Upperville Grand Prix Analysis by JumpClear

The CSI 4* Grand Prix at Upperville Horse Show was designed by Marina Azevedo and featured a 16 obstacle track.  5 of the 21 entries jumped clear (24%).

We saw a total of 29 faults in Round 1 (1.38 faults per entry).  

The single most faulted jump came at 11, the Liverpool Vertical on a related distance (21% of faults).  

Jump 8B, the Oxer Combination-Mid element of the Vertical-Oxer-Vertical combination was the second most faulted (17% of faults). Interestingly, neither the In nor Out element of the Triple were ever faulted! 

The only other jump on course not to be faulted was the Triple Bar single at jump 3.

In total, Combinations accounted for 28% of faults which is 10pp below average for a High Performance class.  If we count both Liverpools on course (jump 6 was a Single Liverpool Oxer), Liverpools accounted for 28% of Faults which is more than double average!  

The class was won by Schuyler Riley on Robin De Ponthual!

Devon Horse Show Grand Prix Analysis by JumpClear

The Devon Horse Show's feature event is the Thursday night $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI 4*.  This year's class was designed by Olaf Petersen and featured a 16 obstacle track, contested by 30 horse and rider combinations.   

We saw a total of 24 faults in Round 1 (1.20 faults per entry).  7 entries (23%) of the class jumped clear.   

The final line of the course - repeatedly referred to as "heartbreak alley" on the live commentary - accounted for 46% of Round 1 faults! The single most faulted jump came at 12A, the vertical Combination-In element of the Vertical-Oxer Double set off the short turn (21% of faults).  Jumps 12B and 13 (a Liverpool Oxer set as the last jump off a related technicality) each accounted for 13% of faults.

The jump immediately preceding this line - a Liverpool Vertical set towards the ingate - also accounted for 13% of faults. 

5 jumps on course were never faulted.

In total, Combinations accounted for 50% of faults which is significantly above average for a High Performance class but this was driven by the final double, noted above; the triple combination at 5ABC drove just 17% of faults.

The class was won by Mclain Ward on Contagious for his 12th win in this grand prix!

Analysis of the Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix at Thunderbird - May 2022

 

The Major League Show Jumping Series kicked off for 2022 at Thunderbird Park with a 5* Grand Prix designed by Peter Grant.   

We saw a total of 36 faults (meaning a rail or refusal) in Round 1.  10 entries (33%) of the class jumped clear.   

The most faulted obstacle was a Plank (17% of faults in Round 1).  The Plank was set off a related distance following a Wall and constructed from a thin black panel.  

Three Jumps were equal for the next most faulted: the Oxer A element of the triple combination (Oxer-Oxer-Vertical); the related Liverpool Oxer; and the Oxer B element of the double combination (Vertical-Oxer).  Each was responsible for 11% of faults.  

Only two jumps on course were never faulted: Jump 4, a related Other vertical and the Last Jump Vertical.

In total, Combinations accounted for 39% of faults which is about average for a High Performance class.

The class was won by Jordan Coyle on Ariso  

Old Salem Farm Spring Grand Prix Week 2

The Grand Prix during the second week of the Old Salem Farm Spring series, like Week 1, was designed by Alan Wade and held during the day on the new sand international arena at the OSF Venue. It was a CSI4* versus the CSI3* held Week 1. We'll provide some analysis of this week's class and some overall thoughts comparing the two weeks.  

We saw a total of 45 faults (meaning a rail or refusal) in Round 1.  There were 31 competitors so each entry averaged 1.42 faults.  13% of the class jumped Clear in Round 1.   

Interestingly, while the average faults per entry is similar to last week where the 33 competitors averaged 1.42 faults, the percent clear last week was twice as high (27%).  (Simply, many more horses had just a single rail this week.)  A likely factor: the time allowed played a significantly greater role this week; more than half the class incurred at least one time fault (just 3 entries did last week).      

The most faulted obstacle Week 2 was a Combination-Out Oxer, (Vertical-Oxer combination).  This jump was responsible for 18% of faults in Round 1.  

The next most faulted jumps were the A element of the same combination (16%) and the related liverpool vertical immediately following this combination (13%).  

In total, the Double Combination at 10AB was responsible for a third of Round 1 Faults.  In comparison, the Triple Combination caused relatively little trouble - accounting for just 11% of faults.

If we compare both Grand Prixs, both classes utilized a Triple Combination and one Double and Combinations were clearly a key driver of faults!  A combination element was the most faulted jump both weeks.  All combination elements combined accounted for 57% of Faults Week 1 and 44% Week 2.   (Both are significantly higher than the average for Combination Faults in a High Performance Class which we are seeing around 37%.)

