The U.S. show jumping squad edged closer to the tantalizing glitter of a gold medal Thursday, with three perfect rounds at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany.
The riders earned a promotion from their bronze status after Wednesday’s first round, going to a second-place ranking with a mere 4.85 penalties — behind Germany (3.48) and ahead of a tie between Italy and Belgium (7.69). There is less than a rail between the scores of the first two.
Is the U.S. on the way to what could be the top medal awarded after the final team competition? There’s still a lot of jumping to do and many things can change fast.
Ask France’s Julien Epaillard, who was in first place individually after the one-round speed contest that opened the competition. Then two rails down Thursday were expensive, dropping him to sixty-fourth.
Scott Brash of Great Britain, meanwhile, moved up to first from third with a stunning trip on the intriguingly named Hello Mango, a horse he calls “incredible.” After watching her, who can argue with that?
Scott Brash of Great Britain and Hello Mango stand first at the world championships. (FEI Photo)
Aachen’s resident course designer, Frank Rothenberger, upped the ante as expected for the second day’s round, which winnowed out the top 10 teams that ride for the medals Friday, as well as the 60 competitors who will be in contention for the top 12 group seeking individual medals on Sunday.
Several verticals were set at an imposing 1.65 meters and a triple combination joined the line-up of challenges. The open water hasn’t been seen yet; it will be a feature on Friday, under the floodlights, before a very vocal capacity crowd of 40,000. How intimidating is that?
On the plus side, riders said the turf in the enormous arena was perfect, and fences were set away from the spots that got worn in Wednesday’s action during rainfall, so traction was insured.
A record 30 countries fielded teams, which is good news for the growth of the sport. But with the exception of the U.S., every nation in the top 10 is European, which tells you what parts of the world still dominate the discipline. Saudi Arabia finished eleventh, so a country from the Middle East — a region with an increasingly large investment in show jumping — did not make the cut.
Individually, unpredictability hit hard. Richie Vogel, favored by many to win individual gold with the illustrious United Touch S, was Germany’s drop score in the first round. While Germany remains first among the teams, Richie’s perfect trip on the second day could only boost him to twenty-third. However, his partner and team member, Sophie Hinners on Iron Dames Singclair, is only 0.4 penalties behind Scott. And the always impressive Steve Guerdat (Dynamis de Belheme) of Switzerland is tied with Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom), another German, just 0.02 back of Sophie.
Laura Kraut is once again the top American. She has 1.06 penalties with Baloutinue, the pathfinder for the second time. That isn’t her usual role.
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue. (FEI Photo)
“I normally go in the third slot, but my horse is a little horse-shy,” she said, explaining that the schooling area is less congested for those who go early in the order.
Lillie Keenan is two spots behind Laura, with another clear and 1.17 penalties total on Fasther in her first championship. McLain Ward, Lillie’s mentor and the anchor rider with High Star Hero, had a rail fall at the gingerbread man jump and became the team’s drop score. He stands fifty-sixth.
Lillie Keenan and McLain Ward walking the course. (FEI Photo)
Although Katie Dinan is now eighty-first with Out of the Blue SCF as the result of an 8-fault trip on Wednesday, when her effort was the drop score, she recouped Thursday with a fault-free trip that showcased the ability of her U.S.-bred mare.
“My horse has been great the whole time, but I made riding mistakes,” she said, reflecting on what happened in the first round.
“I’m so happy i could come back today and deliver a clear round for the USA.”
MORE TO COME Click here for team standings. Click here for individual standings.
