No one could achieve the time allowed on the first day of the World Championships show jumping selection trials yesterday (March 20), but Lauren Hough (aboard Casadora), Nona Garson (aboard Languster), and Margie Engle (aboard Quervo Gold) each galloped through the timers 1 second slow.

Some 24 horses started over the course in Wellington, Fla., designed by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. The long course had a demanding time allowed of 90 seconds.

Three riders did complete the course within the optimum time, but all three dislodged one rail for 4 faults. Those three were Kim Prince (aboard Couletto K), Schuyler Riley (aboard Ilian) and Anne Kursinski (aboard Roxanna). Prince recorded the day’s fastest time (87.67 seconds).

Six horse/rider combinations from the trials will be named to the 10-horse U.S. long list for the World Championships. Those 10 horses will be divided into two groups to contest the early season Samsung Nations Cup events as part of their selection and preparation for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, in late August.

Four riders and their horses will be chosen subjectively, based on their previous performances. Two have already been chosen that way—Beezie Madden on Authentic and Mclain Ward on Sapphire.

“It was a tough course to begin with, and then you had the added factor of a tough time allowed, which made it even more difficult to jump clear,” said Hough. “I thought it was most difficult for the first day, and I would imagine it’s only going to get harder from here.”

She was especially pleased with Casadora’s performance because only last Friday she was suffering from a viral infection and had a temperature of 105.4.
  
“We really pulled together the last four days and worked with her around the clock,” said Hough. “This is icing on the cake. The fact that she’s healthy is the best part.”