The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 28

Sports Plus B-10 Sunday Nwi Journal, Wilmington, 01., Auguit 6, VJ78 Combined Training can he an exciting event competition," said Plumb. "You need a guy whs you know can do it, someone you're very sure of who has been doing it for a long time." 1 The British have sent out some of the masl' experienced teams in the past and are tops among; the rivals the U.S. is expecting for tough compefi- tion in the World Championship. In discussing the horse's qualifications, Jhe specific breed is one of the only things that isn't important. The horse must have speed, stamina, good conformation and gaits and good dispostioti.

He must also have extra agility and jumping ability and have a bold attitude. Summing up the rider's qualities is no easy taSTt either. Plumb feels that to be a good three-dOT; rider," the competitor must be able to do a good job anywhere." Be it at a horse show, hunter jumping; steeplechase or stadium jumping. The result? "You're never satisfied," said Plumb. "There are just so many things to concentrate on that there 1 is always room for improvement." Combined Training.

Few people understand all it entails. Even fewer can master it. The equestrian world's decathlon, combined training also called eventing or three-day demands everything anJ then more from the rider and horse. The best combined training competitors in this country will be entered in the Chesterland Three-day World Championship Selection Trials in Union-ville. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Following the competition, four riders will be chosen to represent the defending champion United States team in the World Championship in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 14 to 17. Eight more riders will be selected to compete as individuals. The selection trials will have dressage and stadium jumping on Saturday, cross-country on Sunday.

Also taking place will be a prelimary level combined training event and a driving competition. Included in the selection trials will be World Champion Bruce Davidson, whose Unionville property will be the site of the Chesterland team captain and current U.S. Champion J. Mich- Grazia of So. Hamilton; Mike Huber of Norman, Diseree Smith of Bluemont, Torrance Watkins of Boyce, Caroline Trevira-nus of Berryville, Beth Perkins of Monkton, who finished sixth in the world championships in 1974; and Karen Sachey of Middleburg, Va.

The U.S. squad is coached by Jack Le Goff. A member of the bronze medal-winning French three-day team at Rome in 1960, Le Goff coached France's 1968 Olympic team and the individual gold medalist that year. He joined the U.S. team as a coach in 1970.

"Everyone has had a shot at being with the coach," said Plumb. "Bruce (Davidson), Tad (Coffin) and Mary Ann (Tauskey) have all had the most time with him, though. They most exemplify his style of riding." People of all ages are involved in eventing. The youngest at the selection trials is 18. The Australians' William Roycroft, was the oldest athlete in the 1976 Olympic Games at age 61.

"Experience is of key importance in the team Stories by Janice Lloyd ael Plumb of Chesapeake City, and 1976 Olympic Gold medal winner Tad Coffin of Hamilton, Mass. Those three riders, plus Mary Anne Tauskey who will also be competing at Chesterland, were the members of the U.S. team that won the team Olympic gold medal in 1976 at Bromont, Que. Among the 18 riders vying in the selection trials are six from this area. They include Davidson; Plumb; Story Jenks of Chadds Ford, junior national three-day champion in 1976; Lornie Forbes of Unionville, a former University of Delaware student; Mary Hazzard of Unionville, co-organizer of the Chesterland event; and Ralph Hill of Lincoln University, junior national three-day champion in 1973.

The others are: James C. Wofford of Upper-ville, a member of the Olympic team in 1968 and 1972; Rebecca Coffin of Strafford, Derik Di Old cavalry test now a tough sport 'WAYTv V'1 the time limit for each phase. Elimination comes from more than two refusals at one fence or more than two falls for the course. Stadium jumping, over show-type jumps in an arena, takes place on the third day. It tests the agility of the horse and its ability to recover from the extraordinary effort on the second day.

Penalties are earned by knockdowns and refusals. The horse is eliminated for more than two refusals for the course. In international competitions, such as the world championships in Kentucky next month, each country is represented by a team of four riders. The winners are determined by a total of the three lowest scores on the team. If more than one rider is eliminated the entire team is eliminated.

Riders are also eligible for individual titles. Because of the effort involved for the horse and the logistics necessary to stage such events, three-day events the pinnacle of the sport of "eventing" are held only a few times a year. Much more common are one-day and occasionally two-day events, at five levels of difficulty: novice, training, preliminary, intermediate and advanced. In a one-day event, dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping all take place on the same day. The two roads and tracks and the steeplechase before cross-country are left out.

The Chesterland Trials are an example of a two-day event, with dressage and stadium jumping on the first day, the speed and endurance tests with cross-country on the second day. The throe-day event originated as a examination of the cavalry officer and his mount, and the three parts test different disciplines that mastered together mark the total equine athlete and its rider. The same horserider combination must complete all three parts. Dressage (a French word meaning takes place on the first day. Intricate and refined school figures must be performed precisely in a marked enclosed space.

Part of the difficulty of dressage comes from having to perform the test in a relaxed manner on a horse that has been fitted up to withstand the rigors of the later cross-country test. i The horserider combination are given individual scores for each movement of the test and the scores are totaled. The total is then converted to penalty points, since the lowest score wins at the end of the three days. The test on the second day has four parts. First the horse and rider go on a roads and tracks phase for several miles at a trot pace.

