Weekly Watering Hole, Presented by Horse Quencher: 2014 Rolex Head of the Lake

Watch four of the best cross-country riders in the world tackle one of Rolex’s most popular (and fearsome) obstacles.

The interesting thing about watching these videos, I think, is the way each of these veteran four-star riders coaxes the very best out of the horses they are riding. While the jumps themselves aren’t always foot-perfect (OK, Andrew Nicholson’s were pretty darn close), the riders’ just-get-the-job-done instincts are impressive: William Fox-Pitt gets in “the back seat” to push his horse through the second half of the question, Buck Davidson (a HQ sponsored rider!) kicks like heck to get the correct number of strides in, and Kim Severson keeps her cool when Fernhill Fearless nearly hangs a leg at the first drop. Cross-country isn’t about perfection: It’s about instinct and split-second decision making, and that’s what sets these riders — three of whom are past Rolex winners — apart.

Video by Rebecca Stuurwold.

Presented by:

Horse Quencher is a mix of grains and flavorings that, when added to water, make horses eagerly drink. You’ll find Horse Quencher especially helpful for travel, competitions, cold weather and illnesses, and also great to pair with electrolytes to aid in recovery after exercise. And, since it’s made of all-natural ingredients found in most horse feeds, you can be sure Horse Quencher is safe for competition.

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