Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk
With the overnight withdrawal of four combinations, 68 horses were presented before the FEI Eventing World Championships Ground Jury here at Pratoni for the Final Horse Inspection.
Autumn has arrived in the Roman countryside and this morning dawned fresh and much cooler than we’ve been used to; it feels like the end of the summer, the end of the season, the final day of competition.
All 68 horses were eventually accepted but there were nervous moments for current team silver and individual bronze medal rider Tamie Smith (USA) when she was asked to jog a second time with an exuberant Mai Baum. Likewise Canada’s Hawley Bennet-Awad struggled to control her mare Jollybo and was asked to try two times before being passed. Astier Nicholas’ Alertamalib’or cantered down the lane the first time but trotted and was accepted after going again.
Two horses were sent to the hold box; Thailand’s sole representative Korntwat Samran with Uster De Chanay, and Hungary’s Mountbatten ridden by Dr Harold Ambros. Both were subsequently passed after being re-presented
All Australian riders, including Andrew Hoy and Vassily De Lassos, passed with flying colours
The gold medal team Germany, drawn first in the order, were first to present and all five horses looked fresh and well, particularly pathfinder Christoph Wahler’s Carjatan S.
The thoroughbreds who were in their element on the cross country yesterday looked equally impressive this morning - Artist (Monica Spencer NZ), Just Kidding (Amanda Pottinger NZ), Bold Venture (Shenae Lowings AUS) and Clifford (Hazel Shannon AUS)
Clifford almost took out a member of the support team in the paddock after the jog and Hazel once again had her hands full getting him back up the lane to the stables safely!
The first show-jumping session starts at 11:30am local time, and the top 25 will jump this afternoon starting at 2:10pm.
Article by Samantha Clark
Clark Johnstone and Menlo Park with groom Marcus Bean. The names of all grooms were announced during the presentation of horses in recognition of their role in the competition
