2008 ASPCA Maclay Finals--Ride Off

[@ah1998]

You're right I didn't see that at first, but same essential idea-- regardless, if I were one of those 4 girls I would never have thought of doing a simple change, seems too easy. I would have hated to go first though! Kudos to the 1st rider!

[@xopinkmoonxo]

Landing on the counter canter lead and keeping the test flowing instead of halting and changing leads was genius. lol did you hear the whole crowd like gasp and start whispering when she pulled that off? Even though she tapped a couple rails, she obviously rode the test with the most skill.

[@EquitationChampion]

Miss Jools:
a hand gallop is basically a big, very open, yet controlled canter.
They dont actually want you flying around the ring....they just want to see you open your horse up.

[@CassandraFoxDance]

That's a painfully judgmental comment to make, especially since you're hearing the worth of her horse through a secondary source. Not only that but what she paid for her horse is her business. The expensive horse doesn't mean you'll win, it doesn't mean it is an easier ride. She simply rode the best test because she trusted herself and her horse to LAND the counter canter after fence 1 and maintain it to fence 2. A $650, 000 price tag won't gaurantee that your horse can do that, practice will.

[@RioRider45]

I love how the crowd goes "oooh!" and begins to chatter when Jessica lands on the counterlead on the test...haha!

[@HattieMichelle]

When Jessica came off the jump on the counter canter: *whisper*whisper*whisper*whisper*whisper* hahaha

[@starhorsejumper]

thanks so much for putting this up! this was clearly jessica's ride! she did AWESOME!

[@MSullivan786]

Jessica had the most brilliant ride! Asking for the counter canter over the jump. I competed in those divisions a few years ahead of those girls and that was by far the smartest move I have seen to date in the equitation ring!

[@cheepooluvr]

i like these kinds of tests that include the counter canter, it means that the rider actually has to be there for SOMETHING and they cant just have a horse with auto leads to just sit there and look pretty

[@jch12341]

In my personal opinion, I liked Victoria Birdsall's ride better. Her round just looked a lot smoother to me. I feel like her hand gallop was strong, but not overdone. Jessica's hand gallop just looked like she was "showing off." Plus, her horse tapped 2 rails pretty hard. Had Jessica not landed the counter lead, I think Victoria would've won.

[@katehickcox5048]

It's hard to "overdo" a hand gallop jump. I rode in eq. finals growing up. The only "overdo" would be if you blindly ran your horse to an unsafe distance. Judges see tons of riders do one of two things: 1. hand gallop around the turn but return to canter a few strides out to make seeing a distance easier. 2. manufacture the long distance by using a more collected canter so that they can then lengthen to close the gap. They are looking for the fence being approached and jumped at the hand gallop. To do it right takes a lot of trust between horse and rider. My first big eq. horse had been a jumper all his life and was brave and not afraid to let his hair down. The hand gallop jump was something of a specialty for us. He wasn't the scopiest but he was honest and freakishly careful so I knew that he could push off and tuck up if it came up a little long. Not to mention in the eq., if you've got it, flaunt it! The best eq. riders set themselves apart by capitalizing on the strengths of themselves and their horses. My horse was more impressive on the flat than over fences so I always snuck flatwork into jumping rounds, like doing opening and closing circles at the sitting trot, picking up the canter where the judge would have a clean view of the transition, etc. It worked well for us.

[@katehickcox5048]

In the eq., rubs are not typically judged harshly unless it was very clearly the rider's fault (i.e. terrible distance). They judges tend to be forgiving of them in the final rounds because they know that the horses are tired.

[@CassandraFoxDance]

@TheEqChamp
You have to take into account that the Maclay is sort of a breeding grounds for future US equestrian team riders/professionals. I think she did have the best round. She thought independently and didn't just do the exact same as the first 3 riders had done. Jessica took a chance and just went for it. She showed guts! She took a chance and opted to not break stride. Remember medals aren't just about equitation, rideability/critical thinking counts for a lot.

[@hatatsuno]

Equitation is the foundation for higher levels of riding such as the Grand Prix and hunter derbies. To win, you need to take chances/risks and the harder options to stand out, cut time off the jump off, etc. Even though Jessica had two hard rubs and a swap, she deliberately made her horse land on the counter lead, and most impressively, held it around a tight turn. That is hard to do.

[@laredo454]

That turn after fence one that Jessica took on the counter canter was absolutely incredible.

