Clear skies and clear rounds for Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF)

This past Sunday saw a clear, dry day for the kickoff of the four-part National Jumping Series by the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) at the Cayman Riding School. The show started in the morning over a flowing, but challenging course that tested the competitors at various points such that no clear round was recorded until the fourth class of the day. By then most of the riders had one round under their belt and figured out how to tackle the ten obstacles with aplomb.

Highlights of the day include four entries in the 80cm pony class, which is the highest number ever at that height for a CIEF horse show, and is indicative of the steady advancement of the Islands’ young riders. There were also several riders who moved up to the 90cm open class this year, which fielded four horses and, surprisingly, one pony rider, which was another first for the CIEF.

Many of the competitors used this past weekend’s show to prep for the upcoming Regional Jumping Challenge (RJC) sponsored by the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA). The RJC is an event that allows riders from the CEA member countries of Bermuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and the Cayman Islands, to compete against each other without having the horses and riders travel. Instead, the CEA prescribes the exact course specifications that each country must build and use for their leg of the competition. Riders are scored based upon the faults they generate over two jumping rounds, with the time taken in the second round breaking any ties. The CIEF leg of the RJC will take place on Sunday, November 26th at the Equestrian Center located on the Linford Pearson Highway starting at 8:00am. Spectators are welcome and admission is free.

Winners of each class of National Jumping Series #1 were:

0.6 meters Ponies
Shayla Ebanks riding Beanie

0.6 meters Horses
Anabella Hayden riding Princess

0.7 meters Ponies
Megan Swartz riding Zeus

0.7 meters Horses
Kayla Godwin riding Austin

0.8 meters Ponies
Leah Alberga riding Moon Lady

0.8 meters Horses
Juliette Forrester riding Apollo

0.9 meters Open
Paula Daniels riding Second Kiss

by Eve van den Bol

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