The cross-country course for Blenheim Horse Trials’ CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses focuses on testing and educating young equine stars on the rise, compared to the CCI4*-L, which is run over a longer course and is more a test of stamina.
The format is also slightly different. The short format four-star has showjumping on Saturday, while the long format horses tackle the cross-country course. The roles then reverse on Sunday, where the CCI4*-S horses finish their Blenheim campaign with cross-country, and the CCI4*-L competitors come out to showjump on the final day.
The CCI4*-S cross-country phase is held on Sunday (19 September), starting at 11am. It covers a distance of 3860m with an optimum time of 6 minutes 46 seconds, and features 20 questions, made up of approximately 34 jumping efforts. The exact number depends on the routes riders choose to take, as there are options at some fences.
The 2021 running of the event marks David Evans’ fifth year as course designer of the CCI4*-S young horse class at Blenheim Horse Trials. He took over the design of the course for the 2016 event, adding the long-format to his roster in 2017, and has been involved with the event for more than two decades.
Take a look at the map of the cross-country course at the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses
Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-S: cross-country course photos
Fence 1: Voltaire Design flower tray
Fence 2: Cotswold Forage picnic table
Fence 3: open oxer
Fence 4: Stick Pile
Fence 5ABC: Snow Centre log roll to corner
Fence 6: Indiba roll top
Fence 7AB: Ford log to double brush, plus part B alternative
Fence 8: Ford angle brush
Fence 9: Brush oxer
Fence 10ABC: Stick pile combination fence
Fence 11: Bridge open oxer
Fence 12ABCD: Log roll to double brush and corner combination
Fence 13: Jockey Club table
Fence 14ABC: Rail, ditch and birds nest
Fence 15: British Horse Society log
Fence 16: Target Feeds flower spread
Fence 17ABC: Horse Rail picnic table to arrowhead
Fence 18: Brush ditch
Fence 19ABC: Cub Cadet double of houses
Fence 20: Pol Roger brush flower tray
Finish
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