[@ah1998]

Jessica had my vote with the flying change-- I would have thought all the girls would have tried for that, I was surprised they were doing simple changes-- this is the Finals here, not a lesson! Hard, but it's supposed to be....good riders all around though.

[@Grahaminlove]

I totally agree. Having a great horse really helps. I have seen so many riders like that, the sit and look pretty type, and it only makes me value having had to learn the hard way all the more.

[@horsecrazed75]

i think everyone knew jessica won after she landed fence #1 on the counter-canter. it was amazing!

[@WelshCorgi321]

I am so happy some one posted this b/c my friend Zazou told me she got third and I wanted to see her round. By the way the top riders didn't BUY their way to the top they earned it. Zazou doesn't even own Ivy she just rides what is available

[@alykenzie]

@Cobaltlover It does. That's why her win was a little controversial but in the end her landing the counter canter trumped her clipping a rail.

[@1crazypony]

Just to play devil's advocate here-- Jessica's ride, in my opinion, was not flawless. Maintaining the counter lead after jump one was either a very smart move or extreme luck (only she knows for sure). But, her horse swapped off the ground at the last jump and she was loose in the tack at the halt. Her test was great, but it had little mistakes.
I congratulate Jessica and all of the riders for making it to the finals, it's a tough, tough road!
Thank you to whomever linked my vid in COTH.

[@lkwhostalkinggx3]

I think we all can agree that Jess kicked everyone else's ass. She deserved to win, hands down.

[@colleenisepic]

The first rider's horse is huge. She looks so perched on him.

[@Loganluva]

The riders probably wanted to show that they had enough control over their horses to bring them to a walk then pick up the outside lead. But on the other hand that is why Jessican won because she was the only person to not do a simple change so she would stand out against the other three.

[@doubletakex]

Not disputing that she looked definately a bit perched on her horse, but you really always look "ahead" when your horse is just taking off; you're really with his motion, which will become evident in the middle of his arc.

[@darkduet]

It's kind of hard to explain... When a horse is canter, it's inside leg is it's 'leading leg'. So when you see a horse going to the right and cantering, his right leg is the first leg to go out. Now in a counter canter, going right, the Left leg would be going first. There's a whole lot more I could explain, but that might cover it all! LOL

[@alykenzie]

@Cobaltlover She landed the counter canter. Something the other riders didn't think of or do. It's all about making your round stand out in the finals, and she definitely did that. Serious props to her!

[@thediplomat5]

I agree! Landing the counter canter (and holding it) was awesome!

[@karadogkara]

Jess had the best test I've ever seen. It was flawless.

[@EquitationChampion]

u2snumberonefan:
she got the counter canter over the first jump, so then she could continue on through the corner, and counter canter the second.
The pattern said to counter fence 2.
She took the more advanced move, and got the counter canter before hand..instead of doing it in the corner, like every one else.

[@DeeJayandClover455]

beautiful rides! i would never be able to remember that course that fast!

[@apostlenkoda]

ive watched this video so much i have the test memorized

[@CatBallou91]

I agree 100%. I was very surprised to see them not land it. When I heard the test, I automaticaly was thinking that they need to land from that jump on the right lead and counter canter through the turn to the last jump. At the Maclay level, I would have expected for them to land it, but they were beautiful rides besides that.

[@escapade08]

ALL very well ridden. Personally, Victoria's test was my favorite. Very smooth - would have been perfect if she had asked him to land on his counter lead. Jessica landing on hers was a clear indicator of her win. Judges love that. Shame she didn't halt properly. Oh well. Well done to her, Victoria, Zazou, and Christy. :)

[@supershorty628]

I know this is the final. What ponyking1 listed, however, was the top 4 from Zone 1 regionals in 2008.

[@TwoPointProductions]

i agree with all the other comments below, the third rider got the lead off the first jump which made her stand out instead of having to stop, but i do think that the first rider had the best ride other than that.

[@jessemarie9984]

My trainer went up against Jessica Springsteen when they were younger at East Freehold Park on the same horse that I ride now. The horse that I ride now beat young Jessica Springsteen like 3 times. She's such a good rider I am so shocked haha.

[@dknowles24]

she landed counter cantering and kept it, the horse stayed out and didnt fall in and kept the same pase going towards fence #10, then she had galloped (it was nice and open) kept it, halted easily and had a nice trot t the end...i thought it was fantastic!! :D

[@caviar1127]

Yeah he swapped out later but to hold him to a counter on that tight of a corner is pretty freking impressive. i had a dressage horse I couldn't do that with...Good job!

