Cosmo and Laura Pfeiffer.
Because she almost did.
During the jump-off, as Pfeiffer tackled what would become the decisive and winning turn with her mount Cosmo, she had an equipment malfunction.
"I think the difference was the tight, tight turn to the third jump, the vertical off the right lead," said Pfeiffer of her ride. "Although this was a key turn for me, I panicked a little, as the bit got caught on the noseband and I lost one rein...and with Cosmo, you really do need two reins at all times!"
Despite this bump in the road, Pfeiffer topped the featured jumper class in the Grand Prix Arena--sponsored by CMJ Sport Horse LLC--with a clear jump-off round in 30.009 seconds aboard the 11-year-old stallion.
This was the first day of action during the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival Series III, with record-breaking attendance in both the hunter and jumpers, so the competition was fierce. Sixteen starters tackled the Michel Vaillancourt-designed course, with five jumping double-clear rounds.
Pfeiffer and Fox Meadow Farm's Cosmo just edged Dunked Associates' Syrah with rider Molly Ashe-Cawley by .117 seconds. David Jennings guided Erin Haas' Contino 46 to third place with a clear jump-off, just off the pace in 30.666 seconds.
Pfeiffer didn't end her day with just one victory, however. She also topped the 1.30-meter Open Jumpers, sponsored by Blue Gate Farm, aboard Anberlin. This duo also captured the 1.30-meter championship during Series I.
Pfeiffer, 20, who is also a popular hunter rider, divided her time yesterday between the Grand Prix Arena and the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring aboard her Pre-Green hunter partners.
"Juggling both hunters and jumpers is difficult--it used to be much easier when I was a junior, and now I have to work much harder to be in key with both disciplines," she said.
"I love the jumpers and how honest they make you ride, particularly the way they make you study your body control," she added. "But it really is difficult to adapt the soft ride and then switch to the balanced ride, as balance is the most crucial ingredient to the jumpers."
Pfeiffer will celebrate her 20th birthday next week while competing at the final week of competition at Horse Shows by the Bay. She'll celebrate in the same fashion she and her family have done for years--they'll go to the top of the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa and have a Howard family and friends dinner while looking down over both bays and the Flintfields Horse Park.
Pfeiffer will also be winding down her full-time riding obligations for the time being, as she enters her sophomore year at Michigan State University in East Lansing this fall.
"It's going to be a transition to go from full-time riding and working in a family business to full-time academics," said Pfeiffer. "But it's a change I'm looking forward to, as I want to engage in a traditional collegiate experience while pursuing a degree in international business."
In hunter action in the R.L. Polk Family Hunter Ring on Wednesday, Katie Lambert-Boone led the way in the First Year Green Hunter division, sponsored by Equisport Insurance Agency. Lambert-Boone was one-two in the first over fences class, and her mounts also claimed the top two spots in the under saddle. Lambert-Boone's Shade won the two classes, while Mimi Herbert's Celebrate took a pair of seconds.
The only rider to bump Lambert-Boone out of blue was Brady Mitchell, winning the second over fences class in the First Year Green section on Deeridge Farms' Lordanos.
Following the trend, Alliy Moyer's Libretto and Tamara Provost also scored an over fences and an under saddle victory, this time in the Second Year Green Hunters, sponsored by HORSE GYM USA. Erin Galsterer's Lockhart, ridden by Ehrin Rittmueller, won the other over fences class and added second- and third-placed ribbons in the other two classes to remain in the hunt for a tricolor ribbon.
Featured events this week during Series III include:
• $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, Friday, July 20th in the afternoon in the Grand Prix Arena. More than 45 entries are scheduled to compete. A Derby Dinner and Exhibitor's Party, co-sponsored by Wrenwood Farm and Outback Steak House, will accompany the evening's festivities in the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney VIP Sponsor Tent.
• Grand Traverse Pie Company Family Day to benefit the Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center will take place Saturday, July 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities for kids and the entire family include: face painting, pony rides on Roxi The Wonder Mini Pony, Blue Ribbon Clear Round Kiddie Jump Contest, Live Remote with Sunny Country 101.9 FM, and a variety of demonstrations and activity stations.
• Additionally, Olympic Show Jumper Lisa Jacquin has been selected to judge the ever-popular coloring contest, which will be awarded during the $7,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, slated for Saturday, July 21.
Full results can be found by visiting www.horseshowing.com. For more information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Series, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.