Gold Medal Team Area V with coach Mike Huber explaining how to victory gallop
The CH-J* show jumping course was a nice, flowing course that rode quite big. It rewarded forward, balanced riding, and punished those who sat a bit passive. The well-decorated fences combined with the atmosphere of the big arena caused many horses to back off and get a little stuck. Given that horses are also a bit tired and flat after cross-country, there were many rails down in the one-star division. The first combination, a one-stride vertical to oxer, caused quite a few problems. Horse after horse came around the turn, sucked back from the bright rails, and caused the distance to ride very long (quite a few horses chipped in a second stride, including the winner Mystere du Val). Riders had to come very forward through the turn and ride positively into the combination. Similarly, a few horses added strides in the triple, and rails went flying. Overall, there was some good riding today, and many riders learned a lot about show jumping on Day 3 of a CCI.
Congratulations to Victoria New and Fleeceworks Mystere du Val of Area V for winning the CH-J* division. After being second in dressage, they looked super on cross-country yesterday, and survived show jumping with one rail down to take the gold. Area V took the team gold as well, followed by the Ontario team in second, and Area III for the bronze.
