The Big League

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to aim a horse at a big-time cross-country obstacle, then here is your chance. These are two pictures of the water complex at the recent Pam American Games, held in Brazil this past weekend. The combination of fences is ridden as a jump over the logs at 20A, drop straight down into the water, gallop across the pond and jump the alligator, then gallop on across the pond, up that wooden bank/wall on the far side, and finish by jumping over the log back up on dry land. You can't really get the full impact of the height of these fences (they are about as high as your waist and as wide as your desk), the solid composition of the jumps, or the effect of galloping a 1400lb animal up to something that he may or may not want to jump. But, this is a fun look at eventing...from the horse's perspective. I can say with full confidence that Eddie would not like that alligator. That's when Holly would, as the Brits like to say, "Come out of the plate and into the drink."

To get an idea of what it's like to jump something big off of solid ground that drops away straight down into water, then see this previous post with a picture of Karen and Teddy at Rolex this past year. Oh, and by the way, the pony WON the gold medal at the Pan Am's!!!! He's amazing.