Things are nearly in full swing here in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The jumping horses all jogged yesterday and looked quite well. As I type they are familiarizing in the main arena. They also had the option to get in the ring yesterday afternoon. Some just flatted while others jumped the mini-course (I say mini because there were just 6 numbered jumps but set at heights that were anything but small). Flexible, Cortes ‘C’, Baronez, Indigo and Uceko (who was quite fresh for Kent) took the opportunity to pop-over a few jumps.

The dressage riders had the chance to school in the main ring this morning. Jan Ebeling chose to give Rafalca a light work around the ring and she looked quite relaxed and happy. The CDI-W horses will jog tomorrow bright and early at 8am. The CDI horses jog at 3pm today.

The jumpers have their first chance to contest World Cup competition at 4pm with an optional warm-up class. I haven’t seen a start list for this class yet but both Beezie and Kirsten Coe were riding in white breeches this morning, so I’m going to hazard a guess they will be jumping this afternoon.

All in all everyone seems to be on good form if just a bit cold. With temperatures in about the 40’s everyone is pretty bundled up and the horses are all looking a little feisty. When I left Raleigh Monday afternoon it was in the 80’s. When I landed in Amsterdam the temperature was half-that. Needless to say I was feeling 1. Chilly and 2. Foolish in my flip-flops and short sleeved shirt.

I don’t want to jinx myself but the getting from one place to another has been going fairly well. Barring the bus from the hotel to the venue dropping me off at the hospital rather than the train station (which is about a 2 minute walk from the venue) yesterday afternoon. Crisis averted though I was able to share a taxi with a nice lady who offered to let me ride with her to her stop and then she told the driver to take me where I needed to go. The shuttles are now up and running so it’s looking fairly good that anymore bus adventures can be avoided.
The shuttles are very new, swanky Mercedes. Making the score Shuttles Service 2 Bus 0.

More later…………….