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). It’s so close that 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 Friday? There’s still plenty of jumping to do and many things can change fast.
Just 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?
“I’m delighted with Mango,” said Scott.
“I thought she jumped incredible. In the warm-up, she felt a little bit more tense today with the atmosphere and I went quick yesterday, so maybe that was why, but when she went in the ring, she was fantastic. The course rode quite well – it’s why there’s so many clears – but it’s big. The verticals are (at) the top of the wings, but horses jump well in this ring and it shows the standard we’ve got here.
“It’s amazing, but I’m under no illusions because there’s a long way to go. We’ll take one day at a time, but I’m super happy with Mango and looking forward to the rest of the week,”
Scott Brash of Great Britain and Hello Mango stand first at the world championships. (FEI/Benjamin Clark)
Aachen’s resident course designer, Frank Rothenberger, upped the ante as expected for the second day’s round. It winnowed out the top 10 teams that are riding for the medals Friday, as well as the 60 competitors who will be in contention for the top 25 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 — one of 49 in the class of 135 starters on the second day — could only boost him to twenty-third.
He said he felt no pressure, because others on the team had performed so well.
“I’m very happy I could give United a much better ride today than yesterday. He jumped incredible both days; I really messed up yesterday,” said Richie.
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 team pathfinder for the second day. That isn’t her usual role.
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue. (FEI/Benjamin Clark)
“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.
“Two days in a row now, he’s just been 100 percent with me, doing everything I ask of him,” she said of Baloutinue, reminding everyone that he was the championships’ back-up horse for Bisquetta, coming up to bat when that mare suffered an injury.
“He’s just one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden in my life and to have him come out at age 16 and perform the way he has, I’m just thrilled,” Laura enthused.
Lillie Keenan is two spots behind her teammate Laura, with another clear and 1.17 penalties total on Fasther in her first championship.
She said her 16-year-old horse “really reminded me how incredibly special he is in every single way. He does things the laws of physics say are impossible.”
Lillie pointed out that Fred, as he is called by his friends, “knows the big moments. He missed chances to jump championships before. He deserves to have won many medals in his career.
“I know he knows this is important. The only factor here is that i have to ride my absolute best. If i do, he can do his job.”
McLain Ward and Lillie Keenan walking the course.
McLain Ward, Lillie’s mentor and the team’s anchor rider with High Star Hero, had a rail fall at the gingerbread man vertical fence and became the team’s drop score. He stands fifty-sixth.
“My horse felt very good,” said McLain, noting he was pleased with Hero before discussing what happened with the knockdown.
“i thought it was a casual ride to that vertical on my part, trying to find the happy medium without taking too much out of my horse. I left him a little too fresh today,” he noted, mentioning the importance of “finding the right balance energy-wise. I could have had him a little more relaxed.”
Although Katie Dinan is now standing eighty-first with Out of the Blue SCF as the result of an 8-fault trip on Wednesday, when her effort was the USA’s drop score, she recouped Thursday with a fault-free trip that showcased the ability of her Kentucky-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.
Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF.
“I’m so happy i could come back today and deliver a clear round for the USA.”
So was McLain.
“Thank goodness for the ladies today,” he said, paying tribute to their flawless performances that improved the team’s position.
Click here for team standings. Click here for individual standings.