‘It’s a battle; the terrain is brutal’: early riders give their reactions to Maryland 5 Star cross-country
(Image credit: John Kyle)
The Maryland 5 Star cross-country course is proving easier than riders expected for the first competitors.
Six of the first seven horses out have put in jumping clears, with two inside the 11-minute optimum time.
Buck Davidson was the pathfinder on the first of his three rides, but only made it as far as fence 10a, where Carlevo hit the angled brush shoulder hard and fell.
Fellow US rider Will Coleman was the first to finish the course, on Dondante. The horse looked tired in the final minute of the course and Will took the long route at the last combination, the Brown Advisory Oriole Bird Water (fence 27ab), but came home with just 3.6 time-faults.
“It’s a battle – the stamina, the questions themselves, everything felt like a war,” said Will. “You have to listen to your horse, there are places where they need a minute. My horse definitely got tired, it’s his first five-star finish and the hardest fitness test any horse has encountered in the short format era.
“It was a bit rough in places, but I think that’s what it’s going to be, you’ve got to go out and fight and hope your horse fights with you.
“The terrain is just brutal. Near the end of the course the combinations test your adjustability, which is difficult on a tired horse, especially when you’re throwing terrain into it too. Burghley is the one we’ve all compared this to, but I think we’ll see more worn out horses here than Burghley.”
The fourth pair out, Lauren Kieffer and the experienced Vermiculus, were the first to make the time.
“He was super – I was definitely very happy to have that Arabian in him today and it’s the first time I’ve felt him be kind of tired, but he was still running home,” said Lauren.
“He’s an old pro now, so it’s more about not making a mistake he has to save and making it as easy as possible for him. It’s a real five-star.”
He had a good round, with just a couple of worrying moments when he slipped coming to The Fair Hill Flier, a corner in a ditch at fence 17, and also when he had a slightly dicey jump taking the bird on the direct route in the water at fence 27a. But they finished clear with 3.2 time-faults.
You might also be interested in:
How to watch Maryland 5 Star live from anywhere in the world
What do riders have to jump at the world’s newest five-star? Check out every fence on the Maryland 5 Star cross-country course
When does Oliver Townend tackle the crab? Check out the Maryland 5 Star cross-country times… *Updated due to weather*
Top-10 horse one of two withdrawn before Maryland 5 Star cross-country
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
TOPICS