The class was won by Mclain Ward on HH Azur.  

Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Analysis (Spring 1. May 15, 2022)

 

The Grand Prix during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring series was a CSI3*, designed by Alan Wade.  It was held during the day on the new sand international arena at the OSF Venue. 

We saw a total of 47 faults in Round 1.  The most faulted obstacle was a Combination-Mid Oxer, (Vertical-Oxer-Vertical combination).  This jump was responsible for 17% of faults in Round 1.  

The next most faulted jumps were the A element of the same combination and a single other oxer (the jungle themed oxer with green rails immediately preceding this combination).  Each respectively caused 13% of faults.

In total, the Triple Combination was responsible for 38% of Round 1 Faults; moreover, if we also include faults from the Double Combination at 10AB, Total Combination Faults = 57% of Round 1 faults!  (This is significantly higher than the average for Combination Faults in a High Performance Class which we are seeing around 37%.)

All jumps except 2, an Other Related Oxer, were faulted at least once. 7 other jumps were each faulted only once.  All in, of the 16 course elements, half were responsible for 85% of the faults in Round 1!

The class was won by Jordan Coyle on Centriko Volo.  

WEF 2022 Grand Prix Analysis

 

Each week of WEF, JumpClear analyzed the Grand Prix to provide stats on the most faulted course element.  We also tracked overall faults across the 13 weeks.  Here's what we learned!

There were 551 First Rounds throughout the Season (data includes the highest level grand prix each week).  119 (22%) were clear.  The highest clear round average came in Week 6, a 3* where Catalina Cruz was the course designer.

There were 772 unique Round 1 Faults.  

• The most frequently faulted course elements were an Other Oxer (13%) and Other Vertical (10%)
• The least faulted were a wall, a triple bar, the first jump (all jump types) and a Last Jump Vertical.  All were 1% or less of total faults.  (Interestingly, last jump oxer was much more heavily faulted (7%)
• Combinations made up 37% of faults in total: the most faulted combination element was a Combination-in Vertical
• The most faulted Combination Type by a significant margin was an Oxer-Vertical (27%).  Vertical-Oxer (18%) and Vertical-Oxer-Vertical (15%) followed.  

WEF Grand Prix Analysis (Fault Source)

 

We've studied all WEF Grand Prix classes from 2020 and 2021.  Here's what we learned about the most typical faults across all classes and by course designer!

Across all classes and CDs, the most faulted jump based on a combination of JUMP TYPE and JUMP DETAIL metrics was an Other Oxer (15%) followed by an Other Vertical (11%) ("other" means there was no special detail associated with it).  In total, combinations represented 40% of all faults, with the most by a small margin delivered by a Vertical Combination-In.

Faults by Jump Detail by Course Designer

When we look by Course Designer, differences start to emerge in the CD's respective use of combinations, how significant the last jump is, whether special jumps like the wall or water were used and so forth.  

WEF Grand Prix Analysis (Percent Clear)

 

Heading into the 2022 Grand Prix season, we though it would be interesting to share some analysis of prior WEF circuits.  We've studied all Grand Prix classes from 2020 and 2021 - that's nearly 2000 rounds, 350 unique riders and 730 unique horses!

Here's what we learned!

All classes combined resulted in a 28% Clear Round Average.  Riders were twice as likely to jump clear in the jumpoff than in Round 1.  These statistics were consistent between 2020 and 2021.

  Interestingly, if we consider Clear Rounds by Level, the lowest percent clear occur in 5* and National classes.  2* classes saw the highest percent Clear Rounds.  

  Night classes saw significantly fewer clear rounds than classes during the day.

  Classes held on grass had the most clear rounds.  However, we need to consider that these classes were also all 100% held during the DAY; NIGHT classes brought down the clear down average in classes held in Large Sand (the International Arena).

Clear Rounds by Course Designer

If we look at the fault distribution by Course Designer, Anderson Lima, Alan Wade and Eric Hasbrouck had the most clear rounds; the lowest were in classes designed by Nick Granat, Mauricio Garcia and Andy Christiansen.  

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup CSI4*-W

 

Jump 6, an Other Related Oxer was the most faulted obstacle (17% of faults) in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at the Fort Worth International Horse Show.  While most of these faults were due to a Back Rail, Hind Leg, faults were caused by all combinations of RAIL and LEG.

The next most faulted jump was the Plank Vertical (12%).  Jump 11 (another Other Oxer), the Combination-Out Oxer at 4C, and the First Jump Oxer each delivered 10% of faults.  

32% of the class jumped clear in Round 1.  20% of the class was eliminated or chose to retire.