Recently in World Equestrian Games Category

I learned a lot at the World Equestrain Games. First and foremost, I learned that there are quiet a few horses that I would give everything in my checking account ($71.62) to own or even to have the chance to sit on one time. Also, I was reminded that the partnerships between all the horses and their riders is something that has developed over years, and it is that partnership that brings these combinations to such a big moments in their careers. Along with all the highs and great emotions from the WEG, I was reminded that horses are humbling and one thrown shoe on cross country can close the door on an almost tangible dream. But that is horses. We love them and what they do for us through every high and every low.

Now that the World Games has left us and winter is falling upon us, its time to get inspired! The WEG left me feeling so inspired, as I hope it did you too! No matter what your goals are for next year, winter is a great time for practice and plotting for the spring (or bareback trail riding in the snow). So, what does your winter, WEG insprired, list look like?

All good things must come to an end. So here it is, your final medal count for the 2010 World Equestrian Games....

Great Britain- 9 Gold, 7 Silver, 3 Bronze, Total 19
Germany- 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze, Total 14
Netherlands- 5 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronz,e Total 9
America- 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, Total 8
Belgium- 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze, Total 4
UAE- 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze, Total 3
Australia- 1 Gold, 2 Bronze, Total 3
Switzerland- 1 Gold, Total 1
Spain- 1 Gold, Total 1
Denmark- 3 Silver, 3 Bronze, Total 6
France- 2 Silver, 1 Bronze, Total 3
Canada- 1 Silver, 2 Bronze, Total 3
Saudi Arabia- 1 Silver, Total 1
New Zealand- 1 Bronze, Total 2
Italy- 1 Bronze, Total 1
Norway-1 Bronze, Total 1
Finland- 1 Bronze, Total 1
Austria- 1 Bronze, Total 1

Riddle Master  9

Gin & Juice  10 

Exponential  12

Colombo  16

Port Authority  12

Madison Park  12

Kim and Paddy: Withdrew before first horse inspection

Buck and Reggie: Stop on the cross-country

Becky and Comet: Withdrew from final vet inspection

Karen and Mandiba: Stop in the show jumping

Phillip and Woodburn: 18th

Boyd and Neville: 10th

Well I have returned home from the World Games in Kentucky and man did I have a fantastic time! It is incredible to see so many of the world's top riders all in one place. While at the WEG, I learned a lot. The Europeans (and Canadians) will always be ahead of the USA in the fashion department. Sorry John, cowboy hats just are not the answer (I know you really liked them). The WEG is also probably the only horse show in the world where your pets are not allowed so unfortunately I had to leave my squirrel at home. Oh yeah, I also may have learned a thing or two about riding.

The niftiest thing about the World Equestrian Games is the diversity among the different equestrian sports. Of course, we all are reaching saturation point on Eventing results and are aware of how Endurance went, same for Dressage and Reining. However, yesterday saw the beginning of Para-Dressage.

Traditionally, just as in Eventing, Great Britain is a very strong country and looks to be no different this time around. Sophie Wells, 20, of Nottinghamshire, England took individual gold in the grade IV individual test scoring a 71.677% giving her a large lead over the Netherlands' Frank Hosmar, and Denmark's Henrik Weber Sibbesen.

In the grade III Hannelore Brenner and Women of the World took the gold. After the last team scoring, USA was unofficially in 8th with Laura Goldman on Carlingford JD as the highest placed America. For more team and individual results check out the Alltech FEI WEG site.

One of the most spectacular sports at the WEG is the vaulting which got underway today.

What country do you think will win the most medals at the World Games? As of now, confirmed country medals (all disciplines) are as follows...

USA- 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
GBR- 1 Gold, 2 Silver
UAE- 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
CAN- 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
GER- 1 Gold, 1 Bronze
NZL- 2 Bronze
NED- 1 Gold
ESP- 1 Gold
BEL- 1 Silver
FRA- 1 Silver
ITL- 1 Bronze

We have had wall to wall eventing coverage for the last five days so John asked me to change things up in this post for variety's sake.  Friday night, I was lucky enough to talk my husband into (another) trip to WEG, in hopes of watching the best dressage horses in the world (for the third time).  We were supposed to have free tickets, but that deal fell through.  The event was completely sold out, and attempts to find tickets online resulted in prices well beyond our budget.  We resigned ourselves to watching it on the big screens outside the arena.  Luckily, we happened upon a nice lady outside the arena willing to part with a pair of tickets for $100 total.  SCORE!  We were in!

