Tiffany Marr, D.V.M.

Here is a glimpse into Dr. Marr’s travels abroad with the up and coming US show jumping team.

Lipicia CSIO 4* was a wonderful experience in a beautiful setting in the company of a fantastic group of new friends.  The equestrian community continues to impress a lifelong fan.

Day 1 – Arrival airport Ljubljana, Slovenia approximately 1.25 hours from Lipica.  Special thanks to the creator of the “Tom Tom”!  Meet the horses, riders and grooms shipping in from a week’s layover in Italy.  Unpack and prepare for the next morning’s jog.

Day 2 – The Jog.  The horses are examined by the FEI committee/veterinarian and must be deemed “fit to compete.”  Each horse was presented by their rider, identified and evaluated at the walk and trot in hand on a stone dust surface.  If a horse does not “pass” the jog, it is given a second chance and the handler was asked to reappear at a later time so that it could be re-evaluated.  “Come back at 7:30 tomorrow morning,” the FEI veterinarian would shout out to the audience.  Your jaw would drop and it was time to regroup.  The jog is important as each committee has its own preference or style and you must conform or risk a long boring week waitting in the stands.  We competed.

Day 3 – What I will deem, warm up day.  Each rider chose to prepare their first string mount for the next day’s Nation’s Cup class.  Some schooled in the 1.35m class, while others chose to do the power phase of the 1.45 Power and speed.  All the team horses and riders appeared fresh and performed well.  Jeannie Hobbs, the 22 year-old alternate and her mount Night and Day were victorious in the 1.45 opening class.  What a beginning!  We were ready for the next day’s task.  I say “we,” because this was such an amazing group of people that even as an outsider coming in at the last minute I was welcomed.

Day 4 – The Nation’s Cup.  In a CSIO 4* competition the class is divided into 2 rounds with 4 horse/rider pairings competing in the first round (highest fault performance dropped) and only 3 horse/rider pairing return for the second round.  As a result, no score is dropped in the second round.  In Lipica, the first round was scheduled for a 9 AM start time while the second round was not until 5 PM.  This was a rather different scenario requiring special attention from the grooms to keep the horses loose and fresh for their evening perfomance.  Round 1 – Kannans Gigi Z and James Benedetto (5 faults), Tarco Can Ter Moude and Tracy Magness (1 fault), Naydyleen and Alexa Lowe (1 fault), Michael Morrisey and Crelido (clear!).  The time was incredibly tight resulting in “unforced errors” by many horses and riders.  The US riders were superb and in the lead after the first round, but only 3 faults (less than a rail) separated us from the Austrians in second.  Round 2 – Gigi and James (clear!), Tarco and Tracy (a foot in the water but fast, 4 faults).  The Austrians are clear/clear after their first two horse/rider pairings and we are in second place by one fault as Austria’s anchor rider entered the ring.  An 8 fault performance gives the US team the opportunity to “bring home the gold.”  With Michael Morrisey left to go the standings are as follows: Team USA 6 faults, Austira 13 faults, Italy 14 faults.  Michael and Crelido have a rail at obstacle #7.  We are huddled in the corner by the in-gate, a leg raised every time Crelido leaves the ground, a deep breath as he completes the triple without error, 3 jumps to go, over the tall vertical #10, effortlessly across the water, I have goose-bumps and then a loud roar as he breaks the timers.  The USET developing rider team wins the Nations Cup in Lipica!

Day 5 – A day for the riders to relax and regroup, preparing for Sunday’s Grand Prix.  The grooms are true worker bees; tending to the horse’s tired legs and backs, utilizing alternative therapies, and still making time for multiple hand walks.  It never ceases to amaze me how hard they work and how much the industry depends on their dedication and skill.  Kudos to you all.

Day 6 – The Grand Prix (51 entries).  The end of a long demanding week for all the horses, yet they are respectable even in defeat.  The wonderful mare Kannans Gigi Z is tired and not herself.  Nadyleen and Tarco jump well but each have an unforunate rail.  Jeannie Hobbs and Neilson B jump clear with 1 time fault – a 10^th place finish.  Michael Morrisey and Crelido are fantastic again, clear with 8 faults in the jump off – 5^th place.  Another good day.

Day 7 – An early morning visit to the stable area nestled in the emerald Karst mountains around the famous Lippizaner Stud farm.  The horses and their grooms are ready to leave on a 3-day trek back to the USA.  For me, its one last veterinary evaluation and a sad good bye.  Never mind my disastrous, hair-raising trip back to the airport!  I would like to offer a warm thank you to Dr. Tim Ober and the USET for giving me this opportunity and congratulations to all riders and grooms on a job well done!