For at least three riders, competing at 91原创鈥檚 represents a return to very familiar territory.

Hayley Mercer, Samantha Buirs-Darvill and Kassidy Keith all grew up near tbird, and were all set to ride in the various competitions hosted by tbird over three weeks this month.

Hayley Mercer and Crown Royal, her even-tempered 11-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding, have been partners since he was five.

Mercer described the 鈥渓ow maintenance鈥� Crown Royal as her 鈥渇avourite ride.鈥�

鈥淗e鈥檚 a very chill dude in the barn,鈥� Mercer told the 91原创 Advance Times, but when the big horse is in the arena, he has his game face on, much like Mercer.

鈥淲e鈥檙e both very relaxed, but we鈥檙e both very competitive,鈥� Mercer summed up.

READ ALSO: 91原创 teen riding in national equestrian competition

In June, the pair won the $5,000 MarBill Hill U25 League 1.35m, taking advantage of Crown Royal鈥檚 height to omit a stride down each of the middle lines in the arena.

Following the win, Mercer explained the two have 鈥済rown up together.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e had him since he was five, and he actually was my equitation horse,鈥� Mercer commented.

鈥淲e nickname him 鈥榯he surfer dude鈥� because he has such a chill personality, but he does have a little spice underneath. He鈥檚 super big, but you feel like you鈥檙e going fast on him.鈥�

Samantha Buirs-Darvill grew up at Fairway Farms, a boarding, training and breeding facility that was established before Thunderbird moved to 91原创, just across the street.

鈥淭his used to be a horse and barn pasture,鈥� Buirs-Darvill remarked.

After taking a little time off to have her son, Buirs-Darvill resumed her winning habits, including a second place finish behind Vanessa Mannix in the CSI3 $100,000 ATCO Cup at the Summer Fort Classic in August of 2021, and finishing second behind Kyle King in the $20,000 Grand Prix 1.40m.

While she continues to aim for first, Buirs-Darvill said she doesn鈥檛 want to put pressure on her new, 鈥測oung horse鈥�, Chic D Emma Z. a nine-year-old stallion.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e delicate creatures,鈥� Buirs-Darvill remarked, adding Chic D Emma Z has shown lot of promise.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been great. He seems like a competitor. He鈥檚 getting better and better.鈥�

Aldergrove鈥檚 Kassidy Keith was 鈥渆xcited鈥� to be back at Thunderbird.

鈥淚ts right in my back yard,鈥� Keith noted.

鈥淚鈥檝e been showing here since I was five years old. 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to it.鈥�

She will be accompanied by Havana, her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, and Fenelon Wf, a nine-year-old stallion.

Keith and Havana have been a winning combination, with victories that include the CSI2 $36,900 tbird 1.45m in October of last year and the $5,000 MarBill Hill U25 League 1.40m in July of this year.

Keith said Havana is a real pleasure to work with.

鈥淪he always tries her heart out in the ring, and I love her.鈥�

READ ALSO: Aldergrove鈥檚 Kassidy Keith wins at tbird

Keith works alongside her mother Cheryl at Keepsake Farms in Aldergrove, where Keith rides, trains and coaches.