Rolex 2009: Cross Country Phase

Fierce and fast! It’s exhilarating to see these horses go from dressage to cross country. The horses look so elegant on the first day, crisply braided and executing perfect transitions, collection, and extension. On Saturday, the clothing and tack changes, but the accuracy needed for that perfect 20 meter circle is used on cross country day for a fast and clean run. The determination on the riders’ faces and the intensity on the faces of their horses is remarkable. The excitement is contagious- the crowd really appreciates the hard work and skill that goes into a good run.

But nobody likes to see a good run ruined by an unleashed dog- check out this frustrating video of Buck Davidson’s unfortunate encounter with an unleashed dog on course.