THE $25,000 SMARTPAK GRAND PRIX


[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]THE $25,000 SMARTPAK GRAND PRIX

• National Standard
• 350 m/min
• 41 entries

Week two of the HITS Desert Circuit 2015 hosted the $25,000 Smartpak Grand Prix. This was the first of two Grand Prix of this week´s competition schedule.

Unlike the east coast, most horses and riders in the west coast do take December off, so even though this is week number two I will try to present a course that is moderate in height and spread but still test the horses and riders with multiple questions.

My main goal is to try to prepare the horses for Sundays 50k Grand Prix and for the newcomers in national standard competitions to grab the experience needed and give them confidence for future competitions.

The course includes 12 numbered obstacles and 3 double combinations. As usual for me in any major competition the course included a triple bar, Liverpool, skinny and a plank on top.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31391″ style=”1″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left” width=”270″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Let’s start the course walk!

The course starts with a triple bar that’s inviting and moderate in dimensions (1,40-1,60m) and is followed by a vertical #2. The distance is 32m, which means 8 normal strides. The idea is to get the riders in the right speed from the beginning.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31379″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]The course starts with an inviting 1.45 vertical as # 1, followed by a bending 29 meters line to a solid # 2  oxer built with a big plank 1.43/ 1.45.  It is important to start the course with an inviting jump to create a good forward motion in the beginning of the course and start building up  difficulties and questions as the course progress .[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31392″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]After the first two fences riders have to be able to collect their horses and make a roll back turn to get to fence #3 an oxer set at 1,42 by 1,40m. Riders should not waste time between 2 and 3, since this kind of turns is where it’s either easy to save time, or get time faults!

Heading towards the ingate is fence #4 a skinny vertical set at 1,50 m. This is an obstacle that tests the rider’s ability to make their horses concentrated and not being distracted by the ingate. The construction of this obstacle is very airy and delicate.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31393″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]After obstacle #4 things start to get serious! The first double combination is numbered 5ab. This is a 2 stride oxer-oxer combination with a very normal distance (10,90m) in between. Even though the height and spread is set at 1,40m this type of combination is always a test of scope.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31394″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]After #5b a normal 7 strides (29,50m) left bending line is #6a-b a double of verticals (1,45 height both) the distance is a little bit short between the two elements but not overdone. The distance of 29,50 before the combination gives no choice to the riders, they have to ride 7 strides and be able to balance their horses between the two elements.

#7 is the Brookledge signature fence, an oxer set at 1,45 by 1,50 m. This fence comes fast after the double of verticals and its delicate and the first big oxer on the course.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31383″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]# 8 is a single oxer after a rollback , this oxer is built with a gate 1.48/1.40  it’s a big oxer but not so wide which makes the horse be less careful catching at times the back rail, after this oxer came a quick roll back to the next line.

The next line started with  # 9, a solid oxer built with 2 white planks 1.49/1.50 this solid oxer would slow down the horse followed by a distance of 26.20 which rode  as 7 short strides or 6 forward to a combination of very open 3 white pole vertical combination. (the solid white made this combination more difficult and delicate. Solid colors are harder to jump due to the optical illusion that they create) The verticals were 10a 1.55 -10b 1.54. with a short distance between of 7.90. The majority of the riders did 7 short strides to the vertical combination.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31395″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]#8 is a vertical set at 1,50 , with only three white poles and the Liverpool this is not a fence to underestimate. 23,50m in a straight line after #8 is fence #9, which is very delicate as well because its build with 4 planks at 1,50m. This line gives the riders the chance to do 5 long strides or 6 short, but in my opinion the long 5 is the best option.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31396″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]After fence 9 the riders have some time to prepare their horses for the last line on the course, which is 10ab to 11. The last double combination of the course is #10ab, a vertical to oxer combination with a forward distance (11,20) 10a is set at 1,45 and 10b is 1,40 by 1,50. This combination requires a good approach to 10a to cover the 2 long strides to the oxer and don’t have the back rail down

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The line is followed by the widest oxer in the course, fence 11 is set at a distance of 21,80 which means riders need to be able ot reduce the length of the stride to clear this oxer. The construction  of this fence is designed to cause the horses attention to focus on the two white rails, this may cause some knockdowns[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31397″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]The last obstacle on the course is #12 a vertical after a long gallop from #11. This vertical is set at 1,50 and may cause some problems because its far away and riders have to find a good distance while keeping a good rhythm to avoid some painful time faults!!![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”uploaded_image” image_id=”31398″ style=”1″ width=”270″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ align=”left”][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]I think this was a really good class being one of the first Grand Prix of the year, of the 41 entries 13 made it to the jump off and there were no eliminations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]