U.S. show jumping team tied for lead in Hong Kong

The U.S. equestrian team tied for the lead with Switzerland on Sunday during the first round of show jumping at the 2008 Beijing Games venue in Hong Kong. The U.S. and Switzerland both finished on 12 faults, followed by Sweden at 13.

The team's performance was "impressive, although somewhat unpredictable," according to the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

McLain Ward and Sapphire jumped one of five double clear rounds. “She was great,” said Ward. “I don’t think she has touched a fence yet.

“The course was very technical, very difficult and very careful. She was very comfortable in there. She is as solid as a rock.”

Laura Kraut and Cedric had the last fence down. “I have trouble making the time on him because I can’t hurry him, Kraut told USEF. “I was feeling confident down to the last, and I should have taken one more tug and had a time fault. It was a mental error on my part.”

Will Simpson and Carlsson vom Dach "had a bobble at the water,” Simpson said after his ride. “Other than that the course rode pretty good. I miscalculated the four stride and ended up too far into the corner before the triple. I was too far away from B; he was a good horse to even try.” 

Abigail Wexner, the last U.S. rider, said that Authentic began shaking his head and never saw the first part of the combination: “Something was bothering his ear. He started shaking his head, and he never even saw the jump. He was still shaking his head through the combination."

The top nine teams will jump again on Monday night in Hong Kong.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: McLlain Ward and Sapphire compete during Sunday's first round of team show jumping at the Beijing Games' equestrian venue in Hong Kong. Credit: Kin Cheung/Associated Press