Photos courtesy of CrossCountryApp.
What goes on in the mind of a course designer or a course builder? Some pretty wild stuff, apparently. We compiled a gallery of 10 jumps that captured our imagination in 2020, as seen on cross country courses in seven different countries across four different continents.
Have an addition to the list? Share it in the comments section — we might just put together a part II! Many thanks to our friends at CrossCountryApp for the hard work they put in year-round to bring us closer to the action through virtual course walks of events around the world.
This year, we spotted several musical instrument themed obstacles:
“Cordes et vents” on the Le Lion D’Angers 6-year-old course in Mondial, France.
“Cordes et Vents du Crédit Mutuel” on the Le Lion D’Angers 7-year-old course in Mondial, France.
“Piano” on the CCN3* course at DRB Floats & Warwick Horse Trials ODE in Southern Downs, Queensland, Australia. View the complete course here.
Pau, per tradition, got into the artistic spirit. This obstacle appears on the 5* course each year but always repainted.
“Palette de Peintre” on the CCI5* course at Les Etoiles de Pau. View the complete course here.
For the literary set, a couple of books were jumped on course this year:
“Etten Leur Zwaar” in memory of Jan van Beek: “Your last ride came far too soon. Your excellent advice lives on in many riders. You will always be in our hearts.” — Team Etten-Leur. In Etten-Leur, Netherlands. View the complete course here.
“La Fable de la Fontaine Fiduciale” on the Le Lion D’Angers 7-year-old course in Mondial, France.
And, as always, there was plenty of wildlife scattered about:
“L’arraignée de la Com Com” on the Le Lion D’Angers 6-year-old course in Mondial, France.
“La Fable de La Fontaine Fiduciale” on the CCI2*-L 6-year-old at Le Lion d’Angers in Mondial, France.
“Le Perchoir du Hibou Crédit Agricole” on the Le Lion D’Angers 6-year-old course in Mondial, France.
“Le Félin du Lion d’Angers” on the Le Lion D’Angers 7-year-old course in Mondial, France.
“Gow-Gates Insurance Wallaby” at Wallaby Hill International Three-Day Event in Australia.
There were these supersized replications of items from everyday life:
Wallaby Hill International 3-Day Event CCI4*-L in Australia.
Stafford BE100 in Stafford, UK.
Yet we also appreciated how these courses built themselves into the natural landscape, literally:
Wesel-Obrighoven CCI2*-S in Wesel, Germany.
“Pier” on the CCI3*-L course at Tryon International 3-Day Event in Mill Springs, North Carolina, USA. View the complete course here.
Wallaby Hill International 3-Day Event CCI4 in Australia.
And this one just tugged at our heartstrings.
“Le Cœur Mécénat Chirugie Cardiaque” on the CCI3*-L 7-year-old class at Le Lion d’Angers in France. View the complete course here.
To course designers and builders around the world, thank you for all of your hard work and vision in the year 2020! Go Eventing.
