Wellington, Fla. – Feb. 23, 2022 – Week 6 of the winter season has come and gone and there are a few issues that we can discuss because they could be important to anyone that is already a course designer or wants to one. This week we were out on the grass for the third time and although the grass is getting a little tired it has remained in a high degree of condition. The weather has been great but the winds have been strong and I have always felt that winds do affect the horse. Our course designer has been Catsy Cruz and she has been a regular in Wellington for several years now. This has been grand hunter week in the international ring and is the reason for us being back out on the Derby Field and has been a week when in the past riders have chosen to rest some of their lower level mounts. This would be a trend that did not extend to 2022. Many of the rings have gone from sun up till sun down with large entries in most rings. This has extended to the derby field. There were over a 100 entries in the warm up class and we had 97 entered in Saturdays class CSI 3* $37,000 event. There were 14 scratches so 83 actually started. The CSI 3*$140,000 IDA Development Grand Prix is the walk for us this Sunday afternoon and we will see 45 entries compete for the top prize. There was a scratch but 1 was added so all 45 will start.
The course will have 13 numbered obstacles and 16 efforts. The course will show a double and a triple combination. We will also see 2 liverpools (1 closed vertical, 1 oxer), 1 wall (once again used as the second jump on course) and 1 short pole vertical. We will not have the water, no triple bar, no plank (wind). After the walk and a discussion of the results of first round of the CSI3* IDA Development Grand Prix we will spend some time discussing how difficult it is for the course designer to set tests for a class of 83 starters in the Saturday class. It is now time to begin our walk.
#1 oxer 1.43/1.46/1.40m or 4.7/4.10ft starts at the far end of the ring and looks square and became a very short day for the first rider on course. If fell to the grass 1 time.
#2 The Wall 1.50m or 5ft comes on the right turn and was not demolished at any time. I think this wall has been used as the second jump in 3 or 4 of the 6 grand prix to date. It is not effective as a wall. We need a wall that looks like a wall.
#3 oxer 1.48/1.60m or 4.11/5.3ft comes on the soft bending left rein with a given distance of 45m or 1.47ft and was not scratched during the first round.
#4 oxer 1.48/1.60m or 4.11/5.3ft comes from #3 on the left turn and got snake bit 4 times.
#5a vertical 1.52m or 5ft comes from #4 on the soft bending right rein with a given distance of 32m or 105ft descended to the bottom floor only 1 time. The triple comes early on the course when the legs and stamina of the horse is at its best.
#5b vertical 1.52m or 5ft comes from #5a with a distance of 8m or 26.6ft and never tumbled to the turf on the day.
#5c oxer 1.48/1.60m or 4.11/5.3ft comes from #5b with a distance of 8m or 26.6ft and kissed mother earth 6 times.
#6 oxer Liverpool 1.48/1.60m or 4.11/5.3ft comes from #5c in a straight line with a distance of 22m or 72ft and was the major bogey fence today as gravity took 13 Pole’s to the grass floor.
#7 vertical 1.53m or 5.1ft comes towards and away from the in-gate on the left turn and only became a factor near the end of the first round and fell from grace 2 times.
#8 oxer 1.48/1.60m or 4.11/5.3ft comes from #7 in a straight line with a given distance of 15.50m or 50.9ft and again became a factor late in the first round and sent 3 riders to the showers early.
#9 closed Liverpool vertical 1.60m or 5.3ft comes from #8 on the full left turn back towards the in-gate and there were 4 splash downs into the water.
#10 vertical 1.60m or 5.3ft comes from #9 on a long gallop away from the in-gate on the right rein and fell from grace on 2 occasions.
#11a oxer 1.48/1.60m or 4.11/5.3ft comes from #10 in a soft, soft bending rein left with a given distance of 27m or 88.6ft and felt the Wrath of Khan 8 times.
#11b vertical 1.53m or 5.1ft comes from #11a with a distance of 8m or 26.6ft and felt the sting of defeat only 1 time.
#12 short pole vertical 1.53m or 5.1ft comes from #11b in a straight line with a distance of 18.20m or 59.7ft and went to the woodshed 1 time.
#13 oxer 1.50/1.70m or 5/5.6ft is the final fence on the course in the first round and ended the day for 2 riders. This will complete the first round of the CSI 3* IDA Development $140,000 Grand Prix.
At the end of the first round we have 15 clean rounds that will advance to the jump off. There was 1 round of 1 time fault and 15 rounds accumulating 4 faults and there were 7 rounds with 8 faults. The rest will compete another day. There were no falls, no eliminations and no refusals. There were 2 VW’s. The time allowed was set at 77 seconds and remained at 77 seconds. With the new seeding of the order of go we saw 9 clean rounds before the drag and 6 after. I like the new rule.
This was a 3* and therefore with this being a great year in Florida with so many great riders and horses one would expect we would see a larger number in the jump off and we did today. However a couple of fewer entries in the jump off may have been more desirable. I think our course designer Catsy Cruz had the most difficult week so far in the season at WEF. Quality of horse and rider and large numbers of the same make the job of course design a serious challenge. If anyone wants to be a course designer at this level please step right up.
I want to compare the 3*1.50m on Saturday with the 3* grand prix today with the course design tools that a course designer will and can use. Some of the tools for a 3* can be- the rules governing 3*events, height and width. Use of combinations 3 doubles, 1 double and 1 triple.
Jumps – plank (oxer, vertical, in a combination, Liverpool (oxer, vertical or in a combination) water, triple bar, set up fence or in combination (only at #a) short pole vertical (more than 1), a wall (that is better than the one see most often) dog leg turns rather than soft bending lines which brings us to the question of how technical do you make the course? The distances used in a technical course are also key in setting the time allowed. The TA is now the most powerful tool the course designer can use. I have often said over the years that a very aggressive time allowed is not the way I would course design but that was then and times change. Prize money also dominates in the world of show jumping and now the star rating also dictates to the show what their rating is based on the amount of prize money offered.
Compare $37,000 CSI 3* 1.50 grand prix that has 83 starters with a course that shows 3 double combinations, a plank vertical as “a” of a double and a triple bar as “a” of a combination, 2 short pole verticals, 2 liverpools (closed vertical and an oxer) and a very aggressive TA. There were 7 clean and 4 rides that were clean but with time faults.
$140,000 CSI 3* grand prix with 45 entries and had 15 clean rounds. There was 1 triple combination and 1 double. We saw 2 liverpools (closed vertical and an oxer) there was no plank vertical and no triple bar. There was 1 short pole vertical. The TA was not a factor and only 1 competitor had a time fault. I hope the readers will continue to follow me for the rest of the season and refer to this article to compare the courses and the tools each week that the CD has used in their designs. For this week I will say that my personal view is that I wish that the TA had not been so aggressive and the jury in consultation with the course designer (as it should be done) added 2 or 3 seconds the TA in the CSI 3*1.50m $37,000 grand prix. The class today was in line (upper end) with the number of clean in our 3* grand prix. I would also comment that 83 starters in a feature class is far too many but I know that rules get in the way but it is very hard to keep any avid fan of show jumping in their seats for 4 plus hours. I am a big fan of our course designer Catsy Cruz and she stood tall in a difficult week and I know we will see her again next year. Until next week I am Dave Ballard.