Claire Parker, 16, and her horse, Good Friday, had just finished leaping over 13 hurdles in the show-jumping competition at the Goose Downs Farm equestrian event in Galisteo on Sunday.

"I had him in a bad spot at (the eighth hurdle), but he got me out of it," Parker said.

The Santa Fe teenager was among about 100 entrants in the U.S. Eventing Association-sanctioned event being held through today at the Downs. Riders — many of them, including Parker, with Olympic aspirations — came from throughout the Southwest, from states such as New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.

Amanda Vines, 36 of El Paso, professed no Olympic aspirations — although she just missed being selected for the 2004 Canadian national team — as she sat astride her 18-year-old gelding, Irish Elvis, calmly waiting for her number to be called for the show-jumping event.

She said the events are more about the horses than the riders. "If I wasn't here, (Elvis) could still do anything."

Parker agreed. "Most of my work is done before the event," she said. During the jumps, "my job is to make sure I get him on the right stride and the right pace so he can do his job."

Shelda and Bob Hunter of Albuquerque had come to watch their granddaughter, 15-year-old Brin of Denver, compete.

Shelda was more than a bit nervous. At a previous event, Brin had fallen off her horse and struck a hurdle rail, suffering a mild concussion. Practicing, she had once broken an arm.

"This can be a dangerous sport," Shelda said.

Whitney Eggers of Emmett, Idaho, the "technical delegate" from the national equestrian association, said judging in Goose Downs' three events — dressage, show jumping and today's cross country hurdles — is "purely objective. There is nothing subjective about it."

Riders and their horses are judged on such issues as the number of rails knocked down, the horse's willingness to clear the hurdles and whether the rider can stay on the horse.

Eggers, who attends equestrian events throughout the West, praised the Downs event as among the best, noting the varied cross country terrain and the many levels of competition, from beginning amateurs to pre-Olympic qualifiers.

The Downs event is a run by a tax-exempt organization to benefit the development of amateur athletics and The Horse Shelter. The major sponsor is the Parker Financial Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.

Goose Downs Farm is off N.M. 41 across from mile marker 58, and today's events begin at 8 a.m. Those who attend are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, sunscreen and blankets as well as plenty of water, although several vendors do make bottled water available.

On the web

u For more information on the equestrian event and a schedule of competitions, visit www.goosedowns.com