Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Anky van Grunsven blogs about a new WEG experience: Reining

2010-10-08T22:23:00.003-04:00

I really enjoyed beying here at the WEG. Some time ago I decided to withdraw IPS Painted Black for the Dutch dressage team and to focus on reining. One of the Dutch reining horses got lame and I got a spot on the team. I seriously considered going to the WEG, but I am so glad that I went! It was the right decision and Whizashiningwalla BB and I did our best test so far here at the WEG. We scored 71,5, which was a new personal best and I am very proud of Whiz. I did not make it to the second qualifier round, which made me a bit sad. I had hoped to make it to the best 35, but with a 39th place we just missed that. Despite that, I am proud!

I would like to thank my sponsor Cavalor, who made sure that their American supplier brought horsefood to Kentucky for Whiz. I stayed to watch the dressage competition as well. I train two Italian dressage riders and I also help the Dutch eventing rider Tim Lips with his dressage. So still there was enough to do even after I was finished competing!

We have been at the showground a lot and the weather was nice and warm. At the moment it’s a bit colder. The past days we went swimming with the children. Later this week I will definately go shopping and buy myself a new cowboy hat!

Seven-time USEF Four-in-Hand Driving Champion, Chester Weber (USA), on his final preparations for the 2010 Games

2010-09-26T10:27:00.003-04:00

Chester Weber and the Road to WEG 2010

It was a busy month but June proved to be quite rewarding for my team in training. We successfully captured first place at the Garden State Driving Event in Allentown, New Jersey and finished the competition over 34 penalties below the rest of the teams. I have the opportunity to work with my horses and play with their strengths and weaknesses.

During the last weekend in June I competed at the Bromont International Driving Competition in Quebec, Canada. I am very pleased with my win and really proud of my less experienced team of horses. The marathon course was quite challenging but the horses were up to the test. My young horse Reno really stood out and is proving to be very consistent.

My next competition was the Iron Horse CDE in Illinois, July 30 to August 1st. I teamed up with my sponsors Charles Owen and SUCCEED to auction off a helmet for a spin on their national “Helmets 4 Riders” campaign called “Helmets 4 Drivers”. I want to congratulate Mary Sheerin, the winner of the Charles Owen helmet certificate. Proceeds from the silent auction were donated to Habitat for Humanity.

My team and I are on the last stretch towards WEG. We are traveling north to Cedar Lane Farm in Oldwick, New Jersey where James Fairclough, Tucker Johnson, Josh Rector, David Sanders and I will be participating in a USEF hosted outing for the four-in-hand driving competitors. We will be in New Jersey September 1-3 and will be training with our coaches Peter Tischer and Michael Freund.

In this phase every detail of our training and performance is under close scrutiny and we feel the team is on course to peak at the Games. It is very exciting and we are also mentally focused to put forth our best. So as they say...let the games begin!!

Canadian Reiner Lisa Coulter on her journey to the 2010 Games and those who have supported her along the way

2010-09-23T12:41:00.004-04:00

Well we are literally just a few short days from WEG and a lot of emotions are stirring. WEG will be THE biggest accomplishment in my career. It also fulfills a lifelong dream of representing my country with the most elite equine athletes in the world. But this growing sense of accomplishment and pride lends itself to another realization. I see clearly that none of this would mean much without the loud cheers, tears, hugs, support, criticism and love from those who have mentored, believed in and raised me.

This spring two of the most important people in my life were diagnosed with cancer. It came as a shock and sent us all in a tail spin. Bob Thompson has been my backbone for many years. I have trained horses for Bob for a long time. He mentors me in business and most importantly he is my very best friend. He believed in me when I was still breaking colts and his support has never waivered. I owe so much to Bob’s dedication and ultimate belief in my ability. Bob is battling hard and will be victorious. He has taught me how to win in life and I dedicate my WEG rides to our victory. Bob told me I would be competing at WEG one day and he felt that long before I did.

My dad, Marv Carlson, was diagnosed the same time as Bob. Words will never express the adoration and love I have for my father. My dad is the reason I am fulfilling my dream of riding at WEG. He taught me determination, hard work, tenacity and absolute and ultimate belief in myself and my dreams. The spirit he instilled in me is the reason he too will be victorious in his battle. I also dedicate my rides at WEG to my dad and thank him with all my heart for always being by my side and giving his whole life to his family, especially my daughter Clancy.

No matter what happens at WEG my family and friends are already embracing the journey we have been on to get here and cherishing the seemingly simple fact that we are all here. I owe my life to these two men and a couple rides are a small, small gift. However, my hope is that they see the gleam in my eye and feel the spirit in my smile and know they are responsible.

I was going to talk about preparations and final steps to WEG which are so very important at this time but they seemed a bit trivial to what really is going on in my life. I wanted to take this opportunity to embrace all those who have loved and believed in me. They took a very small town girl and put her in Lexington, Kentucky at the World Equestrian Games! Victory is already ours and the rest will be history!

