Horse Shows By the Bay in Traverse City
The first week of Horse Shows By the Bay was a success, flying by for both competitors and spectators. The first weekend was filled with a few spectacular events both beginning and ending with a Prix and the Derby Classic in between. The show, located about 40 mins from my house, was easily found my first trip out on Friday to watch the Welcome Prix.
The $10,000 Welcome Prix is a Grand Prix course set at a range of 5'-5'6 feet high. A Grand Prix does not have a judge, instead the round is based on time and faults. A horse and rider team tries to complete the course within the time limit as well as keep the fence rails up as each rail down costs the team 4 faults. A course designer usually chooses a fence that as the upmost difficulty for the team, in this case, an oxar located in the middle of the course. Those that have a "clean round", one with no faults, come back for the jump-off. The jump off is a smaller course usually filled with harder tasks such as sharp turns. It is then the prize comes down to time, the fastest "clean" jump-off round, wins. The Welcome Prix was a great way to kick off the show, an exciting event for those that watched. The winner of this event was David Beisel riding Moet Walk.
The following day, Saturday, I this time arrived to watch the $15,000 Derby Classic, an event much different than the Prix. Not only are the jumps changed from colorful decadents to natural bushes but the judging is different as well. These fence heights range from 3'6-3'9. The horse and rider team are now judged by two judges whose scores are added together to give them a final score. Those with the top 12 scores from the first round, return to be judged for the second round. Judges are looking at the horses confirmation and how well they carry them selves in between and over the fences. The Derby gives the team options around the course, allowing them to decide whether they take the easy or harder route, however; if the harder route is taken, bonus points are added to the score. The winner of this class was pro Patricia Griffith aboard her gorgeous mount, North Country.
Week one was closed with the biggest event of the week, the $30,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix of TC. The event, judge exactly as the Welcome Prix, brought numerous spectators. The captivating event brings thrill to those watching. This classes "hot spot", or difficult fence was a vertical located in the middle of a gymnastic and at the end of the course, when the team is tired. The day was ended awarding Ali Wolff and her horse H & M Necoll as the winners, Wolff was also 4th in the Prix on a horse named Lanoo.
As week two kicks off, more Prixs are presented and more riders travel to compete in the outstanding Traverse City location.
Can't wait to show in week three!
The $10,000 Welcome Prix is a Grand Prix course set at a range of 5'-5'6 feet high. A Grand Prix does not have a judge, instead the round is based on time and faults. A horse and rider team tries to complete the course within the time limit as well as keep the fence rails up as each rail down costs the team 4 faults. A course designer usually chooses a fence that as the upmost difficulty for the team, in this case, an oxar located in the middle of the course. Those that have a "clean round", one with no faults, come back for the jump-off. The jump off is a smaller course usually filled with harder tasks such as sharp turns. It is then the prize comes down to time, the fastest "clean" jump-off round, wins. The Welcome Prix was a great way to kick off the show, an exciting event for those that watched. The winner of this event was David Beisel riding Moet Walk.
The following day, Saturday, I this time arrived to watch the $15,000 Derby Classic, an event much different than the Prix. Not only are the jumps changed from colorful decadents to natural bushes but the judging is different as well. These fence heights range from 3'6-3'9. The horse and rider team are now judged by two judges whose scores are added together to give them a final score. Those with the top 12 scores from the first round, return to be judged for the second round. Judges are looking at the horses confirmation and how well they carry them selves in between and over the fences. The Derby gives the team options around the course, allowing them to decide whether they take the easy or harder route, however; if the harder route is taken, bonus points are added to the score. The winner of this class was pro Patricia Griffith aboard her gorgeous mount, North Country.
Week one was closed with the biggest event of the week, the $30,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix of TC. The event, judge exactly as the Welcome Prix, brought numerous spectators. The captivating event brings thrill to those watching. This classes "hot spot", or difficult fence was a vertical located in the middle of a gymnastic and at the end of the course, when the team is tired. The day was ended awarding Ali Wolff and her horse H & M Necoll as the winners, Wolff was also 4th in the Prix on a horse named Lanoo.
As week two kicks off, more Prixs are presented and more riders travel to compete in the outstanding Traverse City location.
Can't wait to show in week three!
Tags: ali wolff, david beisel, derby classic, horse shows by the bay, patricia griffith, spy coast farm grand prix o..., traverse city, welcome prix
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