Ward
Edges Out Engle To Win $25,000 USET Festival Of Champions Grand Prix
Talk
About The Festival, the Footing, and Other Shows
The
conversation turned to the light turnout this year at the Festival.
Ward and Engle both agreed there were a variety of reasons why not
all the top riders were there. One of those reasons had to do with
the footing at Gladstone, which although much improved this year from
past years, still doesn't quite get a five-star rating.
Last
year the problems with the footing were an issue because the riders
were competing in an Olympic Selection Trials. The riders recalled
the footing being somewhat like a suction cup in places and quite
a few of their horses (including one of Engle's) had shoes pulled
off. This year the footing was still deep but better.
"They've
made a huge effort," commented both riders, "but this is
a case where it's wrong and they need to remove it and put in all
new footing," added Ward. "It's abrasive and a lot of people
were unhappy with it last year. The horses never feel like they come
off the ground super. They don't pop off the ground. The management
team is great. But it's a broken product and it needs to be fixed."
Beyond
the issue of footing was the fact that since they have to compete
at the Festival every other year in a selection trials, sometimes
on off years they take a break. "We come here every other year
for the Trials and only four - maybe six - riders go away happy. The
rest feel beaten. We all have places we prefer and where we do better,"
commented Ward.
Finally,
the sport and the number of show jumping events happening at any one
time have increased. So, the riders have a greater selection to choose
from. "We have so many horse shows you really have to pick and
choose," noted Engle.
Ward
and Engle also mentioned that some riders had gone to compete at Spruce
Meadows in Canada, perhaps believing it would have given them more
chances for bigger bucks, but that's not how Engle and Ward see it.
"There is more money week in and week out here," noted Engle.
McLain
further explained that 30% of the money they win is lost through taxes,
even though they are promised to get 20% back. "I've never ever
gotten anything back in the past."
"We
are also jumping for consistently more money here," continued
Engle who went on to say that there wasn't as much of a need to go
abroad especially in a non-championship year. So, sometimes that's
the time to give the owners a break from the greater expense of competing
internationally. "It eases the pain a little bit."
Both
riders are also seeing more foreign riders coming here and the hope
is that this will continue since the money is creating an incentive.
Would
They Come Back?
For sure
both these riders will be back at the Festival, especially next year
when the World Equestrian Games Selection Trials will be taking place.
"This is a nice event. It's a nice show," commented Ward.
"It's
nice to support our own country," added Engle, "and it's
nice being exposed to different events all at one location."
HorsesDaily®
"On The Scene" at The 2001
USET Festival of Champions
