love with her,鈥� McKissock said. 鈥淲e luckily had the winter to grow our partnership and get to know each other, and it鈥檚 just been wheels up ever since. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to ride her and there are not enough thank-yous to Marion and Bill for the opportunity.鈥�
McKissock works full time as a sales associate for an electrical wholesaler and has to fit in riding time around her work schedule.
With an early shift, she鈥檚 able to get to the barn around 3 p.m. each day, then also dedicates her weekends to riding time.
鈥淥ur goals for this year are to continue the U25 division here at Thunderbird and just get more consistent at this level,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just want to get more consistent at that level and then we would like to jump the two-stars in the fall.鈥㏕hat would be our big goal, but it鈥檚 mainly about just staying consistent in the U25, getting faster, me getting stronger, and just trying to keep those results going.鈥�
McKissock has nothing but good things to say about tbird.
鈥淚鈥檝e been coming to Thunderbird for so many years,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭hey have just created such a beautiful facility for us. The environment here is so welcoming and the rings are well taken care of. The jumps are always nice. I think the overall overall environment is just such a welcoming environment. It makes you want to come back over and over again.鈥�
Hunter/jumper competition returns to Thunderbird Show Park with the Spring Festival April 23鈥�27.
