Friday evening’s FOBI Six Bar competition topped out at a substantial 1.70m height. But not because the horses couldn’t jump higher. That’s where the standards stopped.

Twelve pairs, featuring both professional and amateur riders, contested the high jumping competition in the Thunderbird Arena. The fences started at 1.0m and went up by 0.1m with every round. By the sixth rotation, seven pairs were still in the hunt after clearing 1.60m. Three cleared the maximum height of 1.70m to share the win. Among them: 45-year-old amateur rider Laura Hazlett (USA) on her recently purchased mare Argentina.

“I just got her from England back in March,” said a thrilled Hazlett. “We’re a pair getting to know each other, and [the six bar] just seemed like a good experience. I didn’t dream we’d be jumping a 1.70m! I’m super proud of her. And big thank you to Thunderbird and to FOBI for sponsoring the class. It’s really fun to do these classes.”

Professional riders Katie Laurie (AUS) on Cogito and Carla Diewert (CAN) on WH Corona also cleared the maximum height for a three way tie.