The 2014 World Equestrian Games (WEG) cross-country course was unquestionably challenging—not only for the spectators who had to sit through five hours of traffic jams just to get to the muddy site, but also for the riders and especially the horses navigating a difficult course on weather-victimized terrain.

All in all, of 91 starting horses, only 63 completed the test. There were 68 refusals, 10 rider falls, four horse falls (not including big stumbles), 11 withdrawals, and 13 eliminations. While each jump presented its unique challenges, a few were major “hurdles” for these eventing couples. Fence 5, “La Cour Colbert,” caused 12 refusals, but no falls or eliminations. Number 9, the “Déversoir Nointel,” resulted in 10 refusals and one retirement. There were six refusals at Obstacle 16, “Le Ratelier de Gazobiel,” and three eliminations at the very end, Fence 35, “Le Parc aux Daims.” Jump 13, the "Burghley," had only one victim, the French couple Denis Mesples and his horse Oregon de la Vigne.

Still, no obstacle could beat those pesky fish at Fences 30 and 31 in the Rolex Lake. This series of obstacles caused so much trouble, it could have been named the "Rock 'n’ Rolex" jump. Or, for some, the "Stop, Drop, and Roll-ex."

Whatever you want to call it, the Rolex Lake proved to be the demise for nine horse-and-rider teams who either retired or were eliminated. There were five rider falls and three “official” horse falls. (And if you caught eventing legend Mark Todd's crash in photos or video, you might be surprised that this didn’t count as a horse fall.) And there were 17—yes, 17—refusals. The looks on the horses’ faces were something akin to: “Are you insane? I’m not jumping that.” And the looks on the riders? “Oh. My. Stars. Not the fish