May 12th, 2013 -- The equine veterans ruled at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event this weekend, taking the titles in all four sections of the competition at the Horse Park of New Jersey. But their riders were a mix of the up-and-coming athletes who are the future of the sport, and those with well-earned team experience.

Change is gradual; sometimes you don't see it coming, then you wake up and there it is. But anyone who watched the event in horse-friendly Monmouth County had a chance to glimpse where things are going.

Veronica's permanent rider is now Lauren Kieffer, 24, who came up through the ranks of the O'Connor Event Team, and took over the ride from Olympic multi-medalist Karen O'Connor after she broke her back in a fall with the mare last year. Lauren led through all three phases to win the CIC 2-star on a score of 55.3 penalties, adding 8 time penalties cross-country in a division where only one person made the optimum time and dropping a rail in show jumping. She still had a nice margin over Sharon White's ride, Don Sheffield (57.9).

Lauren Kieffer, winner of the CCI 2-star with Veronica

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Lauren is grateful to the Broussard family, which owns Veronica, for giving her the ride.

"It was very generous of the Broussards to take a chance on a new rider. It speaks worlds to their dedication to the sport that they're willing to give it to a younger rider rather than one of the top riders who ride for them already," she commented.

Boyd Martin handed over Remington XXV to 23-year-old Caitlin Silliman for what was supposed to be the first leg of the  17-year-old horse's  retirement, but he never looked better as he, too, led through all the phases of his division, the CCI 2-star and finished on his dressage score of 41 penalties, the best of any horse in the entire event.

"The more I learn about him, the better I'm able to ride him," said Caitlin, noting that Boyd, her boss, has been "a huge help." But she observed that Remington has learned something too; he's thinking more on his own than he used to with Boyd's professional ride.

Also leading throughout the CIC 3-star competition (do you sense a trend here?) Will Faudree's ride, Andromaque, finished on 51.1 penalties, adding only four time penalties cross-country as he prepped the mare for a trip with the U.S. contingent going to Saumur, France, this month.

"She's a star. I've always believed in that horse. She came here this weekend in preparation for Saumur and I wanted her solid in all three phases," said Will. He noted that her dressage performance was a wake-up call; "I won here on a score of 51, which is really exciting, but I know in France, 51 probably won't get me in the top 20, so we've got to up our game."

Jessica Phoenix celebrated Mother’s Day with her husband, Joel; her son Jacob and Exponential, who won the CCI 3-star

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

The hardest-fought division was the CCI 3-star, where Buck Davidson had no margin for error after cross-country on the 8-year-old D.A. Adirmo, who faced the biggest test of his short career on the course designed by John Williams, who has held that job for the entire history of Jersey Fresh. He was one of only two double-clears on that route; the other was that fiercely competitive pair, Canada's Jessica Phoenix and Exponential. Buck had 51.5 penalties to lead after cross-country, Jessica had 52.7. It's interesting to note that Jessica was the busiest rider at Jersey Fresh with five mounts, and I have to say she looked none the worse for wear after her final trip as she accepted a Mother's Day chocolate ice cream cone from her 3-year-old son, Jacob.

I chatted with Debbie Adams, D.A. Adirmo's owner, before the show jumping. Debbie came up with the idea for Jersey Fresh 11 years ago, and was so excited about how her Dutchbred horse was doing.

Listen: Debbie Adams

The winner of the dressage phase, Californian Mackenna Shea's horse, Landioso, had dropped to third with time penalties after cross-country. But disappointingly, he didn't make it through the horse inspection this morning. Mackenna, who had to settle for the sportsmanship award, a clock, rather than a ribbon, said the problem was a shoeing issue, and as soon as Landioso was reshod, he was sound. That's eventing.

With Courtney Cooper and Who's a Star on 63.9 penalties rather far back in third place, it was obvious that Sally Ike's course would be the decider between the top two.

Jessica had a rail at the eighth of 12 fences, a black-and- white oxer.

"I was thinking, `Oh, I sat on him' and apologized to her horse: `I'm sorry, I won't do that again.' " Then "we went around to the last line, and he was awesome."

She had given Buck some breathing room, but she didn't watch him go.

He used up his advantage at the first element of the yellow-and-white triple combination, dropping a rail at the oxer. And three fences later, it was over, as he had another knockdown at the next-to-last obstacle.

That was it, he finished second on 59.5 penalties, ahead of Courtney, who had one of only two double-clears in the division.

Analyzing what went wrong, Buck said, "when he hit the 'in' of the triple, it sort of startled him. I landed short coming out of the triple and thought, 'I better add' (a stride). If I had gone, he would have had a back rail. Obviously I shouldn't have done that."

Buck noted that the horse is young and when asked what A.D. Adirmo had learned, he replied. "Everything. He was trying, he's still green. I'm very excited with the finish. He's a nice horse for the future."

Jessica empathized.

"In this sport, it's so humbling, all I want is for everyone to have a good weekend. At the end of the day, when you win, you want to win because you've been at your best. You don't want to win from other people's rails. I feel for Buck,, it's unfortunate. He had a great weekend on that horse."

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Jessica--who was on her country's silver medal team with Exponential at the 2010 World Equestrian Games--was especially thrilled, because ironically with all that mileage, it was her first 3-star win.

And she was merely following orders from new Canadian coach Clayton Fredericks.

He had advised her to withdraw from the Rolex Kentucky 4-star last month after her dressage test wasn't up to snuff.

"This horse does not need to prove himself in his jumping phases. He just needs to go out and be competitive. Let's go to Jersey and win it,"  he told her.

So she did.

Jersey is a very different event from high-profile Rolex, just as the compact Horse Park of New Jersey is completely different from the expansive Kentucky Horse Park. That figures; Kentucky is all about the horse industry; New Jersey is not, even though the horse is the state animal, for what that's worth.

Jersey Fresh is an amazing volunteer operation that goes above and beyond with a shoestring budget. Everyone makes a big effort, and riders love the hospitality. The event has improved in recent years. There was a feeling that this edition was the best ever.

CIC 3-star winner Will Faudree with Andromaque

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

It drew a nice crowd for tailgating around the "Jersey Shore" water complex yesterday, despite the omnipresent threat of rain, which graciously held off until the competition was finished. The eventing gods have been kind this spring; the same thing happened at Rolex.

John, the cross-country designer, called his layout, "a notch more difficult this year, but it's also a better course. We're finding ways to utilize the property better so the course can be more open, galloping and flowing." He noted that with the one-fall rule for elimination and only three refusals on course allowed, the competitors don't get out of sequence as they used to when they remounted and caused delays, or kept going with refusal after refusal. Therefore, they don't get in each others way as they often did in the old days, making it difficult for the course to cross itself, as it does now. Therefore, the course "can exist on a smaller piece of property," John pointed out.

I spoke with Morgan Rowsell, the course builder, for his viewpoint.

Listen: Morgan Rowsell

Jersey Fresh was the source of a big improvement, breakaway flags that fall when a horse hits them, rather than breaking and injuring the animals. Last year, one of Will Coleman's horses was impaled by a broken flag and suffered a serious injury. Dr. Scott Palmer, the veterinarian who pulled the horse through, called then-U.S. Equestrian Federation President David O'Connor's (now the U.S. eventing coach) attention to the situation and suggested flexible poles should be used. They were at all the narrow jumps on course at Jersey Fresh.

Here's how Scott explained the situation.

Listen: Dr. Scott Palmer

It was good to catch up with Karen O'Connor and hear about her recovery. While she's back jumping, she has yet to compete; when she will do that, and what she will do, is still up in the air. Meanwhile, she's worried about Mr. Medicott, her 2012 Olympic horse. Marilyn Little is riding him while he's being syndicated, but not all the shares have been sold.

Listen: Karen O'Connor

Also on the injured list is Boyd, who had ankle surgery after Rolex Kentucky and was sporting a big bandage. He's getting it off tomorrow, and soon will be doing dressage, he said. When he'll be eventing again he couldn't say, but I'll bet it will be soon.

I'm switching gears at the end of the month and going to the Devon Horse Show, one of my favorites. Look for my postcard May 31. In the meantime, check out facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman for more photos from Jersey Fresh.

Until then,

Andrew Nicholson clears the final fence (appropriately themed for the Rolex Grand Slam) with Quimbo

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Andrew Nicholson, the last rider to go in show jumping this afternoon at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event, kept it all together to win and qualify for the last leg of the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam at Badminton next weekend.

It was "phew" moment for the New Zealander, who rejoiced during a pre-presentation victory gallop as he flew around the ring on Quimbo once safely across the finish line.

After receiving his trophy and a Rolex watch, he did another three laps, some of which he performed while waving both hands to the sold-out crowd of nearly 20,000 that packed the stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park.

William Fox-Pitt, who also is in line for the Grand Slam if he can win Badminton, was just as happy but less exuberant, though he smiled broadly as he swept past his fans on Seacookie, who was totally fault free over Richard Jeffery's course. One four in the starting field of 29 could make that claim.

When the defending champion left the ring, however, he found he wasn't able to straighten his left pinky. He had no idea how he broke it, but was already bandaged up when he arrived at the press conference. William didn't think it would affect his riding, however.

Making a triumphant run around the sold-out stadium after he kept all the poles in the cups for show jumping, Andrew Nicholson celebrates aboard Quimbo

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Andrew logged 3 time penalties as he made his careful way around the fences, but that was a wise decision, since he had a comfortable cushion. His final score was 41 penalties, to 48.2 for William. Andrew's other horse, Calico Joe, isn't much of a show jumper. He also wasn't much of a steeplechase horse, which is why he originally was purchased. But he's won a good bit of money eventing, and even with 12 penalties today, he emerged in third place with 52.8 penalties.

Quimbo is a stunner, a Spanish horse bred to show jump who also is versatile enough to handle cross-country and dressage. This one is going to be a superstar. Andrew had some help from Spanish show jumper Luis Alvarez Cevera, who also has been the coach of the New Zealand show jumping team. But I wouldn't think Andrew needs too much assistance. He is a beautiful rider who know how to let a horse do its best, using guidance rather than interference.

Now it's time for Andrew and William to concentrate on Badminton, and if he had to guess which of them might earn the Grand Slam (which has been won only once in its 12-year history) a smiling William conjectured, "probably neither."

Not only will they have to cope with Badminton's demanding cross-country course, but also Olympic, world and European champion Michael Jung of Germany. Yes, their work is cut out for them.

I asked Andrew what he'll do when he gets home tomorrow as he prepares for Badminton.

William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson with his new Rolex watch and Buck Davidson

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Listen: Andrew Nicholson

Unfortunately for us, and by that I mean the U.S., this is the eighth time in 11 years that a foreign rider has won Rolex. Our event. New coach David O'Connor has a lot of work to do, but there were some bright spots on our horizon.

Buck Davidson, who had been third on Ballynoe Castle RM, dropped rails at the last two fences on course to wind up fourth with 53.2 penalties. He could take comfort from the fact that he was the spring U.S. Equestrian Federation champion, but noted, "I'm bummed to have two down," saying the effort "fell apart a little bit at the end."

Yet he noted if he had to lose, being right behind the world number one (Andrew) and William (who has won more big events than any other rider) is the place to be.

Buck Davidson, the highest-placed American, fourth on Ballynoe Castle RM

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

And I'm thinking maybe he--or anyone else--wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for his father, Bruce Davidson. It was Bruce's victory in the 1974 world championships in England that granted the U.S. the right to hold the next world championships in 1978, which he also won. That was the start for the fledgling Kentucky Horse Park, giving it a boost that enabled it to become one of the world's premiere equestrian destinations.

Notable American finishes included Lynn Symansky with Donner, who achieved a double-clear to come in fifth, and Will Faudree on Pawlow, right behind her in sixth place.

I was happy to see Australia's Peter Atkins finish 10th on Henry Jota Hampton, coming up from 28th after dressage. Big move! You may know his horse as "Henny," as in "Run, Henny, Run" for their wonderful helmet cam videos. Peter and Henny have had a soap opera's worth of problems, from an ownership squabble to Peter's leg fracture. But they're together now and going well. Next year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and perhaps the 2016 Olympics are in their sights.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Peter today. Why don't you listen in?

Listen: Peter Atkins

I still haven't gotten a consensus on the difficulty quotient of the cross-country course. I spoke this morning with Great Britain's Yogi Breisner, the always astute chef d'equipe of the British eventing team, and he felt the course was hard enough.

So when I ran into course designer Derek di Grazia, I wondered what he thought about it after nearly a day to consider.

Listen: Derek Di Grazia

The best, best, best part about it was that no one (horse or human) suffered a serious injury and it made for a day of great sport without serious consequences.

The main focus at Rolex is, of course, the competition, but for some, a bigger enticement is the trade fair. It is huge, having spread over the years from an area near the stadium to an indoor arena and beyond. One of the big features at various booths is having eventing celebrities on hand to autograph and have their pictures taken with excited fans. When I was walking through the fair this afternoon, I saw a looooong line in front of the Purina booth. So I investigated; the occasion was the appearance of Boyd Martin. He deserves all the admiration he can get; he's incredibly personable and makes everyone he talks to feel important when they come to see him.

I got a few minutes with Boyd (yes, I cut the line, I was in a rush to cover the show jumping). He told me he's undergoing surgery tomorrow for an ankle problem, a fracture and ligament damage. I asked how it happened, he told me, "falling off horses."

I hope he's back in time for Jersey Fresh in two weeks, though that may be wishful thinking. At any rate, I'll be there, and sending you a postcard on the evening of May 12. Be sure to check back at Equisearch, and go to facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman for more about Rolex.

Until then,

Andrew Nicholson leads the way at Rolex Kentucky on Quimbo and stands second as well with Calico Joe after cross-country

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Allie Knowles, queen for a day when she stood fourth as the highest-placed American after dressage, was back to earth this afternoon at the unlucky 13th obstacle, the sunken road complex. She was eliminated there after her Last Call said "no more" to the imposing combination.

But the king of eventers, defending champion William Fox-Pitt, also was toppled. Chilli Morning, first in the rankings after dressage, had a stop at the seventh fence, the HSBC Water Park. William turned around and headed to the stables, figuring there was no point in going all the way around the course at that point.

When I asked what happened with the stallion, the British star replied, "Who knows? There will be lots of time to reflect on it. Maybe he just over-jumped the fence before and shut down there. Whatever the reason, there was no point in carrying on--he’s 13 years old, and he’s not here for the experience. We’ll try again another day."

But all was not lost for William, who moved up from 10th to fourth on Seacookie (46.2 penalties) after putting in one of 10 double-clear trips logged during the day on Derek di Grazia's course.

William Fox-Pitt lost the lead on Chilli Morning but is fourth with Seacookie

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Even if he jumps clean in tomorrow afternoon's show jumping, however, he just has to wait and watch to see what Andrew Nicholson does. Though Andrew is first on Quimbo (38 penalties) and second on Calico Joe (40.8), the New Zealander is not feeling any sense of comfort about retaining his spots at the time the ribbons are presented.

I asked him if there was some comfort to standing first and second.

"You can never have too much of a cushion in the show jumping,” he answered.

"I’ll make the most I can of my rounds today and worry about the show jumping tomorrow."

He and I had good eye contact, and I'm sure he knew that I knew the Spinning Rhombus story. That's a tough one to live down.

In 1992, when he and the New Zealand team were poised to take gold at the Barcelona Olympics, Andrew could have had seven rails down and still earned the top prize. But he and Spinning Rhombus had nine rails down; I've never seen anything like it. My jaw kept dropping with the poles as they toppled, one after another. Australia got the gold, and New Zealand had to settle for silver.

But on the plus side here, Quimbo is a good show jumper, though Calico Joe apparently is not quite up to that standard. So tomorrow should be very exciting.

The undercurrent, of course, is that if Andrew wins, he has a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, for which only William is currently eligible; his finish here does not affect that. But if Andrew is in the running, Badminton--the last leg of the Triple--will be quite a donnybrook next week, I guarantee it. (If you want more detail about this, look at yesterday's postcard. Or Thursday's, for that matter.) And the mix will include Germany's Michael Jung, the world, Olympic and European champion. He could be the spoiler.

Buck Davidson is the highest-ranked American, in third place with Ballynoe Castle RM

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Buck Davidson was the top American, making the climb from 10th after dressage to third on his old pal Reggie, whose formal name is Ballynoe Castle RM. He was one of 10 double-clears, a group that was a third of the field who finished cross-country.

This was a great moment for Buck in several ways. It eased the memory of Reggie's stop at the sunken road during the 2012 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games here, when Buck was part of the U.S. team.

"It’s a shame that his entire career has been plagued by that stop at the Sunken Road, because he’s such a great horse and everybody loves him," said Buck. "I just about gave up and stopped after he was so perfect through the sunken road--I was so happy."

And it was a nice bounce back from 2012, when he hurt his shoulder in a fall.

Buck and I talked about his feelings today.

Listen: Buck Davidson

Of course, his mood also was elevated by winning the Land Rover Best Ride of the Day for being the U.S. rider finishing closest to the optimum time of 11 minutes, 21 seconds to finish the course. He got free use for two years of a 2013 Range Rover. The award came for his trip on Mar de Amor, one of three horses he rode around today. Mar de Amor's time was 11:15. William actually hit 11:21 on the head, but since he isn't American, he wasn't eligible for the prize.

Will Faudree and Pawlow powered out of the Head of the Lake on their way to fifth place in the standings

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

The course seemed generally well-regarded, but I got an interesting insight on it from Mark Phillips, former coach of the U.S. eventing team.

Listen: Mark Phillips

Bruce Davidson, Buck's father, has ridden around Rolex more times than anyone else--though it seems his son is catching up with him quickly. I was interested in what he thought of the course.

Listen: Bruce Davidson

Happily, no one was seriously injured, though there were five rider falls, including Becky Holder, who was seventh after dressage. Ronald Zabala-Goetshel of Ecuador drew a laugh after he and Wise Equestrian Master Rose tumbled into the drink at the Head of the Lake, and the rider rose from the water to take a bow for the crowd.

I ran into Marilyn Little at lunchtime, when she was wearing a sling on her right arm to support a shoulder injury. I asked how it happened, and whether she would ride today. Here's what she said.

Listen: Marilyn Little

She did wind up starting on course, but had a fall from RF Demeter at the 17th fence, the Land Rover Hollow, ending her quest. Let's hope she'll take a rest and let the injury heal.

Several top riders followed William's cautionary lead by withdrawing their horses after a refusal, in order to save them for another day. Mary King, the winner in 2011 with Kings Temptress, came back on her second-place horse from that year, Fernhill Urco, to give try giving him equal time in the trophy department. But he looked tired coming into the Head of the Lake and ran out on the brush obstacle after jumping out of the water. Mary retired six fences later.

Boyd Martin had a refusal with Trading Aces six fences from the end of the 28-obstacle course and walked away.

The original field of 45 for dressage is now at 30, and I suspect it will be smaller still after tomorrow's horse inspection.

It should be great show jumping, Andrew and William, the fiercest of rivals personally and professionally, squaring off with so much at stake. I'll be there, and tell you all about it tomorrow evening in my final postcard from Rolex Kentucky. In the meantime, be sure to go to facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practical horseman for more photos and videos.

Until then,

The Training symposium is presented in two parts, with a theme of "A Team Approach."

Train the Trainer Workshop~ May 29 - 30
Para Rider Symposium ~ May 30 - June 1

This is a U.S. Para-Equestrian Association sanctioned event and is organized and hosted by Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports, a leading nationally accredited program in Lyman, Maine.

Symposium Banquet & Keynote Address
All participants (clinicians, trainers, and riders) are invited to a symposium banquet at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine on Wednesday, May 29th. Featured guest Gil Merrick will kick off the symposium theme of "A Team Approach" in his keynote address that evening. There will be time for fellowship and networking.

Featured Symposium Clinicians
Hanneke Gerritsen ~ FEI "O" Judge and Olympic Technical Delegate from Holland
Catherine Haddad Staller ~ International Dressage Competitor & Trainer
Clive Milkins ~ 2012 Paralympic Gold Medal Team Coach for Great Britain
Gil Merrick ~ Former USEF High Performance Dressage Director and National Clinician

Symposium Lecturers & Specialists
Hope Hand ~ President of United States Para Equestrian Association (USPEA)
Lora Dow ~ Fundraising & Marketing Expert
Tina Wentz ~ National Classifier and USPEA board member
Susan Grant, OTR/L, HPCS ~ Licensed Occupational Therapist; Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist
Janet Smaldone, PT, HPCS ~ Licensed Physical Therapist; Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist

Facilities
The workshop portion and Symposium Banquet will be held at the classic, waterfront Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. We have reserved a block of rooms at a group rate for any Symposium participant. All hands-on and riding portions of the Symposium will be held at Carlisle Academy, which is centrally located in Southern Maine, just 30 minutes from Portland, ME and Portsmouth, NH. Fly into Portland, Manchester or Boston airports. The Academy, located on 150-acre Spring Creek Farm in Lyman, Maine, USA, provides an ideal environment for training. With two indoor arenas, two outdoor arenas, a therapy room and classroom, individuals and horses alike will find the space comfortable, peaceful and conducive to a productive learning experience.

Registration Due Date: Friday, May 10, 2013

Please note, there is no limit on enrollment for the Train the Trainer's portion. However, due to the intensive nature of the Rider Symposium, space is limited to 10 riders and an unlimited number of active auditors. Carlisle Academy will hold space for 2 alternates in the event of rider cancellations. Preference will be given to Horse & Rider combinations.

Download the Registration Form Here.
Download the Information Packet Here.

Please contact Joyce Brown, Training & Leadership Program Director of Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports, at 207-985-0374 or jbrown@carlisleacademymaine.com with questions or concerns.

Contact the USPEA by emailing President Hope Hand at hope@uspea.org.

April 17, 2013--Ever wished for Olympic-caliber training for you and your horse? Would you love to get some feedback on your riding from a winner of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event? Award-winning magazine Practical Horseman, in partnership with Cosequin, wants to give you an opportunity to win a clinic for you and up to nine of your friends with Olympian Phillip Dutton. This isn’t just any clinic: Phillip will come to you!

To enter, write an essay of 250 words or less describing why you deserve to win the clinic and submit your entry at www.PracticalHorsemanMag.com/PhillipDuttonContest. Ten finalists will be selected to submit videos of themselves and their horses, and a winner will be chosen from among the finalists. Phillip will give the clinic at your barn or a suitable local facility.

“One of our goals here at Practical Horseman is to provide our readers with a riding lesson in print,” said Editor Sandy Oliynyk. “With this contest, we’re offering a chance to win a real-life lesson with an Olympic rider. Phillip is a longtime friend of the magazine, and we’re excited to give a lucky winner a once-in-a-lifetime experience riding with him.”

A five-time Olympian and five-time World Equestrian Games team rider, Phillip is also a 13-time USEA Rider of the Year and two-time Olympic eventing gold medalist. In 2007, he won team and individual gold medals at the Pan-American Games. Based at his True Prospect Farm in West Grove, Pennsylvania, which he owns with his wife, Evie, Philip coaches many adult amateurs and several U.S. Equestrian Team short-listed riders.

10 finalists will receive a copy of Modern Eventing with Phillip Dutton: The Complete Resource—Training, Conditioning, and Competing in All Three Phases. This fabulously illustrated book covers training, conditioning and competing in all three phases of events: dressage, cross-country and show jumping. The book includes full chapters describing the special needs of the event horse, with tips and advice from the top experts. It is available for purchase on HorseBooksEtc.com.

The contest is now open and will close on June 17, 2013. For more information and to enter, go to www.PracticalHorsemanMag.com/PhillipDuttonContest.

The Gene Mische American Invitational, however, is completely different. Being in an NFL facility, Raymond James Stadium, (which has hosted the Super Bowl) IS A  key element contributing to a special experience for riders and fans alike.

Horse show judge Jimmy Lee, who has been to many Invitationals and attended the 41st last night, explained it this way to me:

"Just to walk into such an awesome place in the evening and the way they do the presentation, it's a great course and a lot of people from the community come to watch -- they really make it an event," he pointed out.

"Sometimes we just have a wonderful horse show, but it's just like the wonderful horse show the previous week, and the one we're going to have next week. With these long circuits, it's fun to say to someone, `What show were you champion at?'

`I was champion the fifth week.'

`But what was the name of the show?'"

Odds are, you won't get an answer to that one.

There's no such confusion with the Invitational; even riding in it without getting a ribbon is memorable. As Jimmy  said, "It's a production."

You just get one shot; there's no schooling, no warm-up class. It becomes a real test of horsemanship.

McLain Ward at the X-factor jump on the way to winning the Gene Mische American Invitational with Rothchild.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

This edition definitely was tough; only McLain Ward, on the hard-fighting Rothchild, and 18-year-old Reed Kessler, his 2012 Olympic teammate on Mika, made it from the starting field of 30 into the tie-breaker.

Steve Stephens, who has designed the Invitational since 1985 (with the exception of one year) put his usual amount of thought into the route he laid out. There were several new fences, including the American Invitational pedestal, raised up on a red X (Steve was inspired by The X-Factor TV show), as well as a vertical/liverpool/vertical triple combination near the end of the course that took a lot of prisoners.

Why is an arrangement like that so difficult here?

Listen: Steve Stephens

So now you understand the circumstances, and why, for McLain, winning his third Invitational since 1998 has special meaning.

"This class is an institution for this country, this sport. I really hope people in the industry rally behind this and keep it going," he said. "It almost died a few years ago. I'm so glad to see (organizer) Michael Morrissey and his group of people and sponsors who have really made great effort to revive it, because it's very, very important to us as athletes.

"This is something unique and special and when I grew up, this was the most important class to win, this is what we coveted. I think that's important for future young riders; my children, one day, I hope."

The show also is a great experience for spectators, who come out in droves to walk the course,

measuring the height of the fences against the top of their heads, spreading their arms in the middle of the oxers to see how wide they are.

The crowd of 8,500 was better than last year and comparable to the number who came to Wellington on Florida's east coast last weekend for the $500,000 grand prix that ended the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. They do look a bit lost in the cavernous facility, though as McLain pointed out, "In anything other than a 65,000-seat stadium, it would look packed. But I think the stadium also makes the atmosphere a bit."

He sees the Invitational's potential for becoming a "destination event," such as Devon or the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas.

"That's what this event should be aimed to be," he commented.

"WEF is so great, but it gets so monotonous by the end, when you use the same jumps every single week. It's beautiful here," said Reed.

"They really put in that extra work to make it special, and it feels special from the moment you get here."

"There are so many things they do so, so well," McLain pointed out, noting that there are always different fences each year, and the organizers and Steve don't simply rest on their laurels.

His most memorable Invitational win, achieved during a 2008 night of rain, was on Sapphire. There will never be another like the mare, who retired last year at Devon in an emotional ceremony.

"For me, every horse is in the shadow of Sapphire. I miss her very much," said McLain, but Rothchild has found a way into his heart.

"It was a little bit of a lucky chance that I got him," McLain said, recalling he had gone to Europe seeking a horse for a student, and tried Rothchild.

"Francois Mathy, who we buy all our horses from, said, `I think it's a very careful horse.'"

McLain had a different opinion.

"I didn't like anything about him. All the way to the airport, I said, `No, no, no.'"

It apparently fell on deaf ears.

"I called my father to say I was home and he said, `By the way, we bought the chestnut horse. Francois says you don't know what you're talking about."

Well, look at how it's turned out. Rothchild is as competitive as his rider, and as he pins his ears back while he's clearing a fence, you can tell he's going for it.

"He's an every day competitor. He can go in a speed class, he can jump the American Invitational, he can jump a Global Tour grand prix, he can jump Nations' Cups," said McLain.

"He's very quietly amassed quite a record. In the end, he's become a very good friend of mine. He gives me everything he has to give me."

Rothchild, who is owned by the Dolan family's Sagamore Farm, also is "an unbelievable character. He's the sweetest horse in the world to deal with," said McLain.

That's when you're in the barn.

At the same time, "he's totally opinionated and it's going to be his way. He does not like other horses. He makes up for lack of classic style with determination. He can kind of do everything, which is a rarity in today's sport. You know, everything's a specialist. This horse is really the blue collar worker, but the blue collar worker won one for the team today."

McLain Ward hoists the Invitational trophy as second-place Reed Kessler and third-place Sharn Wordley look on.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Despite the fact that only McLain and Reed were in the jump-off, this was no easy victory, and there were a few others who came close to making the tie breaker. Sharn Wordley, a U.S.-based New Zealander, nearly did qualify but scored a time fault with Eric Lamaze's Olympic mount, Derly Chin de Muze, to wind up third.

And how did he get the ride on this horse?

Simple: "I got engaged to the owner (Ashley Fleischhacker)," he admitted, getting a laugh, as the beautiful blonde held the flowers he got during the awards ceremony.

Sharn had a mishap that put him over the 89-second time allowed.

"My horse drifted quite hard to the right at fence four and I rubbed my foot against the standards and I was kind of discombobulated and I kind of took a bit of time on that corner to get myself organized," said Sharn.

"I knew from then on it was going to be touch-and-go...I tried to catch up as best I could without jeopardizing having a rail. It was my first time doing the Invitational and I love it. It's going to be a focus for me next year. It's just so different...with so much atmosphere...it really is quite challenging."

McLain has gone from being one of the young guns to being the establishment, and they're all coming after him.

(Listen: McLain Ward

Invitational runner-up Reed Kessler on Mika

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Reed is having a great time as an 18-year-old; becoming the youngest equestrian to compete in the Games last summer, and now nearly winning the Invitational in only her second attempt.

She had the disadvantage of going first in the jump-off, and was faced with the always difficult task of splitting the difference between having a fast time and making sure the fences stayed up.

"McLain is so, so fast; Rothchild, especially," she said.

"So I tried to lay down a really competitive round...to go in my comfort zone with Mika to make sure I put in a clear round. I tried to put enough pressure on without making a mistake."

She accomplished that, but by leaving out one stride and making a smoother approach than Reed did to one fence, McLain was able to better her mark of 43.37 by more than a second by crossing the finish in 42.10.

"It's so huge, it's such a prestigious class. I love walking the course and listening to people like Katie (Prudent, her coach) and Leslie (Howard) talk about the different horses they've won it on and the years where they had this (jump) in the course," said Reed.

"It's just such a historic class and has so many great stories behind it. It's great to say I've been second in the Invitational once," she continued, then smiled.

"I hope I can add a win."

The top three all liked the course, and praised Steve.

"He had some very young and green riders in the class, as well as Olympic horses and riders, he had to find a balance and I thought it was a good balance test," said McLain. Two or three, but under five (in the jump-off) is the right number for this competition."

The first Invitational I attended was in 1984, the year of the Los Angeles Olympics. Leslie Howard won on Albany and I thought it was neat that as I walked toward the stadium entrance yesterday, she was the first person I saw. We reminisced a bit about that experience.

Listen: Leslie Howard

There's always something different and intriguing at the Invitational, aside from the jumping. One area of the grounds is devoted to kids, with a petting zoo, horseless horse show and face painting. A Percheron was pulling what I call a Cinderella carriage (round and enclosed by artistic white metal strips).

Katherine Bateson Chandler did a freestyle demonstration with Alcazar.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

During a break in the class, 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. dressage team member Katherine Bateson-Chandler performed a freestyle on Jane Clark's  Alcazar, not easy to do with jumps in the way and workmen pounding down divots all around her. But it was good practice for the horse, who will have to compete in a comparable setting (minus the jumps and workmen) if Katherine makes the squad for next summer's WEG in France.

Before everyone left the post-show party, always a relaxed affair and a good way to wind down from an exciting evening, I checked in with Michael Morrissey, head of Stadium Jumping Inc., which runs the show presented by G&C Farm.

Michael was Gene Mische's nephew, and devoted to him. Still is; he is keeping the Invitational going (and believe me, many people wondered if it could continue) in memory of Gene, the impresario who founded the Florida circuit.

Listen: Michael Morrissey

Don't forget to check out facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman for more photos of the Invitational.
This was my last trip to Florida for the year. Like nearly everyone else, I'm heading north for the start of the regular season. I'll be sending postcards daily from the Rolex Kentucky 4-star at the end of the month, so be sure to look for them.

Until then,

I understand what she means. It's great to spend time in Wellington, Fla., where the equestrian section is a unique community that now is talked about worldwide. Drive around and you'll be in awe.
As I got ready to say goodbye to Wellington for 2013, I reflected, as I often do, on  its uniqueness. When I visited Canadian dressage star Ashley Holzer (more about her later) Saturday morning, the scene in her neighborhood five minutes from the showgrounds was pure bliss. The sun sparkled, the palms swayed slightly and people were riding everywhere in what looked like horse heaven.

This morning I was in Grand Prix Village, next to the showgrounds, and saw beautiful stable after beautiful stable (not to mention the mansions that go with them). The grounds seem always to be garlanded by colorful flowers making a Florida statement, and ringed by impressive hedges that offer privacy. And I'll admit to some sadness as I watched the big tractor-trailers loaded with fabulous horseflesh pulling out to head north.

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the focal point of equestrian existence for many here, is unique, with acres of arenas. There's always a festive air for "Saturday Night Lights," the big grands prix that draw thousands of spectators. More than an hour before last night's $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Finale Grand Prix, the stands were packed. A live band entertained and the mood was anticipation as the climax of the jumper competition drew near.

To decorate the ring, giant date palms were added (my progress to the parking lot on Friday was held up as a truck laden with the huge trees attempted to maneuver the narrow path leading to the arena).

Brazil’s Alvaro de Mirando won the $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Grand Prix on AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

There was a stellar 40-horse field for the finale, but halfway through the class, there was only one clear round, Athina Onassis de Miranda of Greece on Camille Z.

Last year's winner, Colombia's Daniel Bluman, had  a foot in the water with Sancha LS. Margie Engle was going well down the last line aboard Royce as the crowd cheered her on, then dropped a rail at the final fence as a heartfelt groan echoed from thousands of fans around the arena.

Had course designer Alan Wade made the route too tough? Nope, he's a genius. Nine more clear trips joined Athina's in the second half of the class, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling jump-offs of the season.

Kent Farrington had the fastest time of the tiebreaker on Blue Angel, 43.52 seconds, but it was only good enough for fourth, as the rails clattered down from the last fence.

"My horse was trying her guts out the whole way around," said Kent, who had won a class earlier this month with the mare.

"You have a group of riders like this competing for $500,000 and everybody's going to put it all on the line," he explained.

"That's my style as well, and if I win, I'm going to go all out and if I don't win, it's not going to be from lack of trying.

"We pulled out all the stops. I took a big risk at the last fence doing nine strides, which is sort of a big stretch for that small a horse. I knew if I did one more, I'd be second or third anyway, so I'll take the risk and if I have one down, I'll be fourth, but if she happens to leave it up, then maybe it's our day."

Don't feel to sorry for Kent, though. After the class, he was presented with a blown-up version of the check for $50,000 that he will get for winning the FTI Rider Challenge, based on his results during the circuit.

Athina's husband, Alvaro (Doda) de Miranda, a Brazilian Olympian, went after Kent and knew what he had to do with AD Rahmannshof's Bogeno. His wife had gone clear in a leisurely 54.46 seconds, but she was smart not to push it--she wound up third.

Ben Maher rode through pain to finish second in the $500,000 grand prix on Cella.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Doda clinched the win in 43.96 seconds with a powerful round. But the bravest effort belonged to Great Britain's Ben Maher, who finished second on Cella. Ben was diagnosed with several fractures of his vertebrae following a fall last week in the warm-up area, and he took the difficult decision of riding in pain, all braced and wrapped up. His effort in 44.88 came before Kent and Doda went, so if he had gone later, maybe he could have found a slightly faster route.

Doda was a gracious winner, and did not neglect to give his wife kudos, noting she devotes nearly her entire life to her horses. I thought his mount was amazing, though I was having a lot of trouble typing his name, so we talked about this big bay.

Listen: Alvaro de Miranda

It may not surprise you to hear that George Morris has been working with Doda and his wife. Oh no, George said he wasn't really working with them, he was "a sounding board."

Here's how the sounding board sounded, "Whoa, whoa; leg, leg, gallop!" all delivered in the inimitable Morris vocal style.

Both Doda and his wife are very grateful for his help, and they have some powerhouse support as well from Rodrigo Pessoa and his father, Nelson. The Brazilians have medaled at the Olympics before, and I would bet they'll be likely to do it again in Rio three years from now. Doda noted that the Brazilian Olympic Committee has earmarked show jumping as one of the country's few chances for a medal on its home turf.

Jessica Springsteen put in an impressive performance on Vindicat W to win the $33,000 1.5 meter Suncast Classic.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

In the afternoon's 1.5 meter Suncast Classic, Jessica Springsteen showed she has really gotten together with Vindicat W, the horse who clinched the team gold medal for the Brits at the London Olympics. She has gained rapport with the horse in the half-year or so that she has owned him, and in the Suncast took the measure of such stars as her trainer, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward during the12-horse jump-off. The combination of Jessie and Vinnie is particularly impressive on the turns.

I had thought, however, that she might be in the $500,000 class instead of the Suncast, but she explained why she wasn't entered, and then talked a little about her winning trip.

Listen: Jessica Springsteen

The WEF ended today with the handy round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. It was held on the grass a half-mile from PBIEC, at the Global Dressage Festival grounds. Not many people showed up to watch; it was, after all, Easter, but those who did were treated to a special experience, as horses jumped many natural obstacles, including a little bank.They ascended a hill to trot over birch rails at the top, and finished with a flourish over a jump that used giant champagne bottles to demarcate the more difficult option from the lower parts of the fence. Riders get bonus points for trying the higher options and for galloping and making "handy" tight turns to show off their mounts.

Jen Alfano won the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the reliable Miss Lucy.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

They did a classic round at PBIEC yesterday, with the top four all within two points. Jen Alfano, known as a derby specialist with Jersey Boy, winner of the 2012 hunter derby finals in Kentucky, was up on the calm redhead Miss Lucy.

"She's so NOT a chestnut mare," said Jen, and anyone who has had a temperamental female horse of that color knows what she means. Miss Lucy stood fourth on 186 points going into today's round, four points ahead of the amazing Inclusive, ridden by Tori Colvin, who was penalized for a light rub yesterday.

Tori's plan for today?

"I was just going to go as handy as I can and jump the big ones and if I have a rail, I have a rail, because I kind of had to move up, not down," the talented teen said.

Her plan worked. The three at the top after the first round, Brunello (Elizabeth Boyd), Skyfall (Louise Serio) and Taken (Kelly Farmer), all dropped today, to fifth, 12th and 11th respectively.

Jen, as she so often does, nailed it with Lucy to win on a total score for both rounds of 384.5, while Inclusive was reserve champion with 382. Former national equitation champion Kristy McCormack moved up from seventh to third on Temptation with a score of 380.

If you've never come early to a hunter derby, you might be amazed to see grooms, riders and trainers leading their horses around, not only looking at the jumps and sniffing them, but in the case of straw bales and greenery, sometimes trying to nibble them.

The idea is to give them an introduction to the course. While veteran Louise Serio said she thinks sometimes it's more for the riders' benefit than that of the horses, she noted that the horses had only competed at PBIEC this season and had never been over to the other showgrounds.

When you think of where the idea of hunters came from ( I know, I know, they bear no real relation to horses who follow the hounds), the "course walk" procedure seems to be a little weird. Jen Alfano and I discussed it.

Listen: Jen Alfano

It's not all fun and games at the WEF. There are some very real issues facing the show horse industry. Last week, the U.S. Equestrian Federation held the first of its Town Hall meetings at the showgrounds. The idea is to educate people in the sport on equine welfare and "Meeting the Needs of the Performance Horse in a Changing Environment," and get some feedback as well.

Hunters particularly have been singled out on drugs and medications issues, but the USEF says the situation should be addressed across all breeds and disciplines. Six other such meetings will be held across the country through the summer, so if there's one in your area, you might find it interesting to attend.

I asked USEF President Chrystine Tauber what she thought about the first meeting and the response from owners, trainers, riders and others in the industry.

Listen: Chrystine Tauber

By the way, if you've given something to your horse to make it go like a zombie, beware. Officials will be on the lookout for that and those animals could be candidates for a drug screening, as well as being marked down in their class, Chrystine told me.

Oh, real quick, back to Ashley Holzer. She had been without a grand prix horse when owner P.J. Rizvi started riding Ashley's Olympic mount, Breaking Dawn. But then GQ, a Small Tour horse, owned by P.J., came back into the picture.

He had suffered a bone infection two years ago, and it was so bad that when the vet said he would never be sound, Ashley warned P.J. she should be prepared to put him down. P.J. wouldn't hear of it.

"No expense was too much for him to become a lawn ornament," said Ashley.

The one day, an incredulous Ashley got a call from P.J. saying GQ was sound. P.J. showed him here last week and won, smiling all the way, but left the ring bawling with emotion at the enormity of the moment.

So P.J. is focusing on G.Q. and Ashley is back riding Breaking Dawn, though she noted P.J. at some point will take over on him again.

But until then, could she possibly ride him in next

year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games?

"I'm not saying anymore," said Ashley, who is out of the prediction business and playing it day by day.

I thought that was a good story; the moral: Never give up on someone you love.

I'll be putting up more photos a little later at facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman, so do take a look.

And next Sunday morning I'll have another postcard for you, this one on the always memorable Gene Mische American Invitational in Tampa.

Until then,

Louis (Paddy) Neilson is shown here on Haffaday jumping the fabled 13th fence in the 1971 Maryland Hunt Cup. Paddy knows as much about riding over obstacles at a high rate of speed as any man alive. When he tells you “speed magnifies mistakes,” he means that the increased velocity of racing over fixed obstacles will expose even the slightest ­weakness in your position. Position always—always—starts with the lower leg because the ­stirrups are the ground for the rider. If you look closely at this photo, you can see that Paddy has a classic leg position: His stirrup leather is vertical, his heels are down and his toes are turned out to a natural angle. The solidity of his lower leg allows him to have a soft touch on his reins. I have never seen a rider with good hands who did not have a secure lower-leg ­position. This is true regardless of the jumping discipline—timber racing, cross-country ­eventing or hunters and jumpers in an arena. I teach people to have a more erect body position over fences than you see here, and by that measurement, Paddy has brought his upper body too close to Haffaday’s neck. ­However, as your speed increases, your hip angle must close if you are to stay with your horse. ­Considering that Paddy and Haffaday are going between 20 and 30 miles an hour (800 ­meters a minute), Paddy looks about right to me. If eventers are to improve in all three of their disciplines, they must learn from riders who specialize in that discipline, be it dressage, show jumping or timber racing. Eventers who ­focus entirely on the two technical disciplines are missing a third of their education. As an aside, if you look at the photo of Bill Steinkraus in the online continuation of my March 2013 column and ­compare it with this photo, you will be struck by the similarities of position between two ­masters of their art.

© Douglas Lees

In February and March, I reviewed the correct positions for dressage and show jumping, respectively. This month we are going to study the basics of your cross-country position.

The first thing people notice about the cross-country phase of eventing is that speed is a factor, one that becomes increasingly important as you progress from Novice to Advanced. One reason is “speed magnifies mistakes.” That is a quote by Louis (Paddy) Neilson, one of our greatest timber-race jockeys. Paddy knows something about riding at speed over fixed fences, having won the Maryland Hunt Cup three times between 1968 and 1989. The Hunt Cup features fences constructed of wooden boards and posts and rails that can reach nearly 5-feet tall.

Paddy’s statement is a chilling reminder that the basics of your cross-country position must be as flawless as possible if you are to avoid accident and injury, because the speed of this phase will magnify your every error.

Higher Level, Shorter Stirrups
The correct cross-country position at the lower levels (Pre-Novice through Training) is the same as the show-jumping position: You should adjust your stirrup leathers until you have a 90-degree angle behind your knee when you are seated. If you’re riding at these levels, you are accustomed to this length due to your work in the show-jumping arena. At these levels, the required cross-country speed is not fast enough and the variation in the terrain is not dramatic enough to require you to change your position.

You must, however, change your position as the requirements of the levels change. Beginning at Preliminary level, your speed and the size of the drop fences increase and the variation in the terrain becomes much more challenging.

As your speed increases, you need to shorten your stirrup leathers and close your hip angle. This allows you to stay balanced and connected with your horse’s motion. In general, I suggest you shorten your stirrup leathers 1 inch for each star level. This means at the Preliminary or one-star level, you should ride cross country 1 inch shorter than your show-jumping length, for Intermediate, ride 2 inches shorter, and so on.

Some trainers have recently begun suggesting we return to a position that was widely used in the 18th century, standing straight-legged in the saddle with long stirrups. Fortunately we have scientific research to confirm that this is not the most effective galloping position for your horse—hence, it is not correct. I discuss this research in “The Science of Galloping.”

