Last night was awesome. The standard of riding demonstrated by the US riders was unbelievable. McLain, Mario, Margie and Beezie gave a riding lesson in how to ride effectively and efficiently to everyone that was watching. Beezie also showed some great stickability when Coral Reef Via Volo channeled her inner-pony and decided to be a little uncooperative as she took her tour of the ring prior to the buzzer sounding. However, when she went back in for her second round all antics were left outside the ring.

I was also totally impressed with Margie and Indigo. The big grey gelding looked to be a seasoned veteran, despite being one of the more inexperienced horses that entered the International Ring last night. The pair jumped one of the classiest clears in the first round and looked poised to do so again in round two until just rolling the top rail of the final jump.

Sapphire looked and jumped as was expected, clear in both rounds. It is amazing the partnership she and McLain have formed, they both look like they have been living on the same page for years and trust one another implicitly. Both McLain and Sapphire looked like there is no other way they would rather spend a Saturday night than jumping under the lights in Nations Cup competition on home turf.

Urico was unlucky to have the plank down in the first round as he looked to make light work of the rest of the course. While he did not come back and jump in the second round, only three horses for each team came back, he looked totally content hanging out with his groom Roy by the warm-up. He seemed to be keeping tabs on his teammates and was quite pleased to head back into the ring for the prize giving.

Urico and Roy