Course Preview: Bromont’s CIC3* is Final Run for U.S. WEG Team

Fence 1. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Bonjour from Bromont! We are delighted to be bringing you wall-to-wall coverage from Bromont’s inaugural August CIC, which has attracted substantial entries across the CIC3*, CIC2*, CIC* and Training levels. Most notably, the CIC3* is serving as the final outing for the U.S. World Equestrian Games team ahead of Tryon. Key Canadian horses are also running here on home soil prior to the team’s highly anticipated squad announcement next week. There’s a definite excitement in the air.

We are lucky to have the dream team of course designer Derek di Grazia and course builder Jay Hambly teaming up on this Bromont track. As course designer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Derek has had a busy summer. Jay is also part of the course building team for Tokyo, as well as the course designer for next month’s inaugural CCI at Foshay International in New Brunswick, about 8 hours east of where we are in Quebec.

The CIC3* start box is set where the course usually ends, with horses and riders jumping the horse shoe that typically serves as the final fence on the CCI course for the June event. The first four fences are meant to invite horses into a flowing rhythm, with fence 4 set on a slight mound — a hint of the use of terrain that is to come later in the track.

Fence 5ABC. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Fence 5 serves as the first water complex and the first question on course. Right off the bat you get the sense that Derek is demanding a bold ride around this track — after jumping up the bank at B it’s a forward one stride to the skinny brush at C. The next combination of two angled tables at fence 6 is also set on a forward one stride. Fence 7 is an inviting open oxer with an ascending back rail pinned with MIM technology. The angled brush at fence 8 is set over a ditch with a good ground line.

Fence 9AB. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Fence 9 has an option that includes a time-consuming loop. The direct route takes horses and riders over a right-pointed open corner at the A element, with a right bending line to a sizable left-pointed corner at the B element. Riders will then turn left to fence 10 before continuing to circle left up the hill to the coffin at fence 11ABC. Once again the distances are set on attacking one strides, and the arrowhead brush at C invites a runout.

Fence 11ABC, with Kim Severson examining the line. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Next riders will jump a ditch and wall in the tree line at fence 12, followed by a skinny house set on the crest of a hill at fence 13. The next combination at fence 14 once again requires a bold ride, with a sharp drop on the landing side of the rolltop at A, followed by a brush at B and a right-hand turn to a brush corner at C. Fence 15 is an airy rolltop set on an uphill approach, which takes horses and riders to the second water complex at fence 16. After dropping in over a hanging log at A, riders will need to find their line to the narrow toothpick brushes at B and C and then — you guessed it — ride boldly forward to make the one-stride distance happen.

Fence 16ABC. Photo by Jenni Autry.

You definitely get the impression when walking the course that Derek invites riders to take angled lines at many of the jumps such as fence 17. Riders will turn sharply right to fence 18, which has a nice direct line on four strides to the triple bush at B if the open oxer at A is approached on a slight angle. Fence 19 is an open oxer with a not-so-ascending back rail.

A beefy table at fence 20 brings horses and riders to the final combination on course. The massive hanging log at fence 21A will demand full attention before riders loop right to jump the double brush at the B element. Then it’s a gallop home to the cabin at fence 22, the final jump on course. The CIC3* course is 3,685 meters in length with an optimum time of 6 minutes, 28 seconds.

Fence 17. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The Bromont area hasn’t seen much rain recently, and the ground feels super considering the lack of precipitation. With 1 inch of rain predicted in tomorrow’s forecast, we should have perfect footing come cross country day on Sunday. The action kicks off tomorrow with dressage starting at 8 a.m. EST. Show jumping will be held Saturday. There is no live stream from Bromont, but I’m delighted to report that David Frechette is on the grounds and will be posting videos to his YouTube channel.

Keep it locked on EN for all things Bromont, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes content featuring our U.S. WEG Team. Click here for dressage start times. Go Eventing.

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