Show Jumping - what went RIGHT?

[lauriep]

Amen, Ruby. GM fought hard to get his way about sending the long list (two teams) to Europe for the summer, having them compete against their eventual Olympic competition in a team format, and be able to select the team from those riders (with all of the riders being onboard with this process from the get go). It is a terrific combination of selection elements, and hopefully, will continue to provide the success of the last two Olympiads.

The World Cup is an entirely different matter. Very sad that we no longer have a healthy indoor circuit for the top horses/teams to compete at. And the length of the WEF/winter season precludes any indoor prep over the winter. So, we will probably continue to founder…

[poltroon]

I think the show jumpers have a tremendous advantage in being able to use the European circuit and ride Nations’ Cups. We have no comparable possibilities for the eventers or the dressage riders to learn to ride as part of the Team with the flag on your saddlecloth on a regular basis - just the Olympics, WEG, and Pan-Ams.

(How did they fund the European tour/selection trial for all those riders? Is each rider covering his/her own expenses?)

So the selection process works. (At least with this group of riders and this particular Chef. Expect more upheaval when GM retires from the position.)

What did we do right to build these combinations in the first place? Is McLain evidence that our system of hunter ponies and equitation medals works for us after all?

[Hauwse]

I agree with everything that has been posted by the posters but I think one of the biggest factors was course design.

For the first time in ages you saw courses that were not designed with a western European bias. The course’s had lots of gallop, but they also had elements that required a smooth, patient, communicative ride; a North American strong point (equitation).

The water/vertical/vertical was old school course design, and it caught a lot of riders who could not finesse, and settle for the verticals. As you no doubt noticed a lot of horses were checked right off their feet following the water and either stopped, were confused about what the rider wanted, just carried too much speed, or a lack of impulsion for the vertical combination.

Most (not all) of the North American (US/Canada) riders handled that particular combination very well.

I think if North America had more influence over the FEI you would see these types of results much more frequently in International competition.

[poltroon]

Who have been the course designers at the last Olympics, WEGs, and World Cups?

Didn’t Leopoldo Palacio also do the Sydney course?
and Olaf Petersen did Athens, correct?
Who did course design for the trials?

Still, I don’t think we could’ve done it without the right horse and rider combinations.

[OkLurchers]

Very interesting point, Hauwse; I appreciate your insight.

[vineyridge]

@OkLurchers;3460641

Very interesting point, Hauwse; I appreciate your insight.

Ditto

[poltroon]

So, do you think those low brushy decorations were staged on purpose, knowing that McLain, given the opportunity, would surely go through/over them?

[Madeline]

Keeping what they did in Athens in mind, I’m sure they were there on purpose.

[ESG]

@Gunnar;3457392

I realize this but the same riders etc will be there! How will those riders prepare? I want them to be successful at the WC too! Of course MMB fell off last time in LV so who knows! :eek:

Steph, MMB didn’t fall - she was catapulted off when Shutterfly jumped her out of the tack at an unbelievably huge oxer.

And the WC riders will be just fine - they have a year to rest, after all.

[ESG]

@OkLurchers;3460641

Very interesting point, Hauwse; I appreciate your insight.

Double ditto. Nice to see the courses favoring the NAs for a change.

[ESG]

@lauriep;3457521

Amen, Ruby. GM fought hard to get his way about sending the long list (two teams) to Europe for the summer, having them compete against their eventual Olympic competition in a team format, and be able to select the team from those riders (with all of the riders being onboard with this process from the get go). It is a terrific combination of selection elements, and hopefully, will continue to provide the success of the last two Olympiads.

The World Cup is an entirely different matter. Very sad that we no longer have a healthy indoor circuit for the top horses/teams to compete at. And the length of the WEF/winter season precludes any indoor prep over the winter. So, we will probably continue to founder…

Not if the NA riders get their $h!t together and start landing and turning the way the Europeans do. It’s not like they don’t know what the courses and venue are like, after all. :winkgrin:

[lauriep]

KNowing the venue, and being able to actually practice in a similar venue, as the Europeans do, is an entirely different thing. When our horses come off of huge, open arenas, and then have to suddenly compress it all into the tiny WC ring, with no prep, we are at a disadvantage. The Europeans (those who don’t come over to do WEF) jump indoors all winter.

I don’t think landing and turning are our problems…

[EMWalker]

I totally agree about the course design. With our major venues being Kentucky, WEF, Ocala, The Oaks etc, US riders really never see courses like Vegas - it’s an entity we just don’t have in the States.

The big open venue in Hong Kong deff played a part in the North Americans success. It suited out riders and our horses.

It would be nice to have more “practice” for World Cup Finals in Vegas but our show grounds across the US have much more space then in Europe. And it isn’t a shame, we should celebrate how lucky we are!!

The US and Canada proved they compete with the best - it’s just a bit different style of riding then the Euro’s… IMO, nothing wrong with it!!

[vineyridge]

@lauriep;3465593

KNowing the venue, and being able to actually practice in a similar venue, as the Europeans do, is an entirely different thing. When our horses come off of huge, open arenas, and then have to suddenly compress it all into the tiny WC ring, with no prep, we are at a disadvantage. The Europeans (those who don’t come over to do WEF) jump indoors all winter.

I don’t think landing and turning are our problems…

Richard Spooner did really well at the WC with Cristallo last year. I read somewhere that HITS Thermal has put together an indoor (maybe a Coverall) so the riders there can train for the WC. Might not be true, but if it is, it’s a great idea that should be copied elsewhere.