Regardless of length, your stirrup leather should form a vertical line at all times: uphill, downhill and on the level. The stirrup leather can support your weight only when it is vertical. Many riders try to ride shorter in a saddle not ­designed for shorter stirrups, with the ­result that their leg gets pushed back when landing over fences. Riders in this unstable scenario typically let their stirrups back out to show-jumping length to compensate, even if the speed for their level requires them to ride shorter. (For more on the interaction of saddle design and rider position, click here.)

If you are going to ride at speed cross-country, you owe it to your horse to be able to ride in a balanced and harmonious fashion—and the shorter the stirrup length you ride with, the fitter you must be to be able to sit quietly at speeds up to 20 miles an hour. We ask our horses to do difficult things; we should not make their task more difficult by interfering with their natural movements.

You will be able to partly improve your fitness while you practice this position. During both your trot warm-up sets and your conditioning canters, shorten your stirrups at least one hole from the length you use for your competitive level. Do your warm-up trot sets in a two-point rather than posting. If you listen carefully, you can hear me laughing … most of us cannot trot in a two-point for three five-minute sets, much less stay there for our conditioning canter sets. Even though you will probably fail, stick with it. Make a project of your fitness while you condition your horse. When you gallop through the finish line with a clean and fast round, feeling as if you and your horse could both go back through the start line and do the same course again, then your efforts will have been worth it. Working with short stirrups is hard, but once you return your stirrup leathers to your competitive length, your position will become second nature for you.

In my February column, I talked about the beneficial effect of riding without stirrups. Riding without your dressage stirrups makes your position more independent; when you regain your stirrups they will feel shorter, even though you have not changed the length of your leathers. In the same way, after you practice galloping with very short stirrup leathers and then let them down to your competitive level, you will feel as if you are riding longer than you actually are, which will make you more confident and secure in your cross-country position.

Swap Sensitivity for Security
The speed of cross country requires a few more adjustments. You may recall that for show jumping, I want you to place the ball of your foot on the tread of the stirrup, with your little toe against the outside branch. Once you start galloping at increased speeds, however, move your foot a little deeper into the stirrup and place the ball of your foot against the inside branch. This foot position is not as supple and sensitive as the show-jumping position, but it is more secure. The shorter your stirrups, the more dramatic the penalty for losing them—­remember, speed magnifies mistakes.

Bruce Davidson is famous for his Olympic and World Championship gold-medal-winning ­exploits as an eventer. What we should think about is that his results are based on a ­thorough and complete understanding of each of the three disciplines that comprise eventing: dressage, show jumping and cross-country. Shown here on Appolinax over the 13th fence in the 1983 Maryland Hunt Cup, Bruce looks as if he is out for a Sunday canter. His confidence is based on his secure lower-leg ­position. His stirrup leather is just behind the vertical, which means that Bruce “saw a long one” in the approach and closed his legs to make sure Appolinax stood off. His slightly ­defensive upper body confirms my suspicions. At this speed, the slightest hiccup can ­catapult you out of the saddle. Bruce is making sure that when his horse lands, he will be in a ­secure balance. Once eventers become comfortable timber racing, the speed of upper-level ­eventing feels slow by comparison.

© Douglas Lees

When you are competing in rain and mud or have just been through a deep water jump, the tread of your stirrups and the soles of your boots may become slick. In these cases, I encourage you to place your foot “home” in the stirrup—your foot is so far into the stirrup that the heel of your boot is against the tread. There are situations where it is wise to sacrifice sensitivity for security.
Remember to keep your reins shorter when you will be galloping. If you ­adjusted your reins when you were seated, you will find them too long when you rise to your two-point position because your upper body will be closer to your horse’s neck.

Stillness at Speed
Now that you have made all these adjustments, it is time to discuss your actual galloping position. Cross-country courses typically have 20 to 30 jumping efforts. That may sound like a lot, but it will take you several hundred galloping strides to complete the course. My point is that you will spend a great deal more time galloping than you do jumping. Therefore, now that you have a saddle suitable for cross-country work and have gotten yourself as fit as your horse, it is time to talk about the position that is safest and most effective for galloping cross-country.

The terminology varies, but to be in the most efficient galloping position, you are in what I call a “two-point,” meaning your weight is carried in your knees and ankles and you are suspended above your horse’s back.

I want you to keep your seat close to the saddle while you gallop, without sitting down or—even worse—“posting” at the canter/gallop. Your back should form approximately a 45-degree angle to the ground, and your elbows should be well in front of your hip bones. When you practice your dressage and show-jumping positions, you can often look at yourself in the arena mirror to check on your position. While this is not possible outdoors, all of us can have a friend take photos or a short video with a smartphone.

Make sure you absorb your horse’s motion in your knees and ankles, not in your hip joints. Have the feeling that you are standing on a trampoline, allowing the trampoline mat to push your knees up into your hips and back down. Watch your shadow as you are conditioning your horse; does the distance between your seat bones and your saddle remain constant, or is your upper body moving back and forth? If you can see this extraneous motion, your horse can feel it and will be unbalanced by it.

That we should be quiet in the saddle at the canter and gallop is easy to understand but difficult to put into practice. You will have to study videos of yourself, watch other riders who have discovered how to gallop in balance and persevere until you find the answer. Success in modern eventing requires technical perfection in all three phases. It is not enough to study the subtleties of dressage collection or develop accuracy in your approach to show-jumping obstacles. You need to study every aspect of your cross-country riding—because, after all, speed magnifies mistakes.

Pulling the shoes of a horse headed to a major international event and doing barefoot dressage isn’t typically part of anyone’s training strategy, but Shannon Peters believed it could be successful for Ravel and Steffen Peters. Just a few months earlier she’d begun working with barefoot trimmer Sossity Gargiulo, who had undertaken a dramatic transformation of Shannon Peter’s own Grand Prix horse, Flor de Selva. The Westfalen gelding had suffered from soundness problems for two years.

Steffen was more skeptical. He wondered how he would keep Ravel in the condition needed to compete against the world’s top equine athletes in London. “I had no personal experience with this,” he says, “but seeing that Shannon had success gave me the confidence to try it.”

Fortunately, a new generation of hoof boots enables newly barefoot horses to maintain their training routines, says Gargiulo. “The shoes can come off and the horse can be ridden the same day.” For Ravel, that meant a pair of Easyboot Gloves for his front feet (he remained shod behind) that were put on prior to training sessions and removed afterward. The gloves have a tough rubber

tread and a neoprene gaiter that fastens around the pastern, protecting the hoof while allowing it to expand and contract and adjust to the ground below. Using heat, Gargiulo and her husband, Mario, are able to fit the boots to each horse’s hoof.