2012 Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals Commentary

We've reached that point—200 riders in—when things get a bit tedious. We all know the mistakes that are common to make, and it seems like the truly special rounds are few and far between. We've seen a few stellar rounds, so the rounds with minor mistakes, like inconsistent pace or an awkward distance or two, weed themselves out of the running.

1:22 p.m.

Michael Hughes had a very smooth, consistent trip, but there haven't been any real stand-outs in the 157-175 range. Less than 100 rounds to go!!!

12:39 p.m.

Kristen Mohr was having a lovely round until her horse suddenly refused at the last element of the triple combination.

Hasbrouck Donovan rode a really lovely round, and I'd bet we'll be seeing her ride again today.

STANDBY AFTER 150 HAVE GONE

130 Lillie Keenan

30 Chelsea Huss

93 Anna Cardelfe

149 Charlotte Jacobs

103 Liza Fisness

73 Jacob Pope

41 Victoria Colvin

104 Abigail McArdle

81 Reily Rieker

31 Elizabeth Benson

107 Lilly Ulrich

8 Megan MacPherson

79 Madeline Placey

90 Emily Reynolds

18 Meredith Darst

109 Morgan Geller

50 Shawn Casady

115 Allison Toffolon

28 Lauren Tyree

2 Geneveive Zock

6 Ashton Alexander

87 Ali Tritschler

40 Caroline Becker

118 Thea Chafee

72 Margret Collins

12:17 p.m.

Charlotte Jacobs just rode right into contention with an absolutely lovely round. She was very fluid and elegant.

11:40 a.m.

I think Lillie Keenan just rode into the top of the class. Her ride was beautiful. Her horse's long, slow stride let her make subtle adjustments and she found each jump perfectly. You know when the judges stop marking their cards and just watch that it's something special.

11:12 a.m.

Luke Olson had a nice round. Did you know that Luke Olsen recovered from a horrific accident last year? He was hit by a car and broke two bones in his leg, five ribs, and had more than 100 stitches in his face. He was out of the saddle for six months. He recovered in time to secure a working student position with Susie Schoelkopf and Jenn Alfano. He's one of those kids who will be wrapping his own horse tonight!

10:46 a.m.

Abigail McArdle just had a lovely round after the break, as the 104th to go. Her horse did have a rail in the in-and-out, but she was consistent and fluid everywhere.

Morgan Geller also stood with with a lovely trip with a very consistent pace and obvious control of her track.

STANDBY AFTER 100 HAVE GONE

30 Chelsea Huss

93 Anna Cardelfe

73 Jacob Pope

41 Victoria Colvin

81 Reily Rieker

31 Elizabeth Benson

8 Megan MacPherson

79 Madeline Placey

90 Emily Reynolds

18 Meredith Darst

50 Shawn Casady

28 Lauren Tyree

2 Geneveive Zock

6 Ashton Alexander

87 Ali Tritschler

40 Caroline Becker

72 Margret Collins

77 Taylor Clark

92 Sarah van der Walde

68 Jenna Santi

61 Allison Haupt

53 Michael Janson

33 Alexandra Carlton

54 Kelcie Brophy

25 Vivian Yowan

10:21 a.m.

This section of riders has taken quite a toll on the narrow gate, with quite a few of them stopping at it and having last-minute chips there. One horse plowed through it, scattering the ferns decorating it.

Ashley Foster ran into trouble at the in-and-out, having weak jumps and adding a stride. Her horse jumped the next jump very awkardly and then she pulled up and left the ring. Her horse looked quite sore behind.

9:35 a.m.

One of the most hotly anticipated rounds, that of Jacob Pope, winnner of this year's USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final-East, went very well. Pope rode very confidently and boldly and had a beautiful trip. The winner of the 2011 USHJA Emerging Athlete Program National Session last year, he has made a big name for himself very quickly. He's been ridng with Andre Dignelli and Heritage Farm this summer and fall.

Kalvin Dobbs had a nice trip, very positive and forward. Ali Tritschler was also quite good.

9:14 a.m.

Kelcie Brophy had a nice round on the most adorable paint horse, but she caught a rail at the Swedish oxer.

Michael Janson had a lovely smooth round, with just a bit of a gappy distance to the in-and-out.

Alexandra Efird was fine, but she was a bit under pace and weak to a number of jumps.

Keeping your horse balanced and in front of your leg is definitely the key to this course. It's not a test of jumps so much as it is of track and turns.

Alliy Moyer was having a beautiful round until she made a bad decision to the hogsback at #8 and found a but of a deep distance there.

Caroline Johnson had a rough ride through the triple combination, with a stop and then an awkward jump on re-attempt.

FIRST STANDBY

30 Chelsea Huss

41 Victoria Colvin

31 Elizabeth Benson

8 Megan MacPherson

18 Meredith Darst

50 Shawn Casady

28 Lauren Tyree

2 Geneveive Zock

6 Ashton Alexander