by Ronda Payne/91原创 Advance
Show jumping horses can adapt to a lot of situations.
They travel the world to compete, so these animals are accustomed to stepping into a travel crate in one type of climate and stepping out into another.
Being adaptable is one thing, but being able to compete at the highest levels in dramatically varying weather is another.
With the unpredictable weather of the Lower Mainland, the team at Thunderbird Show Park (tbird) is conscious of helping riders and horses have the tools they need to perform at their best.
One of the first things that contributes to horse and rider success in any weather is the variety of rings available at tbird, according to Jane Tidball, the show park鈥檚 president and tournament director.
鈥淭here鈥檚 all kinds of drainage in there,鈥� she said of the grass rings that are used for large-scale events like the upcoming Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping of Canada on June 3.
Even in a downpour, the drainage under tbird鈥檚 grass rings is able to keep up.
That being said, 91原创鈥檚 weather can be wet for days and that鈥檚 when other tools come into play.
鈥淲hen it鈥檚 a rider jumping a metre-six, we want them to have a safe footing,鈥� she noted. Safe footings is where the new German Geo Textile (GGT footing) surface rings excel. GGT rings are silica-based that creates a soft, springy footing that both horses and riders love.
鈥淭here鈥檚 never a drop of mud on a horse when they鈥檙e riding on silica,鈥� said Tidball. 鈥淲e have such beautiful, big silica rings we can move to.鈥�
This soft footing is placed on top of a drainage system, so water drains out the bottom and keeps the footing in its light, fluffy state, she explained.
Dealing with weather is also part of a rider and competing team鈥檚 game plan, according to Chris Pack, tbird鈥檚 chief operating officer and tournament manager of the show park.
鈥淭hey will make decisions based on weather conditions and course design.鈥�
Of course, spring on the West Coast can also include heat, and horse-and-rider teams are prepared for that, as well.
鈥淎 lot of times, riders will walk up to the ring with a blanket on,鈥� noted Tidball. 鈥淪o, they wouldn鈥檛 do that in the heat. They鈥檇 use a sheet that allows for shade and comfort.鈥�
She added that on really hot days, riders may be permitted to not wear their jackets during a round. Plus, there is a shade tent beside every riding ring and plenty of water for both horses and riders.
Weather is often a challenge during the spring in 91原创. But at tbird, the team does its best to minimize weather in the equation to ensure horses and riders can perform at their best regardless of what Mother Nature delivers.
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