Quite a respectable round for Rylynn Conway, shame about the botched swap. Lots to be proud of for such a young rider!
Slight internal chuckle to hear Ava refer to âthese kidsâ in the ring. Lol.
5 Likes
Those of you who have watched from the beginning, how long did it take to get through the first group?
It started at 7:00 AM. So a bit over two hours.
1 Like
Omg. A horse in a snaffle!
5 Likes
After the first group has gone, I really like this course. It isnât a scope test. It asks, do you understand track, do you understand how to open up the step a little and balance it together a little, do you understand how to place your horse effectively at the jumps. If you biff fence 3 you arenât screwed at fence 12 because you never have a chance to figure it out in between. etc. Looking forward to the interview with Bobby Murphy that will air over the first drag.
7 Likes
Theyâre mucking up my plans to get other things done during the drag break! Lol.
Also loved Brianâs description of Bobby as a fashionista.
My girl, Frankie Nickaus, got around great for her first time. Horse is a 6 year old!
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First standby:
19 Liza Cram
37 Alexander Alston
47 Alida Treuting
48 Alexa Lignelli
10 Schuyler Dehner
36 Elianna Kirson
57 Francesca Guidi
6 Mckenzie Clayton
21 Eve Westfall
14 Eleese Shillingford
12 Reese Merna
1 Amira Kettaneh
44 Kate Hagerty
55 Gable Gering
23 Sophia Gremley
42 Hanna Dolan
52 Gigi Phillips
29 Siena Macdonald
45 Ruby Ransco
11 Isabella Griffin
50 Kenna LeBeau
7 Maggie Bresch
32 Elizabeth Gray
22 Kate Mills
3 Likes
Did hear Gigi Phillips on there.
I like this course too. Plenty of options for riders with the bending lines, which I like. I donât like the blocks on the wall. The colors appear to clash with the rest of the course.
Question on the course: is there a reason why the course is not marked with the feet between the jumps? They have to have a diagram with that information, so the jump crew can set the course?
course designer interview back on now
Itâs a test of ridersâ decision-making skills. They are supposed to walk the course, walk the relationship between the fences, and interpret the best decision on how to ride that relationship. It might not be the same number as whatâs written down on the course map. The equitation is intended to be a pathway system into the jumpers and international competition, where the distances arenât written down, either.
The first walk/drag break was bang on at 20 minutes.
2 Likes
Probably so that the number of strides does not seem to be predetermined. Riders are supposed to make their own decisions.
Back in action now with the 61st in the order.
Iâm impressed that they did in fact get it all done in 20 minutes!
I could be totally off base here, but I gathered from the first 60 that Zayna may be a woman of few words, though she did a nice job with what she had to say. I hope she feels OK as the sole rider commentator for this batch.
Samantha Takacs just did a very nice job. I quite liked her approach to the rainbow 1-stride. Her horse got his eye on the jump and said âthe heck is thisâ and went up and over those like a bouncy ball, which got her off her line to 6ab, but she managed the outcome.
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I think itâs a huge challenge for these kids to come on and comment on all their peers, especially when they are still showing against all of them as juniors, which I believe is the case with Zayna.
Overall Iâve been very impressed with all the kids who have done it over the years. It definitely adds a lot to the live stream to get their insights.
Edited to add: I believe that originally they only had last yearâs winner in the booth for maybe the second round and the test, which has to be a bit easier to do. Talking all day long from start to finish is a much bigger task.
5 Likes
Ooh this big blaze on the chestnut. A bit wide-eyed, but makes up with cuteness.
yes, nice job, Samantha Takas!
