‘She’s the queen of overachieving’: 1.55m track proves too easy for spectacular mare

Jennifer Donald's avatar
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Published In Features
Brian Morton riding Crusador Z in the six-bar at Spruce Meadows
(Image credit: credit unknown)

“Who lowered the poles?” the spectacular mare Crusador Z seems to ask her Canadian rider Brian Morton as they soar effortlessly above the wings in the 1.55m PwC Cup showjumping competition at Spruce Meadows, Calgary, earlier this year.

This lovely grey 13-year-old daughter of Chacco-Blue always catches the eye in the ring and you’d be right in thinking she is finding this substantial track far beneath her capabilities as she’s proved to be something of a high-jump specialist in recent times.

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.