2003 Pan American Games - Show Jumping

A Silver and Bronze for Kappler and Engle; Puerto Rican Mark Watring Claims The Gold

Individual Round 1

At the beginning of the class it was announced that Lauren would not be riding, because of the shoe she lost the day before while jumping the second round of the Nation’s Cup. As the first round of the Individual Finals was about to begin we heard some rumbling in the sky and thought for sure it was going to be another rainy class. But for once luck shone on us and the riders and as the first of the final 34 riders entered the ring conditions were quite good.

Riders went in the reverse order. Those with the highest faults went first, which meant the real battle wasn’t going to start until the last few riders went. As the class progressed there were no clear rounds but also no major problems other than knockdowns.

When Margie entered the ring our hopes were high. As the first American to compete she would set the pace. She cantered down to the far side and in between going over the course in her head nodded to the judges, the bell rang and she was off. Hidden Creek Perin was jumping the moon and cleared each jump with ease with an occasional aggressive ride to one or two fences on the course. In the end she went clear.