Leader Halunke FBW Withdrawn at Pau Sunday Jog, All Systems Go for North Americans

Katie Ruppel and Houdini, the U.S.'s last pair standing, are ready to finish what they started here at Pau. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The “sibling” showdown we were looking forward to between Michael Jung‘s top two placed horses, Halunke FBW and fischerRocana FST, will have to wait for another day. After being sent to the holding box Michael elected to not re-present Halunke, who held a half-point lead over second-placed Rocana heading into show jumping.

Rocana is our new leader, with 19-year-old four-star rookie Emily King and Brookleigh trailing less than a rail behind. With third-placed Frenchman Astier Nicolas and Piaf de B’Neville nipping at their heels by 0.2 point, the stage is set for an exciting Pau CCI4* finale.

Michael Jung's fischerRocana FST. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Unlike Rocana, Michael Jung wouldn’t pass the jog hence the stand-in runner. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

In addition to Halunke FBW, William Levett and Shannondale Titan (AUS) called it a day after being sent to the holding box, and Austin O’Connor and Morning Venture (IRE) were spun upon re-presentation. Nicky Roncoroni and Watts Burn (GBR) and Lucy Jackson and Bosun (NZL) withdrew before the jog.

That leaves 33 starters heading into show jumping, including Canada’s Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master and the U.S.’s last-pair-standing Katie Rupell and Houdini. Both horses, who hold 33rd and 26th places respectively, looked loose and happy this morning, and we are all cheering for them heading into the final phase. We pledge allegiance to that amazing scarf, Katie!

Katie Ruppel and Houdini. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Despite what this sleepy-looking pair would have you believe…

Awkward jog photos happen. Kirsty Johnson and Opposition Detective. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

…France had its fall-back daylight savings time change last night — a week earlier than the U.S. — which means everybody here got an extra hour of sleep and there is now a five instead of six hour difference between local time and EST. Show jumping is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. local time, which translates to 9:30 a.m. EST.

Photo gallery of the show jumping starters in their order of standing: