I totally get this, but at the same time I think having such unique jumps helps separate the truly exceptional pairs from the rest of the pack. I’m a bit new to spectating the eq world but it’s so thrilling to watch them navigate these challenging courses that you would never see elsewhere.
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Andre Dignelli speaking a little bit about course design at the Maclay: https://youtu.be/UuPJwaDI2Pk?si=nOoJQb61-BhPVjaF
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I agree the Maclay has changed a lot. It does make it really different to watch. Occasionally in some of the European shows, you’ll see jumps that are really not the norm also. But not too many. Equitation is becoming not only a stepping stone to high level jumpers but it’s own little specialty but for kids. 
If the purpose of the Maclay is still to prepare our best young riders for the top level of sport, then having these unique jumps is part of it. Look at what riders see at Aachen, the Olympics, or even Derby finals. Seeing unusual or unique jumps at a friendlier height is good preparation for learning how to ride a jump your horse might study a bit. Though honestly, these jumps tend to worry riders a lot more than horses.
I had the pleasure of riding a couple of our jumpers in a Frank Madden clinic at his summer base in New Jersey this year. They had a bunch of jumps from past Maclays in the ring. Apparently they buy any jump that gives their students problems, and it gets folded into the daily routine. I imagine Heritage and North Run and the other big programs do something similar. So there’s also something to be said for these jumps not actually being all that unique to the horses or riders.
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This exactly. As an eventer there’s been so many crazy looking jumps where I think there’s going to be an issue and the horses don’t bat an eye… then you’ll see stops at a wooden rolltop bc the light is hitting it funny lol
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And those optical illusion fences at the Olympics (show jumping) absolutely didn’t bother any horses. Freaked the rest of us out, but the horses saw… a jump.
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I always joke that I spook at the jumps, not my horse 
(she’s an ex-eventer and we do showjumping, so she’s my warhorse).
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J.J. Torano and Olivia Sweetnam came 1st and 2nd respectively in the 1.45 JR/AM Grand Prix this afternoon. They had great rides on tricky horses. Wishing them luck in the Maclay tomorrow.
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At the start of the Grand Prix just now, they put up JJ’s name as the first rider came in the ring, and I thought, holy cow. But it turned out that it was not the right name. Lol.
I believe there have been a couple of occasions when the same person got a ribbon in the Grand Prix and the Maclay final on the same weekend. But maybe not at the show age of 13.
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I missed that! I was wondering if he could go in this afternoon’s "Grand Prix"class because of his age, but obviously he was allowed and won the class.
This is a tricky course.
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Time looks like it will be tough! I’m sure we’ll get a couple double clears though.
Looks difficult for the big strided horses.
How is it that the commentators haven’t noticed that Beat had time faults, or were the time faults appearance on the screen an error?
They show up on the live scores too, so the commentators must have missed them.
Damn, I thought Katie had it until the liverpool!
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Katie has that legs-of-steel position. Who does she train with? Has she ever ridden with Ward or B.Madden?
The keep referring to Beat’s clear round. Why hasn’t someone told them?
Knew Kent would be our first if no one else could!
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I’m not on social media except for COTH. Surely someone can alert them on Facebook or Twitter or whatever. Maybe Beat’s time faults were an error?
They should be able to see the time faults in the live results…
Thanks for the heads up that the Grand Prix was on! I’m so used to that being locked on FEI TV. Tuned in just in time to see Brian Moggre ride clear. Speaking of the equitation. 
The kids are all right.
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