When the final rounds of the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Show Jumping trials get underway Wednesday in San Juan Capistrano, it will be nothing short of a coup.
No Western state has hosted what is arguably the most unusual Olympic sport. And if that's not reason enough for Orange County's equestrian community to celebrate, the event comes as Californians--who earned four of the 11 finalist slots--are making a bid to play a larger role in the sport typically dominated by Easterners.
"The sport is very New York and Virginia based," said two-time Olympian Robert Ridland, an Irvine resident who is technical director for the trials. "It is the first time they have held the trials west of the Mississippi. In fact, it's basically the first time they've been west of New Jersey."
Southern California's moneyed horse set has planned a weekend-long extravaganza, including a concert by singer Jewel. The trials are expected draw upward of 15,000 spectators, who will see the field of 11 jumpers narrowed down to four and one alternate.
The trials will be held Wednesday and Friday at The Oaks/Blenheim Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, a landmark for the region's equestrian community. The finals will be Sunday at Del Mar Horsepark. VIP tickets cost $250 per person and include champagne brunch and grandstand concert seating. More reasonably priced tickets--$10 to $50 per person--also are available.
The equestrian event stands apart from other Olympic competitions for many reasons, including that it's the only individual sport in which men and women compete against each other on equal footing. It's also the only event in which a human partners with an animal.
"It's not just you competing," said finalist Margie Goldstein-Engle of Wellington, Fla. "It's two distinct individuals, one of which you can't talk to. On any given day, [the horse] may not be feeling well, and it's very hard to know what's wrong, and for both of you to hit your peak at the same time is very difficult."
Made up of three parts, equestrian events include "Dressage," in which horses are put through a series of maneuvers including skips and pirouettes, and "Three-Day Eventing," which combines, dressage, cross-country and jumping.
In show jumping, horse and rider negotiate an obstacle course, and get penalty points for errors.
"You can't make up for a mistake," Ridland said. "You don't get bonus points for jumping an obstacle better than anyone else, you only get negative points for mistakes. That creates a nerve-racking situation."
