Press release from Thunderbird Show Park

Emmeline Adamick set a goal to qualify for North American Youth Championships in 2025 but she’s crossed an even bigger one off the list Saturday at Thunderbird Show Park. The 19-year-old captured her career first FEI win at the Canadian Premier. Even better, it was a CSI4* win.

“I feel super happy,” Adamick said following her victory in the CSI4* Winning Round 1.45m with Andy’s Boy Bretoniere, owned by Hawk Hollow Farm. “I’ve always wanted to win something big like this. So hopefully it’ll be the first of many.”

Adamick won in an impressive fashion, as one of just three double-clear efforts in a class that featured Olympians and five-star grand prix winners. In the Winning Round format, the top 10 return regardless of faults and reset to a clean slate in the second round, meaning the competition was extra steep. Adamick crossed the timers in 47.23 seconds. Just behind her in second place was Nicole Walker (CAN) with Atout des Trambles (Nectar des Forets*HN x Apache d'Adriers) in 47.74, and Conor Swail (IRL) took third with Count Me In (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes), owned by Mannon Farm, with a time of 49.34.

Andy’s Boy Bretoniere is a new ride for Adamick. The 15-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Tinka’s Boy x Livarot) joined her string in February as a prospect for the North American Youth Championships. She knew from the get go that he was the horse for her.

“It was incredible,” she said of their first ride together. “Everyone told me, ‘This horse is amazing. You have to sit on him.’ I jumped around a few jumps and I felt immediately comfortable on him. I knew that I could jump big tracks like this.”

“Andy,” as he’s known in the barn, gives the young rider even more confidence as they step up into the higher levels. 

“He’s so smooth across the ground and he really wants to jump,” Adamick continued. “He sees a jump and he knows his job and wants to go jump it. That’s a really amazing feeling. He’s so fast and he doesn’t even look fast. He just covers so much ground.”

Training under Kyle King for three years, Adamick knew she needed to “ride smart” to have a chance at a win Saturday’s 1.45m class and relied on King’s expertise at the in-gate.

“He’s a really great trainer,” she said of King, who has a base just down the road in Langley. “I feel like he knows me so well at this point. He’s very good at reading people and reading horses. He can bring me into the right headspace, which I think is super helpful and in the warm-up and through the course. He’s always super supportive and I know he’s always cheering me on.”

This year has been a season of change for Adamick, who moved to college in the fall. Horses have been the constant and kept her dedicated to her long-term goals.

“I’m really grateful to my parents,” she shared. “It’s been a transition being away from home and they’ve been super supportive. They’ve supported me on my entire journey through riding. When I was like three years old, I asked, ‘Can I ride?’ And they said, ‘No, that’s ridiculous.’ And then they’ve humored me ever since, which I think is amazing and I’m so grateful for their support.”

The 2025 Canadian Premier comes to a close Sunday with the $116,050 USD CSI4* Grand Prix 1.55m.