#k3de

Saturday is cross country day. I was planning on going to the fourth question on the course, a very difficult coffin with a loop around to a tracainer. The course was designed to eliminate teams who we're not ready to be at this level early on in the course to save the footing for the other riders.

Volume up to hear about Harry Mead's amazing recovery in the first water complex

Saturday morning rolls around and all my plans go out the window. We ended up at question 21. This question consists of an upbank, a steep downhill 4 strides immediately after, to a very large oxer, and then 4 strides to a corner.

It was meant to be! Turns out all of Boyd Martin's grooms and family were stationed at this jump. I got a Go Bali (my personal favorite of Boyd's horses) poster from one of the girls, and was able to chat with some of them who remember me training with him years ago.

We ended up sitting here for 5 hours just watching the horses go by. Hek made friends with the jump judge very quickly. She and I talked the entire time about everything from how much we dont like the show jumping mentality to what it's like working with OTTBs.

Will Coleman & Diabolo 4.26.2026 (more photos under the cut)