Lamaze Finishes 27th After Round 2

“Anything can happen. This is a big course and I am particularly worried about the ‘skinny’ ( Jump #7) and the big oxer (Jump #3),” said John Fleischhacker of Ashland Farms, part-owner of Hickstead, Eric Lamaze’s mount for the World Equestrian Games. Unfortunately, Fleischhacker’s words proved prophetic in part.

Lamaze entered the ring 47th in a field of 84 competitors. The pair’s problems began early in the course. “From (Jump) 2 to (Jump) 3, he cross-cantered,” said Lamaze. Hickstead incurred four faults at Jump #7 (the ‘skinny’), as well as at two elements of the triple combination, resulting in a total of 12 jumping faults and a significant drop in ranking, from second to 27th. The crowd groaned in sympathy, recognizing that the horse had been perfect through two previous rounds.

“He gave such a great effort,” a disheartened Lamaze said after the round. “It was a bit of bad luck today. He didn’t feel great, he wasn’t himself.” Lamaze suspected that his horse was body sore after the 12-fault round.

Canadian Chef d’Équipe for Jumping Terrence (Torchy) Millar said, “That was disappointing; he basically rode well, but he left a stride out to the skinny.”

Gail Greenough, who was watching intently and cheering for her fellow Canadian, responded, “That was the stride the horse wanted. I’m very sad for Eric ­ very, very sad. He’d be perfect for a Final Four.” Greenough, who was in the final four and won the championship twenty years ago, was referring to Lamaze’s ability to adapt quickly to a variety of horses, a key element for winning the Individual title.  Canadian hopes for a show jumping title were dashed as only the top 25 will continue in the next round of competition.

If there is such a thing as a consolation in this, Lamaze and Hickstead have been immortalized in the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games highlight reel because of the superior effort they displayed in clearing the last fence in the Speed and Handiness Class two days prior. Perhaps that, plus the strength of his performance in round one of the Grand Prix, took its toll on the young horse.
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