Lima Lowdown | August 3, 2019
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Welcome to the Lima Lowdown! To introduce myself, I’m Jessie Christie, the Media Attaché for the Canadian Equestrian Team in Lima. I’m proud and honoured to be part of the ‘team behind the team’ – and each day of the Games, I’ll be bringing you exclusive stories and photos from our Canadian athletes, grooms, owners, and team personnel here in Lima.
First off, I have to give credit for today’s headline to Star Wars fan and EC Graphic and Web Designer, Gerry van Blokland! I can’t resist a good pun, and this one was genius… and quite fitting for today’s Lima Lowdown!
Yesterday, the focus was on photos of the cross-country course. Today, we’ll go back to words, but not mine – instead we’ll get the scoop straight from the Canadian Eventing Team.
Without further ado, read on to find out what the athletes have to say about the course as they get ready to gallop out of the start box!
The Canadian Eventing Team athletes will be heading out of the start box with the goal of reaching this fence – the final one on course – with a big fat zero under ‘penalties’ on the cross-country scoresheet.
Karl Slezak
The course looks great. It’s definitely a good challenge – it comes right at you, right from the beginning. It’s going to be tough. You’ve got to come out strong, and then it gives you some time to get into a flow later on, after minute three, which is great – but it would be nice to have that flow at the beginning. So, it’s definitely going to separate a few people at the beginning.
Fernhill Wishes is an easy horse. If I want to turn, I just take my leg off a little bit, and he’s ready to turn – and same with setting him up, so it’s a great course for him. For me, it means I have to keep kicking in the straights. He’s quick to make the turns and zip around the jumps, but in the gallops, I really have to go.
Dana Cooke
Well, there’s definitely a lot to do. At the beginning, that first water is pretty tough, so I definitely don’t think we’ll be bored. It will take a lot of good, accurate riding.
The first water complex comes early at jump six and is one of many sets on course that force the rider to choose between an easier but slower route, or a faster, yet more challenging one.
I don’t want to end up kicking myself for saying this, but I think the course suits Mississippi. She is quite adjustable and quite rideable, so as long as I do my job, she will do hers.
There’s definitely tough competition out there. I think we all have a lot to do in the next couple days. If you can jump clear, I think you are going to be competitive.
Colleen Loach
I think it’s a beautiful track. It’s a good course, and challenging enough.
Goldie is a smaller horse and he turns easily, so I think he’s a good horse for this track because it’s a little bit twisty. They did a great job with it, but it definitely takes a rideable horse.
Jessica Phoenix
The best thing about this competition is, it’s not a dressage show, for sure. There is so much to be done out on cross-country. I think we have an incredibly talented group of cross-country horses, so as a nation, I think we’re pretty excited to get out there and get at it.
The countdown is on to fence one. Be sure to keep an eye on live results here.
All Photo Credits: ©EC/Jessie Christie