Warmblood-Friendly? Are Today’s Cross-
Country Courses More By Amber Heintzberger
when cross-country courses were grueling endurance tests of mile after mile of rugged terrain peppered with death- defying obstacles that would make today’s horses and riders stop in their tracks. Photos of three-day events of yesteryear depict horses and riders sliding down banks twice the height of the horse, leaping over cars and massive rough-hewn oxers and splashing into deep water with questionable footing. Now, in addition to an increased emphasis on the safety of horse and rider, the evolution of the modern sport horse has brought distinct changes to cross-country design. The horses of early eventing were mainly Thoroughbreds,
GONE ARE THE DAYS
often described as having “the look of eagles.” They were able to gallop long distances, but their dressage and show jumping tests were less technically difficult. Today, while Thoroughbreds still excel in eventing, the three phases are also well suited to Warmblood and Warmblood-cross horses who can excel in the dressage and show jumping but who lack the speed and endurance that was required for the long format at the four-star level. (See the sidebar on p. 18 to learn more about the long format versus short format.)
New Demands Where a mediocre dressage test might have been made up
for with bravery and endurance on cross-country in times past, today’s horses must excel in all three phases in order to be competitive. Dressage tests now include movements like flying lead changes and show jumping courses are big (4’3” at the four-star level) and technical, giving more importance to these two phases. U.S. Eventing Team member Boyd Martin achieved fame with the off-the-track Thoroughbred Neville Bardos, who finished tenth at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and famously finished seventh at the 2011 Burghley CCI4* after surviving a barn fire. But Boyd rides all sorts of horses in eventing competition and has also had success with several Warmbloods in recent years, including his 2012 Olympic mount Otis Barbotiere, a Selle Français.
BELOW: Boyd Martin and Remington XXV jump the “house” at Rolex Kentucky 2009.
14 September/October 2013
Amber Heintzberger
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