18-year-old showjumper Grace Debney wins second five-star class

US-based British showjumper Grace Debney has scored her second career five-star win — Grace Debney pictured in the CSI5* on Zarina De Vidau

(Image credit: Andrew Ryback)

US-based British showjumper Grace Debney has secured her second five-star win aged only 18, with the mare she describes as “her rock”.

Grace soared to victory in the $37,000 CSI5* Winning Round class with Zarina De Vidau, at the Traverse City Horse Show in Miami, USA, on 18 September.

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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

‘There’s nothing she can’t do’: 18-year-old Brit scores second five-star win with ‘game’ mare

The young Brit, who is based in Massachusetts, fought off stiff competition in the class of 30, beating Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Birdy Du Thot into second place in the jump-off. Other competitors included top US riders Kent Farrington and McLain Ward, who were fourth and 18th respectively.

“I bought her as an eight-year-old,” said Grace. “She was meant to be my junior jumper and she just kept stepping up, especially over this past year. She’s had a few international wins.

“She’s always been my rock. I owe a lot of my career to her for sure. This show last year she was doing the juniors and now she’s doing the five-star.”

Zarina De Vidau, who was produced by the USA’s Reed Kessler, is known for her character.

“She’s all game face. She has no time for anyone, she just wants to go in the ring and win,” said Grace.

“It took about a year for me to truly understand her. My first real high junior classic was the moment it clicked. She gives me so much confidence. I never walk into a class and think it’s too big. There’s nothing she can’t do.”

Grace has had a successful year with a number of international placings with her string of horses. In July she was part of the British bronze-medal winning team at the young rider Europeans in Oliva Nova with Boheme De La Roque, on whom she also came sixth individually.

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