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follow the competitors around the course in a cumulative manner. By the close of the day on Saturday, their forecast proved to be prophetic. Out of 54 starters, 32 completed the cross-country phase (59%) where 20 were clear of jumping faults and seven finished within the optimum time. (Although there were some falls, happily all horses and riders are fine.) Perhaps the obstacle of most concern for many riders , including David and Gina, was the Bridgestone Park Question (fence 9a—a 3’9” set of rails, then downhill to 9b—a 5’3” coffin/ditch, and then uphill again to 9c—a 4’9” chevron brush with a 5’11” base). Much discussion ensued about this complex on our ride. After the dust had settled on cross-country this obstacle had caused 19 problems, from refusals to retirements and eliminations to broken frangible pins. Derek commented on the Bridgestone Park Question in his post cross-country press briefing, “It was a truly legitimate coffin. You had to jump the jump in, and you had to jump the jump out. For many if they jumped well going in, they usually jumped well going out. The ones who had that hesitation and four-legged jump over the ditch had a harder time coming out. The ones who flowed through there were quite good and very straight. The riders had to get it done.” Obstacle number 20 at the Rolex Head of the Lake


caused four more problems for horse/rider pairs while fence numbers 5, 17, 22 and 27 (the Offset Brushes) created trouble for three more competitors each and another, fence 14, caused one refusal and one elimination. Five more fences (2—the Rock Walls, 7—the Trakehner, 23—the Keepers Brush. 26—Wattle and Daub Cottage and 28—the Arch) were a source of grief for one horse and rider each, with perhaps the scariest rotational fall coming at fence number 2, a fairly straight forward, galloping fence (3’11” tall with a 5’11” top spread and a 7’3” base spread). As I read through the cross-country statistics after the fact, my mind kept flashing back to my trip aboard Comanche and the new and amazing perspective I now have of the course from horseback. The media ride was sponsored by Rolex Watch and


organized by Merrick Haydon of Revolution Sports. A special thank you to Comanche and the other Kentucky Horse Park trail mounts, who were patiently carting us around the course—especially since it made them late for their dinner!


Warmbloods Today 55


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