Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, claimed the $20,000 Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Showcase riding Audacious on Saturday evening, November 2, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.
Canada’s own Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, rode to a thrilling win in the $20,000 Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge on Saturday evening, November 2, at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
After leading off with a win in Friday’s opening round of the fan-favourite event at The Royal, Lehari was last to return for Saturday’s final. She rode Audacious, owned by her mother and former Canadian eventer, Gwen Lehari, to another clear round to secure her first-ever title in the Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge with a total time of 178.93 seconds.
“It’s such a rush having that many people in there cheering you on, as well as my family and supporters,” said Lehari, 37. “Everyone’s got your back and wants to see you do well.
“I think this is a really good showcase for our sport,” she continued. “Not a lot of people know much about eventing, so to be able to do it inside [in this environment] is so much fun.”
Kendal Lehari and Audacious are presented as winners of the $20,000 Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Showcase at the 2024 Royal Horse Show by Scott Cieslar (left), CEO and Chief Nutritionist of Mad Barn, and Dr. Emily Gilbert, Mad Barn’s Performance Science Specialist. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.
The Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge returned to the Royal Horse Show this year to deliver the adrenaline-pumping thrills of cross-country to an indoor setting. Featuring a combination of show jumping and cross-country obstacles, the course designed by world-renowned Captain Mark Phillips of Great Britain challenged horses and riders to be both daring and accurate to the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd in the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Four-time U.S. eventing Olympian Boyd Martin of Cochranville, PA, finished second in the Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Showcase riding Catarina. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.
Lehari has known her winning mount, Audacious, since the Canadian Sport Horse gelding by Ironman was three years old. Now 11, Audacious is living up to his name in every way. “If you Google the word audacious, that is him to a T. He jumps out of the paddocks, he loves beer and Krispy Kreme donuts, and he’s a character,” joked Lehari with adoration of Audacious. “Everything is a bit too easy for him, so something like this is fun because it keeps him focused. He likes performing for a crowd, so he has been eating it all up [here at The Royal].”
Boyd Martin, the visiting U.S. rider and a four-time eventing Olympian, jumped clear in the final, but was off the pace in 182.63 seconds to finish second riding Catarina for owner Nancy Hathaway.
“I love this show, and what a huge honour and privilege it is to ride here,” said Martin, who last competed at The Royal in 2017. “It’s high energy, nerve-wracking and it happens fast. At a normal horse trial, we have a couple days to process how things are going to ride. I think Mark built a course that was horse friendly but still challenging enough, and these Canadian girls sure are quick!”
Three-time Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, took third in the Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Showcase aboard Watson GS. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.
Three-time Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, rounded out the top three with a clear performance and total time of 190.14 seconds on Watson GS, owned and bred by Charlotte Schickedanz.
$20,000 Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge – Final Standings
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Fau
1. Kendal Lehari / Uxbridge, ON / Audacious / 0 / 178.93
2. Boyd Martin / Cochranville, PA / Catarina / 0 / 182.63
3. Jessica Phoenix / Cannington, ON / Watson GS / 0 / 190.14
4. Megane Sauve / St. Paul, QC / Nuance / 0 / 195.74
5. Colleen Loach / Dunham, QC / Major Chase / 10 / 179.66
6. Holly Jacks / Hillsburgh, ON / Summer Solstice / 10 / 199.75
7. Diana Burnett / Blackstock, ON / Whatsyourproblem / 10 / 208.02
8. Hanna Hansen / Toronto, ON / Don’t Blink / 20 / 189.72
9. Jamie Kellock / Cedar Valley, ON / Summer Bay / 50 / 109.82
