Orangeville-based three-day event rider Holly Jacks-Smither and her horse, More Inspiration, recently completed their first CIC – Three Star Division event finishing 12th. The team also won the Reserve Thoroughbred award.
A competitive group of nearly 30 horses – many of whom have competed in past major games – tackled the course at Red Hills International CIC in Tallahassee, Fla.
“We made it,” Jacks-Smither said. “I can say that we managed to achieve all our goals, so now I have set new ones to improve.”
At the CIC – Three Star level, horses and riders met extremely demanding obstacles in all three phases.
Having successfully competed at this level, Jacks-Smither is in a position to seriously plan to upgrade to the four-star level, the highest in the sport, and is eyeing a spot on the 2016 Olympic team.
While they are already qualified for the Pan American games, Jacks-Smither said she feels she would be a stronger asset to the Canadian team at the Olympics.
“Of course I want to be part of the Pan American team,” she said. “But at the same time, I really want to get qualified for next year’s Olympics in Rio.”
At the Pan Am level, there is a much stronger emphasis on the dressage phase of an event, Jacks-Smither explained.
“Being a full Thoroughbred, that has been our weakest phase,” she said. At the Olympic level, Jacks-Smither said there is more opportunity for More Inspiration to do what he does best: jump.
“The jumping phases in Rio are much tougher than the Pan Ams, and I think a horse like More Inspiration, who is a full Thoroughbred, will be able to handle the heat and the length of the cross-country phase.”
While she is anxiously looking ahead, Jacks-Smither said she is “thrilled” with how much she has been able to accomplish already on More Inspiration.
At nine years old, More Inspiration is one of the youngest horses competing at his level. What makes his accomplishments even more impressive is that eventing is his second career.
The Thoroughbred gelding was originally purchased from Horse Power Racing for $2,000, where he was successful at Woodbine and Fort Erie for trainer Beverly Chubb. Jacks-Smither has worked hard with fellow trainers in Canada and the U.S. to develop More Inspiration into the horse he became.
“I couldn’t be happier with More Inspiration,” she said. “He’s matured a lot, and is proving himself in ways I had never dreamed of.”
Jacks-Smither and her husband, Bruce Smither, operate an equestrian training facility in the Orangeville area.
About eventing
Eventing is an equestrian triathlon of sorts. Riders use the same horse to compete in three different events over the span of two to three days; dressage, cross country and show jumping. The goal is to accumulate the fewest number of penalty points.
In dressage, a panel of judges rate how accurately and correctly horse and rider negotiate a series of predetermined manoeuvres.
The cross country phase is the most exhilarating element of an event, where teams set out to cover ground quickly over a course of “natural” obstacles. Courses usually span kilometres, and require horse and rider to jump solid fences, splash through water, negotiate banks and drops and leap over ditches, all while maintaining a galloping speed. Penalties are added to a team’s score if there are refusals by the horse or if they go over the time limit.
Show jumping is a technical challenge over a course of jumps in an arena. Once again, teams must complete the pattern within the time limit, leaving the rails up.
Knocking down fences and going over the time also result in penalties.
