Skybreaker GMHA Team Jumper Challenge 2012
Imagine fresh lobsters, friends, families, dogs, horses and a beautifully manicured jump course set up and ready to be jumped! Last night was one of my favorite events of the year — GMHA’s (Green Mountain Horse Association) annual Team Jumper Challenge! GMHA, located in the breathtaking mountains in South Woodstock, Vt., is a non-profit organization that hosts a variety of different equestrian events all summer long, from hunter/jumper shows to derbies to dressage shows to recognized horse trials to competitive trail rides, and so much more. GMHA is an amazing facility run by a dedicated and welcoming community.
Back to the coolest event ever … Last night, a bunch of us from Tamarack Hill Farm headed over for an afternoon of festivities. We had a 3′ team and a 3’6″ team. I was on the 3’6″ team with Daryl Kinney, Sue Berrill and Suzi Gornall. There were 2’6 teams, 3′ teams, and 3’6″ teams that came from all over the area. The teams that put in the fastest times won a gigantic blue ribbon and some very generous prize money.
The course was twisty and turny and never let up. Almost every single fence had a “faster” option, meaning you could either make an inside turn or take a little extra time and make an outside turn around a fence. There’s always a “joker” fence, or option jump. It’s usually a trickier fence. Some years it’s a liverpool, and this year is was a slightly skinny and airy vertical. You could jump the joker fence at any time and if you jumped it clean then you got 15 seconds taken off your time. If you knocked a rail on the joker fence then 15 seconds got added to your time.
We all put in a great round last night, and we all had a blast. Our 3’6″ team came in 3rd, and we were all very pleased with our horses!
From an event riders perspective, I noticed those horses and riders who had the best rounds had the following qualities:
1) they were riding really GOOD jumpers
2) they made tighter and quicker turns
3) they had horses that were allergic to wood
4) their horse’s had amazing canters … QUICK BEHIND and UPHILL!
5) … and they rode really well under pressure
The team that won the 3’6″ round consisted of Madison Gallien, Ashley Glynn, Betsy Stein Medinger and Jane Hamlin. Congratulations, ladies, you made it look easy! A huge thank you to GMHA and all their fabulous volunteers and sponsors last night. Can’t wait till next year’s Team Challenge!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_RVnnazIlo
Daryl Kinney on our 3’6″ team riding Union Station (owned by Denny Emerson)
Video taken by David Frechette (aka The Horse Pesterer) Thank you, David!
