Chapter 27With a large group of riders wearing similar outfits, he trekked out across the arena, going from jump to jump. He studied the distance between each jump, noting where he could cut a stride, where he might have to add a stride. Many of the jumps were the type he’d jumped throughout his career; standard oxers and verticals, the style of jumps that frequented most show jumping competitions. Halfway through the course was a double combination starting with a vertical followed by an oxer. He walked past the few jumpers discussing the best way to get over it. He strolled past the wall jump without giving it a second glance. Hawthorne never balked at going over the wall, even if he couldn’t see what lay on the other side. The only thing on the course that bothered him was the triple co
