It looks like a 2-1 stride combo to me. I haven’t seen any 2 stride vertical - oxer combos in a double or triple in the big GPs since Harry’s accident.
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Thanks. So a vertical - one stride to an oxer wouldn’t be as objectionable? The horse could read it as a bounce. 
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I believe his rational was that one strides were better defined and easier to read for the horses whereas a 2 stride could be more open to interpretation. I’d have to reread his post for his specific qualms, but I think that sums it up.
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I’m sure you’re right. I skimmed his editorial/complaint and I think that was the gist of it.
I’m not wise enough to know if he is right, but I do remember that Lillie Keenan and others rode it just fine.
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Oh totally agree. My point when he first made the statement is that a two stride vertical-oxer combo is considered the basic hunters/eventing/etc combo. I’ve ridden them plenty of times myself with no issues. I can see how of the various combo types, an oxer out could be the most disastrous because if a horse takes off early (as I think his did), they’re stretching to make the oxer width already and can crash harder.
But to your point, that was one bad crash out of the over 4,400 FEI trips (thanks for the graphic, MHM!) in the main arena. If we used his argument every time someone had a bad crash, we’d be watching our ponies graze in the fields.
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Is @supershorty628 in the house? @MHM and @initiate1987 (and other experienced people), I’d love to hear your thoughts about the course.
I did notice the proximity of the last jump, to the gate, and the vertical to oxer in the combination but am interested in your (more expert than mine) comments.
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Live stream preview is up.
Beezie is on the discussion panel!
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I would love if Beezie were one of our commentators tonight, too.
My thoughts about the course: It’s long with 3 combos and 18 jumping efforts, so I think stamina could be a factor. The horses certainly could be thinking about the ingate coming to the last line. I think track and knowing your horse’s stride are going to be very important in the 8-9-10 bending line. We don’t know fence heights, but on track alone, I think 10 will fall the most unless one of the combinations is set especially high or on a short distance.
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I think it looks long, and I’m sure it will be big since it’s the grand finale for the WEF season.
I feel like the bending line with the two combinations before and after the water could be a challenge, since they will need to jump the first combination, then gallop up to the water a bit, then balance to the next combination.
Then the triple combination down the VIP side to the last two jumps headed towards the ingate will probably be a pretty good test of both their endurance and their rideability after that many jumps.
There were a lot of clear first rounds in the qualifier on Thursday, so I wonder if he will set this course to have a smaller jump off for this class. It will be interesting to watch, anyway.
Good luck to all! 
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That would be fantastic! Love her.
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Oh, 10 is a wall!
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Hmm that changes my bogey fence. Probably 7a then. Agree with @MHM that coming back after the water will be a test.
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Oooh they used the Rolex fences for the triple 
I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved those classic green and gold rails.
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I have to laugh every time they use the Vogel jump, since I wonder if Richard Vogel figures that’s his lucky jump. Lol.
Does anyone happen to know if he is related to the Vogel family of boot fame?
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Well, Laura Kraut agreed, so I’ll take that as a good sign. She knows a few things. Lol.
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Huh 10 already came down! Maybe it still will be a bogey.
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It looks as if 11 may be an issue if they jump the 10 well?
Those walls are so pesky. If the horse just brushes a hair on it, a brick comes down.
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