Next to go, the senior Deslauriers executed a masterful pivot turn with Bardolina from the third fence in front of the VIP tents, to cross in front of the open water, then across the field to the Hermès oxer at fence four. They were slightly off Ryan’s time, but they kept the jumps up to finish on a clean score in 42.82 seconds.
Last to go, Deslauriers’s 20-year-old daughter also took the inside turn with long-time partner Hester, and with his effortless galloping stride they easily had the best time, finishing in 39.60. However, in a heartbreaking turn, they pulled the top rail on the final fence, to finish second on a score of four faults.
“I got a little excited,” admitted Deslauriers as she recounted her jump-off round. “If I had it to do over again, I would have pulled a little harder to the last fence.”