McLean, who trains with Eliza Hunt at Obsidian Hunter Jumper in Delta, BC, has been partnered with Rosalita for less than a year.
Toronto, Ontario – Hazel McLean of Vancouver, BC, made her Royal Horse Show debut a memorable one by claiming the 2025 Junior/Amateur Hunter Canadian Championship title on Monday, November 10, during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
In their first appearance at The Royal, McLean and Rosalita, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare sired by Dakar VDL, opened the division with a second-place finish over fences and third under saddle on Sunday before returning on Monday to win the stake on a high score of 91. Along with the division tricolor from a competitive field of 16 horses, McLean was presented with the Murray and Louise Cornblum Challenge Trophy.
Hazel McLean and Rosalita on their way to winning the championship title in the Junior/Amateur Hunter division on Monday, November 10, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
“This is our first time competing in the east,” said 17-year-old McLean, who qualified for this year’s Royal Horse Show with successful results at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC. “We flew her all the way here hoping to just get in the ring and have a good experience. This exceeded all my expectations!”
McLean, who trains with Eliza Hunt at Obsidian Hunter Jumper in Delta, BC, has been partnered with Rosalita for less than a year, and was unsure about their future in the hunter ring at the start of their time together.
“She has a lot of blood for a hunter so I was nervous, but she turned out to be the best partner that I could have ever asked for,” said McLean with an ear-to-ear smile. “She’s probably the most incredible horse I will ever ride in my entire life.
“I don’t think I was breathing for any of my rounds,” continued McLean of her first experience competing in the Coca-Cola Coliseum. “Getting in there is an exhilarating experience that will go down as one of my best memories ever.”
Hazel McLean (far right) and Rosalita with trainer Eliza Hunt are presented with the Murray and Louise Cornblum Challenge Trophy on Monday, November 10, after earning the Junior/Amateur Hunter Canadian Championship title at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
McLean, who attends Vancouver’s West Point Grey Academy, set The Royal as a goal for herself when she was still piloting ponies at age eight. The dream became a reality this week, and it’s one that she hopes to repeat now that she is a Canadian Champion.
Reserve champion honours in the Junior/Amateur Hunter Canadian Championship were presented to Lexi Dodson of Mississauga, ON, riding Quamiro.
Caren Morassutti of Etobicoke, ON, and Applause won the Horse Sport Adult Amateur Hunter Canadian Championship. Lorna Margaret “Muffie” Guthrie of Guelph, ON, riding Round Midnight, owned by Knightwood Stables, claimed the Michael C. Sifton Memorial Amateur-Owner Hunter Canadian Championship and was presented with His Grace, The Duke of Westminster’s Challenge Cup. Guthrie and Round Midnight were also crowned the Royal Amateur Hunter Grand Champions.
The Olympic sport of dressage closed out afternoon competition in the Coca-Cola Coliseum with a win for Canadian Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu of St. Bruno, QC, in the $15,000 Grand Prix CDI-W riding Jaccardo, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Desperado x Broere Jazz), for owner Jill Irving. Their final score from the panel of judges tallied at 72.761%.
Canadian Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu of St. Bruno, QC, and Jaccardo danced to victory for owner Jill Irving in the $15,000 Grand Prix CDI-W on Monday, November 10, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
“There’s so much history here, so it’s always so fun to come to The Royal,” said Fraser-Beaulieu of her third CDI appearance with Jaccardo, a mount she’s aiming toward the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany. “For a green horse to come here and experience this big environment is great and I’m thrilled.”
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ Toronto CDI-W acts as a qualifying event for the 2026 FEI World Cup™ Finals taking place next April in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Royal Horse Show continues Tuesday, November 11, highlighted by the $25,000 Knightwood Canadian Hunter Derby at 7 p.m. Dressage returns to the spotlight during the evening performance when the $20,000 Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W takes center stage at 8:50 p.m.
As always, The Royal offers numerous hospitality experiences which sell out quickly due to their popularity. A limited number of tables remain for The Royal Terrace while the Coliseum’s Sky Suites offer stables and groups their own private suites. Contact sales@royalfair.org for more information.
For more information and to purchase tickets for the 2025 Royal Horse Show, visit www.royalfair.org/horse-show/.
Photo of the Day
From the Coca-Cola Coliseum
Lorna Margaret “Muffie” Guthrie of Guelph, ON, riding Round Midnight, owned by Knightwood Stables, won the Michael C. Sifton Memorial Amateur-Owner Hunter Canadian Championship and were named the Royal Amateur Hunter Grand Champion on Monday, November 10, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
About The Royal
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian event. The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 7-16, 2025, at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.
Source: Jump Media