On the Line

Somehow, I blinked and the weekend was over! We are officially deep into the winter circuit(s) and so much is happening in the show jumping world that On the Line simply can’t keep up! But never fear, I didn’t say that I wouldn’t try…

Despite a very busy weekend of horse showing and thinking about how much work I had waiting for me at home, I did take the time to watch the very exciting $150,000 Spy Coast World Cup Qualifying CSI3* Grand Prix on Saturday night, held conveniently in my backyard (more or less) at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

It was the battle of the grey horses, as McLain Ward’s Antares F almost ~almost~ caught Laura Kraut’s Cedric in the jump off. Check out Jennifer Wood Media’s press release about the class for full coverage. . . let’s just say that THIS is why I’m in Wellington for the winter. Show jumping truly doesn’t get any better.

"I don't think I can go faster than that," said Laura about her jump off pace. Photo ©Kym Ketchum

McLain Ward graciously accepting 2nd place, and I finally get to watch the gorgeous Antares jump in person. Smiles all around! Photo ©Kym Ketchum

Or does it? It’s not as if WEF was the only place where show jumping was enjoying a big night of World Cup Qualifier jumping under bright lights. Lest we forget about a shiny white tent in a big open desert called Thermal, the talented Selena Frederick shares her shots from Saturday night’s $50,000 HITS CSI-W Grand Prix during Week III at the HITS Thermal circuit.

And while it’s thrilling to watch the pair of superstar, gold medal-winning Olympic athletes mentioned above duke it out for first place over a fantastically huge meter 1.60 course, there is something else that comes close to possibly topping it.

It’s the look on a lesser known rider’s face when he wins his first big feature grand prix! That’s right Eduardo Menezes, I’m talking to you! Forgive me if all of you out there know Eduardo well, but I don’t frequent the Oaks Blenheim shows in the summertime, and this is the first time he’s made a blip on my radar. But from his results so far this circuit, he seems to be one to watch. He finished 4th in Thursday’s $31,000 Welcome Prix and 3rd in the $50,000 Grand Prix last week. Seems he was gearing up for the big win on Saturday night with his string of fantastic horses. Eduardo lives in Southern California’s Carlsbad (my old backyard) and now he can say he’s beaten Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (she was 2nd).

Eduardo and Tomba sail around the HITS Thermal Saturday night grand prix. Photo ©Cheval Photos

All smiles at HITS Thermal! Eduardo during the awards ceremony. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Read about the HITS Thermal WC Grand Prix in detail here.

You may not believe this, but the upcoming week might just be even more exciting than last. This despite the fact that it’s the off week out in Thermal! Why come, you ask? Well, I do believe that there’s a grand prix this weekend that is actually taking place . . . In. My. Actual. BACKYARD. Oh, how I love Wellington.

More on that later. Check back here this week for more slightly serious and always entertaining moments from the show jumping world. In the meantime, enjoy Cheval Photos‘ “awwww” pic of the week. It’s Markus and baby Brianne! Now that’s the picture of a perfect horse show husband!

Photo ©Cheval Photos