Format Criticized by Leaders

With the final two rounds of the Olympic equestrian show jumping trials set to take place in Del Mar on Sunday, several riders criticized the format after Friday’s competition at the Oaks/Blenheim Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano.

When leaders Nona Garson, Laura Kraut, Margie Goldstein-Engle and Francie Steinwedell-Carvin--and former Olympian Norman Dello-Joio--gathered for interviews, talk turned to the format of the trials and the physical pressure being put on the horses.

After the first five rounds were completed in New Jersey in June, the trials continued with one round Wednesday and two Friday in San Juan Capistrano.

The hot weather and a short 20-minute break between rounds had riders voicing their concern for the safety of their mounts and the possible effect on the final results.

“This is asking a tremendous amount from these animals,” said 1992 bronze medalist Dello-Joio, who rides Glasgow. “It’s an awful lot of stress for the horses.”

The horses cooled down after competition by standing in buckets of ice. Some were given fluids intravenously for dehydration before they were shuttled on two 15-horse trailers to Del Mar.

“It could definitely affect the outcome,” said Garson, who rides Rhythmical and leads the field. “There was very little letdown time between rounds. The horses barely had time to cool down and get a normal drink. And now they have to get on a truck . . . another sweaty, stressful event.

“It’s not like checking into the Hilton with the bed turned down and a mint on the pillow. There are a lot of things that have to be done to make the horses comfortable.”

The top six riders going into the final rounds are women.

Garson and Rhythmical, a 15-year-old Russian Warmblood gelding, lead with 20.5 faults. Rhythmical, once the property of the Russian government before being sold, along with several other horses, for 150 used washing machines, did not begin competitive jumping until Garson bought him five years ago.

“I feel I have a horse that even though he’s 15, he hasn’t used himself up,” Garson said. “He’s like the little general. It’s very important for a horse like him to think he’s king. He’s been through a lot in his life.”

Kraut and Liberty, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, are second with 20.75. The pair has posted four clean runs in the trials, the most by any team.

Goldstein-Engle, riding the biggest horse in the competition, Hidden Creek’s Perin, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding that stands 17 hands high, is third with 21.25.

Steinwedell-Carvin and Moonstar, an 11-year-old German-bred Holsteiner gelding, are fourth at 27.25.

Todd Minikus and Oh Star, who led the competition after Wednesday, tallied 20.25 faults in Friday’s competition and fell into seventh place.