All Horses Pass Nail-Biting Jog for Team USA

Lynn Symansky and Donner at the jog. Photo via Lynn's Facebook page. Lynn Symansky and Donner at the jog. Photo via Lynn's Facebook page.

Team USA was first out to jog this morning in the final horse inspection at Haras du Pin, and things got off to a nail-biting start when Shamwari 4, sitting in ninth place after cross country, and Fernhill Fearless were sent to the holding box. Both passed upon re-inspection, keeping Team USA’s hopes of an individual medal for Boyd alive. 

The other U.S. horses passed: Manoir de Carneville with Sinead Halpin and Donner with Lynn Symansky. Canada’s three remaining horses also passed: Pavarotti with Jessica Phoenix, Foxwood High with Selena O’Hanlon, and Kilrodan Abbott with Peter Berry.

Five horses in all were sent to the holding box but ultimately passed upon re-inspection: Shamwari 4, Fernhill Fearless, Great Britain’s High Kingdom, Ireland’s Stellor Rebound and Denmark’s CTS Twin Peaks. It’s definitely not a surprise to see that number of horses — about 8 percent of the 60-horse field — sent to the holding box after such a grueling day.

Just one horse, Shannondale Titan, was withdrawn before the final horse inspection, as the horse unfortunately overreached during his clear cross-country trip with Bill Levett yesterday — a shame since they had such a great go.

The horses will now be vanned caravan style an hour away to Caen for show jumping in d’Ornano stadium, where show jumping is set to start at 2:30 p.m. local time. Let’s hope the five-hour traffic queues that plagued the drive from Haras du Pin to Caen yesterday don’t become an issue again today. #ArmageddonWEG

After cross country, Germany is back in gold medal position — after officials flip-flipped several times on Ingrid Klimke’s questionable trip through the first water — on a score of 177.9, which gives them a two-rail margin over Great Britain in silver medal position on 186.8. Australia is well back in contention for bronze on 226.8, with a two-rail cushion over France on 235.5.

If show jumping at Badminton 2.0 turns out to be anything like what the phase brought under similar conditions at the real Badminton earlier this year, expect to see a lot of tired horses and flying rails today. It’s still anyone’s game, and if you think Boyd and Shamwari are out of contention in ninth place, guess again.

For the individual medal, William Fox-Pitt leads with Chilli Morning on 50.3, giving him no breathing room over Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo in silver position on 50.3 and Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST in bronze position on 52.3. One rail separates the entire top five, so Jonelle Price and Andrew Nicholson are still very much in the hunt for New Zealand too.

#WEG2014: WebsiteLive Scores, Show Jumping Order of GoIndividual StandingsTeam ResultsSchedule & ResultsEN’s Coverage@eventingnation

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