Removal of Flowers Leads to Big Winnings

Posted on March 26, 2009 with No Comments

Course designer Olaf Petersen Jr Will be getting lots of flowers from Peter Charles, who won $75,000 at the CSI Grand Prix, of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

His winnings came after something as simple as the removal of some flower boxes. Charles, after having looked at the course the day before the event, asked the course designer to remove just a few flower boxes from the course, so the riders could make a tighter turn for the jump-off. Charles was quite surprised when Petersen complied. With the flower boxes gone Charles had the fastest time as he made good use of this inside turn.

“With the flowers there in the opening round the turn was impossible. It was still a risky, chancy turn with the flowers gone. That for me was a big advantage. I like to turn tight and save time instead of galloping too much. I gained a lot.”

Charles was, of course, thankful to his horse, “I am glad for the horse. He’s jumping like a million dollars, just pinging off the floor. He jumped superb.”

[Via: SunSentinel.com]