Then they jump a steeplechase course at a high rate of speed, followed immediately by another roads and tracks. After that phase, the horse gets a brief rest and is checked by a vet, then sets out on the crossrcountry course, the heart of the event. At international events, the first three phases may total 15 miles, with the final cross-country course adding another four to five miles, riden at a strong gallop, with up to 36 difficult fences to jump. Penalties are earned from refusals or falls within the penalty zone for each fence, or for going over jtXV 1 8" Karl Likp)iftii J. Michael Plumb of Chesapeake City, on his Olympic mount Better and Better, leaps out of the water fence at last year's Chesterland Horse Trials.

It's too late to look when you get on horse. The timing of the walks is also prove the speed, endurance and jumping ability of the horse when he is well trained and brought to the peak of his condition. At the same time, it demonstrates the rider's knowledge of pace and the when riders examined a crosscountry course, it's like studying for a bar exam They have to scrutinize every inch of the terrain. It's too late to do any last-minute studying on horseback. The only time the rider and horse are allowed to complete the course together is during competition, and then it must be ridden at a good gallop.

The course, which is comprised of some 25 to 36 fixed and solid obstacles and is 3 12 to 4 12 miles long, is part of the speed and endurance test. The entire event is weighted about 12 parts for cross-country to three for dressage and one for stadium jumping in the final score. As explained in the international rules for the three-day event, the object of the cross-country, speed and endurance test is "to mere just so much you can take in on the initial walk," said U.S. champion J. Michael Plumb.

"It's all a surprise. The official walk usually takes an hour. You get the general layout then." The first time around the course, the riders stay fairly close to the officials in order to learn the layout. All the obstacles are numbered and marked by red flags on the right and white on the left. After the preliminary look, the competitors then begin to make their plans for approaching the course.

On ensuing walks, they examine the obstacles more closely, especially the ones which provide alternate ways of jumping. The apparently easy way will often lure the rider into making an error. Intelligent appraisals made before the competition can often save mistakes and time. important. The competitor? should walk the course the same time of day they expect to compete on it.

By doing aware of light and dark and water levels. Horses are vry often inclined to hit fences "h5rd when jumping out of a dark Therefore it's important for the rider to save some of the horse that he won't be too tired for fti obstacle of this kind. The wise competitor will alSo put on waders and explore l)5 water obstacles to know what's jn the bottom and how deep the water is. The final test of the course how it fares on the competitors. A course is said to good if 25 perceKt of the riders are eliminated, 3D percent incur penalties and percent finish without penalties.

use of his horse across country. The rider's knowledge of the course and of his horse's ability couldn't go through a more severe test. The last phase of the second day, the horse and rider face massive and imposing obstacles that invite bold jumping. In this phase, the horse and rider may go down but not the solidly-constructed jumps. Therefore, it's important the rider know the course before hand.

After the initial official walk, the rider normally walks the course two or three more times after it is open to inspection the day before the event. Wrecks and hard fences are sure to draw a crowd 1 I' IT1 4 V. 4 Site of 3-day event trials at Chesterland I A I WltnUriirton A CAl "It's just like a car accident on the highway," said J. Michael' Plumb. "People will gather to look at a car accident just like they will at certain obstacles on the cross country event.

There are certain fences where falls or refusals are likely and you'll see the most people there." Plumb, who may not be in the saddle at the Chesterland World Championship Selection Trials because of a groin injury he suffered at a downhill jump several weeks ago, may also be spectat-ing at some of the more difficult obstacles during the cross country event. "The people that do know what to look for will also be at those same fences to see who takes them best," said Plumb. For persons who are interested in which obstacles are the most challenging, Plumb talked at length about where spectators should watch. "Different riders and horses nave different kinds of problems with the obstacles," said Plumb. "The banked obstacles with maybe a fence on top and a six to eight-foot, drop is always an at-tractor to crowds.

Banks are difficult. "Jumps into water always cause falls and refusals," said Plumb. "People like to see that." Many spectators also enjoy the alternative fences, with different ways to go through the fences. "The person who is situated there will see variety." Because of the demands that combined training requires of both horse and rider, injuries are common at the obstacles. "The injury rate to the horse is greater than the injury rate to the rider," said Plumb.

"The horse will acquire leg problems, ankle problems, foot problems from overdoing or from an injury at a fence. The injury rate happens more in training, though. If you can get your horse to one of the events where he's sound then he should do very well." A map will be available at Chesterland that will pinpoint places where spectators can see the best action. 1 I Chesterland schedule I Chesterland Charity Horse Trials Schedule FRIDAY: Preliminary Level dressage, 9 a.m.; briefing afid oburSe walking for horse trials competitors, 3 p.m.; briefing and oure viewing fordriving competitors, 4 p.m. SATURDAY: Advance Level and Preliminary Dressage, p.

n. Driving dressage and obstacle tests, 9 a.m. Advanced Level stadium jumping, SUNDAY: Advanced Level Cross-country tests. 7:30 a.m. Driving marathon, 9 a.m.

Preliminary Level cross-country tests, 11 a.m. Preliminary Level stadium jumping, 2 p.m. A wards' ceremony- 45b p.m. Klltcbrlh Prmnlknn phuto Believe it or not, Mary Hazzard of Unionville, didn't end up in the drink when Cavalistic suddenly put on the brakes at this crosscountry water jump. The horse threw up his head, reseating his rider, and they successfully took the fence on the next attempt..