[@RunLikeAFilly]

I would say that this particular rider was best because she knew best- she cued her horse perfectly thus getting a perfect result.

[@showjumpinluv]

@Treasuregirl2248 yeah, it happens in all disciplines though. it just seems to be more common eq.

[@TheKplusTheA]

i didn't realize zazou hoffman got third that year. both are such good riders!

[@HorseJumper666]

well they look for a deep solid seat. A good, still leg with a heel. They also look for a perfect elbow to bit connection, making the course look EASY and fluid, accuracy in distances/corners, ability to give cues without being too noticeable, good equitation overall. It's a lot harder to do when you think about all the energy, huge jumps, and tiny arena you have to do all of this in. :)

[@WalkItOutClock]

Jessica's stood out, which I think all judges look for in a workoff. It was very, very, very clever for her to avoid doing a simple/flying change after the jump! It looked so much smoother. Too bad about the rails.

[@lkwhostalkinggx3]

Yeah it is.

[@jwuboi]

I really think Jessica did the best. Yeah she did hit a couple of poles but the judges will decifer if that was just due to the horse or rider error...the fact that she landed on the proper lead was really cool. I dont think i could land that and make that turn smoothly. Who won this year?

[@lyricalnotes]

the last rider didnt halt long enough. though it was smart and impressive that she landed and kept the counter canter to the next jump it isnt wrong to walk and pick up the counter canter. But it made her stand out.

[@showjumpinluv]

many of these comments i agree with, but the fact is, it's a lot easier to look great on top of a horse that's been trained to do exactly what you want. many equitation riders just sit and look pretty, but they would do horribly on a slightly green horse. i don't know anything about these riders, so i won't name any. but i would be shocked if many of them actually trained the horse they're riding themselves.

[@JumpTheMoon95]

yaa i agree w/ jwuboi. Jess really did awesome!! How she landed on the riht hand lead was awesome and made her stand out!! nice video! But they all were great riders!!!

[@BexaEquestrian4]

yes

[@13celticgirl]

I just remembered, my friend used to ride with victoria birdsall and we went to watch her in the maclay that year i think!

[@supershorty628]

There wasn't enough room to do a flying change without a huge chance of missing it. Jessie landed on the counter lead, she didn't do a flying change.

[@apostlenkoda]

yes i saw that too the girl who went first had a smoother jumps and perfect distances but jessica had the counter over the first jump. that mustve been hard to call.

[@showjumpinluv]

@horsesitsmylife yes, i am aware, considering i said "most" not "all."

[@oxWiLdHoRsExo]

my first pony was leased from victoria birdsall xD he was awesome! shes such a good rider!

[@darkduet]

The jumps that the horse is being jumped over are what poles, not really bars lol. Dunno what I said that. But it means that the horse did not jump high enough, or well enough, to get over the jump in good form. It's back or front legs touched the bars and made noises. In some shows, that is really docked.

[@beejetton8870]

if you watch closely you can see that she lands looking to the right and with a slight right bend. So the horse wasn't off balanced, just doing exactly what the rider was signaling him to do!

[@1lizzie0]

i was sitting a little right to the person who was videotaping. lol

[@lovemypony1]

Zazou Hoffman won this year. Jessica won last year.

[@CurlyKatMarie]

Yep! It's when you intentionally canter on the outside lead instead of the inside :)

[@horsechickadee]

yea, but she impressed the judges by getting the counter canter and keeping it so it didnt really matter.

[@allisonkeller3697]

They all did great! the last girl did amazing!I I hope someday I can be as good as her! :)

[@lkwhostalkinggx3]

It was either pure luck or just talent, only she knows. Regardless, her ride was THE best. She deserved to win.

[@CassandraFoxDance]

I never said it was. I was simply saying that what she paid for the horse was irrelevant. She rode the best test and a pricey horse won't ensure you that, practice and hardwork will and she obviously put that in to get to where she is.:)

[@showjumpinluv]

@Madaboutponies not to be rude, but notice that i never said anything against dressage riders, except that most look down while they ride, from every competition i've seen. i am perfectly aware the equitation for a dressage rider, thanks, i've taken many dressage lessons and my best friend rode dressage.

