Zorya, Charlie, George and Fly pose for a photo, all looking fairly intelligent. (shame the same couldn't be said for the jockeys!)
Then everything went a bit pear-shaped! But this piccy does show how well the horses all look after a long long winter.
Anyway, the Pen explained.
The rules are a bit complicated but basically it is where there are two obstacles, one into and one out of an enclosure. So as not to incur penalties at least three members of the team (twelve hooves and three mounted riders) must be in the pen at any one time. ie to have jumped in but not yet jumped out. It can be a bit tricky if the team has some very quick and some not so quick horses. Especially if braking is a problem. Because the competition is timed on the first three competitors past the finish it makes it a bit less of a procession and more of a collaborative team effort.
Some competitions have a 'dressing' fence where the team members jump a fence all abreast. I haven't seen one in recent competitions and I don't know if they are still included in some.
3 comments:
So are you telling me they're jumping into a pen and then jumping back out while maintaining three members inside the pen?
First one jumps in. Before first one jumps out, second and third must jump in. OR if first one has already jumped out, fourth must jump IN before second jumps out. So three are in the pen at any one time. It sounds much more complicated than it actually is. Honest!
OK, I think I"ve got it. lol
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