This weekend’s wet weather trend continued today, leading to a decision by the members of the ground jury to cancel the Grand Prix Special and Intermediaire I freestyle classes at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.
“The first thing we did this morning when we came in was to check the weather radar,” said Janet Foy, president of the ground jury. “We watched the first class [Young Rider Individual test], and the kids did a great job, but there were spots in the arena that were deep and had puddles. Our first priority is the safety of the horses, and in our opinion it was not worth hurting them. The decision was unanimous.”
Foy said the ground jury chose not to discuss the decision with the riders, due to the probability of conflicting opinions, and that their choices were in the best interest of the sport.
“When the safety and welfare of the horses is the issue, it’s the ground jury [who makes the decisions],” said Gil Merrick, the assistant executive director of sport programs for the U.S. Equestrian Federation. “You had two tests within each division and a level playing field. Everyone rode in the same conditions. The question was how to determine the final ranking, but because we had them ranked already after the two classes, that was what determined the championship.”
Leslie Morse and Tip Top 962 won the Grand Prix championship after all was said and done, with Pierre St. Jacques and Lucky Tiger taking home the reserve championship.
“Tip Top did a fabulous job,” said Morse, who has competed at the championships five times. “We’ve really grown together, and I’m very excited to go to Europe with him. I’m a bit disappointed because I was looking forward to the Special, but I think the decision was extremely wise. I’m disappointed, but relieved that I have a sound and happy horse.”
Morse and Tip Top are headed to England for a tour of Europe, and she hopes to compete in CDIs at Hartpury (England), Hickstead (England), Verden (Germany) and Belgium.
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St. Jacques is taking an alternate route and plans on giving his horse some time off.
“I don’t have a sponsor. This is a one man show,” he said. “I’m going to go home and let him rest, do a couple of local shows, and go to Dressage At Devon (Pa.). I really want to work on getting Tiger stronger; there’s a lot more horse in him.”
In the small tour division, Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Dea II held on to the championship honors, with Jan Brons and Teutobod winning the reserve championship.
“I would have loved to have done my freestyle,” said Bateson-Chandler in regard to the decision to cancel. “I love my music and my choreography, but if they think the footing is dangerous then it’s fine. If it’s not safe, it’s not safe. I believe in my horses enough to believe that they would have been really good today. It is what it is, and I’m thrilled with my horses.”
Despite the abrupt ending to the competition, much excitement was generated by the next generation of riders and horses.
“We’re looking at some new faces that are going to be important in the future,” said Jessica Ransehousen, the interim chef d’equipe. “A lot of these horses are really on the cusp of being our next Grand Prix horses. That part, for me, is really exciting.”
