Easy Boy: heartbreak at the 1995 Shell Cup Derby!

Laura Balisky and the incomparable Easy Boy compete in the extremely difficult Shell Cup Derby at Spruce Meadows.

Less than 20 clear rounds had ever been accomplished in all of the Derby's years of existence (circa 1995). The primary reason for this is the famous "Devil's Dyke": an enclosed sloping triple-combination + liverpool, that few riders prior have ever made it through without racking up at least 4 faults. And if that isn't bad enough, the treacherous Red Planks (2:36 into the clip) at jump #16 will come down with the ~slightest~ touch, and usually claimed anyone brazen enough to survive the Devil's Dyke!

Laura and Easy Boy successfully navigate this grueling course, until... well, watch and see ;)

For more of Easy Boy and Laura, check out their spectacular clear round in what was the world's richest and most difficult grand prix of them all, the du Maurier Limited International:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iNpmz-qdsg


As always, don't forget to check out the crazily-cute baby of the barn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIcs9k1E0RY

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Easy
• Boy
• Laura
• Balisky
• Dutch
• Warmblood
• horse
• showjumping
• Shell
• Cup
• Derby
• Grand
• Prix
• Equestrian
• Calgary
• Spruce
• Meadows

[equistera]

if you have that much damage to your body you should take a break....although i give her credit

[ImmortalSynn]

@equistera

...but that's predicated on the assumption that one could AFFORD to take such a break though.

When riding horses pays your bills--- if you're not riding, guess what else isn't happening?

[Fall0utAtTheDisco]

freeze it at 1:07

so pretty(:

i love the ride up to the first jump, they looked so calm and gracefull

[ImmortalSynn]

@Fall0utAtTheDisco

Wow, nice observation... he's got hunter-knees in that snapshot! ;)

[xxallibooxx]

wow

that was amaing.

&

that was true team work!

[BarnBum93]

well im glad that despite the rail they were still first lol...what a round! =]]

[equistera]

@ImmortalSynn very true

[LilyMyPony]

@ImmortalSynn Ok - thats a few more than i saw, but its not too much - it was necessary

[ImmortalSynn]

@LilyMyPony

She used it once at the Dry Ditch, twice at the Devil's Dyke "A" portion, once at the "B" portion, and three times at the Open Water.

[LilyMyPony]

@Agilitypoodle385 I only saw her use the whip two, maybe 3 times. Only at the end, when he was dieing out a little bit, and needed a reminder. I hate using the whip or over using it, but she made it this far, she wasnt gonna lose cuz her horse was sluggish that day. She did the right things

[H0useMouse]

"Easy Boy did his part too and helped her." Wow you're kidding me? These horses do 80% of the work. It's us helping them, for pity's sake O_o

[ImmortalSynn]

...well, considering that they were sufficient to bring her to the Olympics, as well as win the North American championship, multiple FEI-level Grands Prix, and triple clear rounds in the world's richest grand prix of that era-- I'd say, probably so.

[Agilitypoodle385]

WAYYY too much use of whip.. do her legs work or not