Last weekend, Emilie Conter won her first CSI5* Grand Prix in Wellington. "The open water was the main culprit," analyzes Dani G. Waldman. "Under artificial lighting, the water can sometimes appear really spooky to the horses. It was the first time this obstacle was included in the course this season."
"Even Harry Charles—who, mind you, cleared the water jump flawlessly—couldn’t explain why so many riders struggled with it," Waldman notes. According to her, the water jump was placed on a curved line, seven strides after the Rolex oxer. "At that point, it’s no longer a test for the horse but a test of the rider’s accuracy," she explains. "Either you take the long route to build momentum, or you go all-in on six strides at full speed."
Underdog Takes the Win!
"Looking at the riders in the jump-off, you would never have picked Emilie Conter as the winner. But that’s the beauty of our sport," Waldman continues. "Anything is possible!"