[@foreverjumping19]

you had some kickass seats

[@darkduet]

Jessica did a super job. But was I hearing bars being tapped in the video or am I going crazy? Wouldn't she have been docked for that?

[@horsecrazy132453]

The last rider landed the counter canter!:) she just won the class

[@ponypro59]

omg they did great

[@lkwhostalkinggx3]

I agree!

[@TomBahama347]

it depends on the Zone they bring different amount of People per Zone

[@TBsPlease]

Wow, I'm flabbergasted that the other riders made simple changes after fence 1, albeit good ones. Landing on a counter canter and maintaining the outside bend around the turn seemed the logical thing to do, at least to me. Then again, I'm an event rider and like to take shortcuts like that. But when the ride-off course was designed, the cc option was intentionally left in to see who was bold enough to do it. I guess it's a bit like leaving out strides in the finals -- it shows you want to win

[@PerfectlyUnperfect25]

ok i think i would have a freaking anxiety attack! just listening to that loud speaker!

[@stupidblond428a]

she swapped at the oxer and still won..but her eq is amazing so it was very well deserved haha

[@supershorty628]

I'm pretty sure those are the top 4 from the Zone 1 regional, not from the final...

[@charismatic314]

i thought Christy DiStefano's round was the best. too bad she's not as well known as the others (i've never heard of her before personally), because that plays a big part in judging :(

[@Luego87]

honestly, if she was planning on stopping she would have. when you are in the test at maclay finals you need to think outside the box & take risks. she wouldn't have come up with that kind of decision within a couple seconds. im pretty sure winning maclay finals doesn't come with luck.

[@WelshCorgi321]

I understand what you are saying and that is true for most bigeq riders, but I personality know Zazou and she trains her own horses at home and competes on them and does exteremly well

[@dreamershavemorefun]

what's a hand gallop and who tested first

[@carlywalls5867]

Ok ..here's my thoughts definitely liked Jessicas round better she made 2 mistakes by not halting long enough and her horse picking a cater step at the end for sitting trott but she did something that was a lot nicer and better than everyone by getting the counter canter over the fence which shows a lot of ride ability in my opinion

[@carlywalls5867]

Canter*

[@horsefantasy1213]

I liked the first and last horses

[@horsesrockmylife08]

who won? i know that zazou hoffman won this year

[@dknowles24]

may i use this video for a video i would like to make please? i would greatly appreciate it, if you would.

[@stupidblond428a]

these riders make it so easy!! like riding a turn on a counter canter?! thats a difficult task!! haha jessica won by a mile when she landed on the counter canter!! :P

[@ASBgurl834]

The first one!

[@Foxsong]

I was wondering when someone was just going to land in the counter lead. ;-) Well ridden!

[@dknowles24]

n she was turning as well

[@MissJools11]

What's a hand gallop?

[@hipersonhello]

i like victorias ride best..but jessicas springsteens lead change was really good..

[@snicklefritzgun]

Are there stats on the internet for the average price of a horse at the finals?
I've seen a lot in the $100-$200k range and some over that but no histogram saying this percent at this price point, this many at this other price point, etc.

[@shoshannaleon4406]

lol now it’s $300-$500K in 2022

[@electrifiedgallop]

yup!!

[@darkduet]

I guess that was the main thing. IMO I'd rather pin someone w/o any hitting than someone who landed on the counter canter.

[@showjumpinluv]

@Treasuregirl2248 i never said they don't have to be good riders. but there's a difference between being able to stick on a buck, and actually knowing how to teach or ask a horse to do something.

[@arrriri]

@alykenzie But then again, does it matter that her horse touched two of the rails on the jumps?

[@equinistaa]

its up to the judge on whether it was the horses fault or hers :)

[@showjumpinluv]

@Madaboutponies oh yeah that. well it's true, and dressage riders admit it too. like i said, my best friend rode dressage. we had a great convo about it at one of the shows she went to with her trainer, another top trainer, and like 4 riders, and they all agreed. i wasn't saying they have horrible equitation becuase it's different from hunters and jumpers. dressage riders typically don't really focus on their eq a lot, so it's not very good, even for their discipline.

[@dreamershavemorefun]

what kind of a name is Zazou

[@CoverGirlxxx3]

Jessica is my hero. xD

[@supershorty628]

Christy DiStefano.

[@iluvsimon8]

Yup :)

[@CourtneyyxRae]

zazou won this year

[@tabbyycatcos]

mostly the last person will be the best because they got to watch everyone before them