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1) In a scene that would have done any John Wayne western proud, Phillip, Will Faudree, Buck, and Boyd walked up the jog strip to meet with the Ground Jury at the culmination of the final horse inspection. The riders were asked by the larger body of competitors to discuss some of the officiating this weekend with the Ground Jury, including concerns about scoring discrepancies in the dressage, pulling Pavarotti up, poor communication with riders, and concerns about the footing not being fully addressed. I am told that the meeting was firm but productive in that the riders were able to express their views and hear the perspective of the Ground Jury, and in that sense it was a clear success.
As a rider, I am biased, but from having been here all weekend, watched the judging, having heard some of the conversations with riders, and spoken with many riders, I think the concerns are completely valid. At the very least, I can say with certainty that the mood among the riders here at Jersey is that they haven’t had a good experience with the Ground Jury and hopefully today’s meeting helped that.
2) I am happy to report that Shannon Baker, who fell in the CIC2*, is out and about and 100% sound this morning. Shanon had the toughest fall of the day Saturday and she took a quick trip to the hospital to check things out, but I am told she would pass even the most discerning ground jury today.
3) As always, we need to give a huge thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers here at Jersey and across Eventing Nation who have worked tirelessly this weekend to make eventing possible for all of us. Despite some of the issues with officiating, this has been the safest and best Jersey Fresh that I can remember and a ton of that has to do with all of the awesome volunteers. Without your help, eventing would never happen.
4) Speaking of Pavarotti, the rules mandate that a yellow card be given when a rider is pulled up on course, as Pavarotti was. This would be Jessica’s second yellow card in just under a year and, although I am anything but an expert on FEI rules, my understanding from talking with an official is that this would lead to a suspension although it might depend on how the yellow cards are classified. Jessica’s other yellow card was for making the time with a stop at Bromont last year but I believe the Ground Jury said at the time that they didn’t consider it dangerous riding, or else they presumably would have stopped her on course. It’s unquestionably a convoluted situation and there will be appeals if necessary but having watched both of Jessica’s rides it would be absolutely absurd to suspend her unless you are prepared to suspend 20% of the riders out there, especially considering that among those two rides she picked up just one stop and never fell or caused injury to herself or her horses.
5) A light rain has started here in New Jersey and from the look of the skies, it’s going to be one of those days.
6) Several EN sponsors have booths in the trade fair. If you are out and about here at the New Jersey Horse Park, be sure to stop by and visit the folks from Devoucoux, Cavalor, and Horse Quencher.
The CCI2* show jumping is about to start. Good luck to all of the riders and I’ll be back shortly with reports from all of the divisions. Go eventing.
