The course yesterday was difficult enough… Especially the triple combination; it was really hard. It was a tall vertical going in, and two quitelong strides to the second element that was white – a difficult color – and very wide. Then it was super short to the third vertical, and a distance up to the next oxer. It wasn’t too many faults on that oxer, but I was one that took it down…
When I realized that I had cleared the second element of the triple combination, I thought ‘Yes! Now I’ll make it’, but suddenly Casall didn’t push good enough of the ground. I don’t know if he was tired or what it was, but it was just like no power came out of him at that point. And then at the last fence he jumped normal again. I haven’t experienced him like that before, but earlier on in the course he backed off a lot into the Rolex combination so he gave himself so much space that it became long for him into it and then he landed short behind the a-element and the next element was like two meters too far away! That was not so good for him; it cost both his heart and power to put it that way. At the next to verticals I had to ride a little ‘rude’ to get him to motivate himself again, and then at the next oxer I had to use a little extra leg – but after that he felt fine again. When he did what he did in the Rolex combination, I thought ‘Oh no, the white oxer in the triple combination….”. But, that was not to be a problem.
Faults are always silly, and none of them were necessary. If I had just had one down, it would still have been ok. Unfortunately now, I’m on eight penalties and a little too far away overall.
I rode Casall a little this morning and he felt fine and fresh. And then we did the vet check, which he went through.
I’m riding the Grand Prix on Camilo. He has not even near been jumping as high as that before; only up to 1.45. If it gets strange, I think I will retire. But I’ll consider the course as well first, because I’m only number five so I don’t get the chance to watch any.
Keep your fingers crossed for me tomorrow!
Best wishes Rolf
