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See the World Equestrian Games cross-country course in photos


  • The cross-country course for the Mars-sponsored eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games was unveiled today (Wednesday, 12 September).

    The track, which has 26 numbered obstacles, has been designed by Mark Phillips.

    Fence 1: WEG Oxer

    World Equestrian Games cross country course

    Fence 2: Cleghorn Golf and Gun

    World Equestrian Games cross country course

    Here is the bridge riders will cross between fences two and three…

    World Equestrian Games cross country course

    Fence 3: Wellington Stables

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 4: SAP Platform

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 5: Buckeye Combination

    Fence 5a — all riders jump this first element, regardless of which option they then choose to take.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country courseFence 5b on the direct route.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country courseFence 5cd on the direct route.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 5b on the longer route — this right-hand route will not be hugely time-consuming, but it does involve an extra jumping effort.

    Fence 5c on the longer route.World Equestrian Games cross-country courseFence 5d on the longer route.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 6: Heathstone Sluice

    There is a run through the water before this fence.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 7: Meydan Marina

    The quickest route is to jump the left-hand end of the second element in the picture, next to the sail. This single element is fence 7ab. Riders who don’t fancy this can jump two elements, 7a and 7b, on the right-hand side.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 8: Chimney Rock

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 9: Chimney Rock Bank of America

    Fence 9a is jumped by all riders.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The quickest route is then to jump this triple brush arrowhead, which is flagged as fence 9bc.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The slower route involves taking on two triple brush arrowheads. Here is the alternative fence 9b.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    And the alternative fence 9c.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 10: Mars Sustainability Bay

    This combination involves a multitude of numbers and possible routes.

    The shortest and most difficult route starts with taking this log into water — this is fence 10ab.World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Riders and horses on the direct route then take the right-hand boat in the water, 10c.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Those on the quickest route then leap up the middle step, 10d.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The pairs taking the direct route conclude their trip through fence 10 over this skinny, which is 10efg.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    There are two slower routes, both of which start with tackling this log, 10a.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Pairs on the slower routes then tackle the left-hand boat in the water (10b). Those on the left-hand route then jump the left-hand step (10c), before leaping this skinny (10de).

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Those on the left-hand slower route then turn right-handed and jump these two fences, which are 10f and 10g.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Those on the right-hand alternative route take the right-hand step up out of the water (10c) and then this narrow stump (10d).

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    They then turn sharp right to this rolltop, 10e.

    Combinations using this right-hand route conclude their trip through fence 10 by jumping these two houses, fences 10f and 10g.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 11: Honey Bee Trakehner

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 12: Over Mountain Victory Trail Wall

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Here is the bridge riders cross as they turn left-handed at this point. This is the furthest point of the course. This puddle appeared on the bridge after heavy rain this afternoon. World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 13: Apple Country

    This fence has two a elements and two b elements, with the possibility of riders doing several different routes.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 13a — white option on the left.

    Fence 13b — red option on the right.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 13b — red option on the left.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 13b — white option on the right.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 14: CSX Junction

    All riders jump this fence, 14a.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The quickest route is then down the left-hand side. This corner is 14bc.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Riders taking the fast option then exit the complex over another corner, 14d.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The right-hand route involves an extra jumping effort. Here is the alternative fence 14b.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The right-hand route takes in another corner at 14c. There is a third corner for those taking the right-hand line (14d).

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 15: Twin Rivers Hay Farm

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 16: Moonshine Still

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 17: Lugano Leap

    All riders enter fence 17 over the same part a.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The direct route then involves turning left down a slope to this skinny, which is flagged as 17bc.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The alternative involves looping round to two houses, fences 17b and 17c.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 18: Land Rover Turn

    This complex offers a choice at the a element.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    But all riders then go on to take on these two squirrels, which are numbered as 18b and 18c.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Article continues below…


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    Fences 19 and 20: Longines Water

    There is a choice of parallels at fence 19. This one, on the quickest route, is larger and has more of a drop behind.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    This is the smaller parallel on the slower line.

    The direct route at fence 20 involves two skinnies with water sprays coming out of their sides, one (20ab) before the arch and one (20c) after.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    The slower route through this fence involves jumping another parallel (20a).

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Riders taking the longer option then head up the bridge and jump part b on top of the arch.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Those taking the roundabout route leave this complex over another parallel (20c).

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

     

    Fence 21: New Holland

    The fastest route here is over a single spread fence (21ab).World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Riders who prefer not to ask their horses to make this effort at this stage of the course can jump two upright brushes on a curving line on the right-hand side.World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 22: Carolina Turtles

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fences 21 and 22 are on the the long uphill climb to the finish. This view looks back down the hill from beyond fence 22.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 23: Polaris brushes

    On the original course, all riders would have jumped fences 23a and 23b. Fence 23a was later taken out of the course.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Riders then have a choice of which fence they jump for 23c.

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 24: Hendersonville Apple Festival

    This combination originally had two elements, but the second one was taken out of the course.

    WEG cross-country course

    WEG cross-country course changed

    Picture by Jenni Autry

     

    Fence 25: Coca Cola Refresher

    World Equestrian Games cross-country course

    Fence 26: Stock Car Tires

    WEG cross-country course

    The riders will take on this cross-country course on Saturday, 15 September.

    Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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