 

The seats were fairly good, in the main grandstand about five rows up in the upper tier, about even with letter F.  Hubby knows next to nothing about dressage (but learning quickly), and we settled in to enjoy the first few rides.  During the first break, a large group of people shuffled past us to their seats, dressed quite fancy and clearly European.  I caught a glipse of one of their badges as they squeezed past us...it said "HORSE OWNER" at the bottom.  The country code was "DEN."  I couldn't believe it...were we actually sitting next to the owners of The Horse?  I scanned the competitor list...there was one other Dutch horse performing.  I nudged my husband and mentioned "I think we're sitting next to celebrities." 

Not one to be shy, he turned and asked the gentleman to his left, "Do you own one of the horses here?"  The man smiled and nodded.  "Which one?"  (I held my breath!) "Totilas," he said.  We both broke out into huge grins and blabbered how much we loved that horse.  "We think he's pretty special, but of course, we're the owners," the man said.  He was extremely nice, happy to talk about his horse, and giving huge credit to Edward for his patience and riding style.  It was such an honor to sit with dressage's "royal family," and learn a few traits of the hottest dressage horse in the world. 

After a while, Mr. Totilas (as I now call him) excused himself to go watch his horse warm up.  Hubby and I enjoyed the rest of the horses-- especially Fuego, who was seriously rocking the Spanish dancing.  Then came Totilas... it wasn't his best performance, but that horse at only 80% his best can beat anyone else in the world.  Mr. Totilas returned to his seat, pleased with the score (91%!!), and talked us through the final rider of the evening, another lovely Dutch pair.  He complimented her riding-- the mare is difficult, he said-- and told us her music (which was BEAUTIFUL!) was especially written and performed by a famous Dutch pianist for her kur.  It showed!   

Hubby and I hadn't planned to stay for the medal ceremony-- but when you're sitting next to the gold-medal winning horse's owners, how can you leave early?!  Mr. Totilas grinned when we laughed at the gold bell boots-- "We thought it was a good joke," he said-- and the smile on his face watching the victory lap was priceless. 

 

 

Totilas entering the arena... I wish the gold bell boots showed up better!

 

Mr. Totilas

Other highlights from the night:

--The Spanish horse, Fuego, got robbed.  Yes, he had some technical mishaps (his pirouettes were a little big), but he stole the audience from the start.  The music was absolutely perfect, and the showmanship (one-tempis one-handed!) had the crowd on their feet.  Truly a performance to remember for a lifetime.  The 81% score was LOUDLY boo'ed by the entire crowd... I half expected a "B-S" chant to begin.  Link to video.

 

-Another score that seemed a little low was the final Dutch rider.  Her ride was (to my eye) quite smooth, with few flaws.  It perhaps wasn't as challenging as some, but there were no obvious mistakes.  The artistic portion of it was spectacular-- not as much as Fuego, but I'd say second-best of the evening.

 

-I thought the top 3's scores were a bit inflated.  Not that I'm complaining, those WERE the best three horses all week.  But I don't think any of them gave the performance of their lives.  Totilas video. 

 

-Best non-dressage moment of the night: Mr. Totilas gettin' down dancing to "Cotton Eyed Joe."  Picture an immaculately-dressed man in suit and orange (Dutch) tie, wearing a $50,000 Rolex watch, boogie-ing to redneck remix.  I nearly fell out of my chair. 

Bobby is at home taking a walk with Apple and Squire.  Squire is the beagle behind him and Apple is the lab leading him.  Apple Hill Farm wrote to us and said: "Apple and Bobby are terrific friends, she doesn't understand that Bobby is missing the WEG, she's just thrilled to have him back home, as we all are."

1) Great Britain added nothing to their score to decisively win WEG gold.

2) Mandiba had a stop at show jumping fence #7, a black hanging gate, and added 12 points to team USA's score.  Canada and New Zealand added one rail to their scores to move ahead of the US for 2nd and 3rd respectively.

3) Michael Jung jumped a comfortable double-clear to win WEG individual gold.

Today was a fantastic day for Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany, but this is going to be a hard day to remember for team USA.  We will have much more soon.  Until then, depending on which of those countries you are from, feel free to use the comment section to vent your incredible joy, dejection, euphoria, sadness, anger, or indifference, or all of those.