5 riders, 4 show jumping penalties–that’s how you produce great results at international team competitions and that’s just what the US squad did today here at Morven Park. Michael Pollard had a fantastic ride with Hanni, Shannon looked great, Harbour Pilot jumped really well, and Absolute Liberty jumped as well as I have ever seen her jump. The only mar on a great afternoon of show jumping for the US squad was Jon Holling’s round with Downtown Harrison. The horse didn’t look like he liked the sloppy footing and Jon missed at number six, causing them to clatter through the jump. After that mistake Jon jumped a great rest of the round and their dressage test scores were so good that they are still the third placed US pair. All of the rest of the US squad should put their rounds in a box and FedEx them to Guadalajara.
Canada had 3 rides and 0 jumping penalties today for their Pan Am squad riders. Rebecca Howard is right behind Michael and Hanni in the intermediate D. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti are winning the intermediate C on a 25.6 and Selena O’Hanlon is tied for 3rd in the intermediate B with Foxwood High.
As a completely useless but interesting exercise, if you take Canada’s 3 scores, and compare them to the USA’s 3 best scores, the USA has a 3.6 point lead going into the cross-country (78.8 to 82.4).
Speaking of the cross-country, the current plan is for the US squad to run tomorrow despite the rain. If it pours rain overnight the plan is to reevaluate things in the morning. There has been consideration of a shortened course and even withdrawing and making a pseudo cross-country course at the final training sessions in Ocala, but for now it is all systems go for the US squad. The Weather Channel is predicting rain through tomorrow morning although the chance lessens around midnight. [Weather]
In other news, Boyd has withdrawn from the alternate list for the Pan Ams. I think it’s a good decision for Boyd to keep Cold Harbour in the States this autumn and it will let Boyd go to Fair Hill. This leaves Lynn Symansky with Donner and Kristin Schmolze with Ballylaffin Bracken as the top two alternate choices if something goes wrong with one of the squad members, and I think they are two great options. Boyd can now focus on Boekelo and he is set to fly out tomorrow to join his two horses which are already at Boekelo.
My apologies to Shannon for missing the first three jumps of her round, I was distracted talking to David about his space suit cowboy hat combo rain gear. As much trouble as we give him for it, he is always dry and warm while everyone else is freezing.
As for the other intermediate divisions, Buck Davidson and The Apprentice are leading the intermediate B on a 24.4. Caroline Martin and Petite Flower have the intermediate B lead with Susan Beebee and Wolf in second. That’s all for now from a cold and wet Saturday at Morven. Go eventing.