Lauren Barwick (CAN) Para Equestrian Athlete and 4 star Parelli Instructor

2010-09-20T17:53:00.004-04:00

I have been looking forward to the 2010 WEG especially since it is being held here in the USA. Since I started competing internationally in 2002, I have traveled mostly to Europe to compete against the top riders, but this time it will be a hop, skip and a jump over to Lexington. My England 2012 horse is not as of yet emotionally ready for a competition of this size so I have been trying to keep my gold and silver medal Beijing 2008 horse in training for Worlds. Maile has age and physical limitations against her, however her accuracy, with her heart and desire will help her through WEG with great results. Maile has had a fantastic 2010 show season with her highest results most recently in Canada at a 3 star International show scoring 78% in her freestyle, and overall grade 2 championship.

Her training involves mostly supelling exercises, stretching and cardio strengthening. Since this will be her last International competition with me as a grade 2 rider I have decided not to change her freestyle from the one she performed in Hong Kong winning a gold medal.

My second horse in training for WEG is L’Amistat (Manny). I have been partnered with him since January. We are still getting to know one another and he is learning to adapt well to my aids which are very different from an able bodied person. He has great technique and knows dressage well. He just needs to improve on his expression, exuberance, and communication with me, his partner.

With WEG being in the USA, I am looking forward to all the sideline support. With the competition being so close it will allow friends and family the opportunity to support all riders.

As a Para Equestrian I am ecstatic being involved in the first World games that have all the FEI sports competing at the same venue within the same time line. This is really a step forward for our sport and I hope spectators take advantage of the opportunity to be inspired and empowered by watching what is possible!!

I am fortunate that I actually get to be involved in the 2010 WEG in two ways. My sponsors and full time educational program, Parelli Natural Horsemanship will be there for the full two weeks as demonstrators. I have three other horses that will be at WEG as a part of the Parelli demo team. Before the Para Equestrian Canadian team goes into team training camp, I will participate in demos with Parelli showing their principles and the kind of foundation I believe will help a performance horse achieve their optimum potential.

Lauren Barwick – WEG Competitor: Para Dressage
Parelli Level 4 Mastery Student
2008 Gold and Silver medalist (Beijing Paralympic Games)

Four-Time World Champion Four-in-Hand Driver, IJsbrand Chardon (NED), Well on His Way to Kentucky

2010-09-17T09:50:00.005-04:00

Successful last rehearsal
After I had driven a good dressage test in Zelhem and Saumur, I had planned to start with the horses of Argentinean four-in-hand driver Baron Wolf von Buchholtz at Riesenbeck. Von Buchholtz has not recovered completely yet from his hunting accident last fall and I have trained his horses this season.

After my somewhat disappointing score in Aachen where I had to miss my all-round horse Argus, I decided to change my plans and to start in Lähden instead of in Riesenbeck. German four-in-hand driver Christoph Sandmann organizes a wonderful international combined driving event at his place every two years and this year, the complete world top was represented again. Including my biggest opponent for the World title, Australia’s Boyd Exell. I wanted to battle against him one more time after Aachen and drive a good dressage test.

I had brought the seven-year-old Whooper to Lähden, who was also part of my winning team in Saumur in 2009 and 2010. My team went very well in Lähden and everyone said that the difference with Boyd in the dressage should have been bigger. I stayed ahead of him in the marathon and I drove a double clear round in the cones, despite the pressure Boyd put on me. I won the competition and that felt super, especially because I now have the feeling that I have made up for Aachen. Lähden was my last competition before the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky and I will focus completely now on the World Championships.

It is my habit not to drive any more competitions four to five weeks before a World Championship and to create my own training camp. I focus on the six or seven horses, which are eligible for the World Championship. I drive them once a day and they are also ridden once a day. We will probably also train a few days at a competition site in The Netherlands or abroad.
I don’t know exactly yet which horses I will take to Kentucky. Argus, who was injured before the horse inspection in Aachen, is back in training again and he is doing well. Whooper did an excellent job in Saumur and in Lähden and he for sure contributes to my dressage team. In the marathon he does not perform less than Argus and he is strong and safe in the cones.

I will go to Kentucky with a good feeling. I don’t have to improve much, I just have to keep the form we had in Lähden. It will be a very exciting battle and especially the dressage will be important.

My carriages, harness, bicycles and other necessities are already on the boat to Kentucky. The horses will fly on September 28th. All Dutch driving horses fly together and will be accompanied by my wife Paulien and team veterinarian Ben Horsmans. My horses have never flown before, but I don’t see any problems. They are top fit and I don’t think they will suffer. They will stay in a quarantine stable for two days and then we take them directly to the show grounds where we will start training again. I am looking forward to the World Equestrian Games!

Six-time Olympic Dressage Gold Medalist Isabell Werth (GER) on the road to Kentucky

2010-09-16T11:05:00.002-04:00

Isabell Werth is writing a diary for alltechfeigames.com as she prepares for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ from 25 September – 10 October. Here is Isabell’s latest entry...

Plans beyond the CHIO Aachen and towards Kentucky (WEG)…

I was back in the saddle very quickly after the birth of my son, Frederik, and I´m feeling really well. My plan is to get in the best shape possible before Kentucky, and it’s encouraging that Satchmo and I have become more and more consistent in our performances as the months have gone by.

I was really pleased with how both horses (Satchmo and Hannes) performed at the Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, and with a score of more than 75% I feel we can be quite satisfied and happy. However, we have higher expectations over the coming weeks and months, and the plan is to sort out the mistakes and concentrate on the finer details of our programme.

Between now and WEG we will go to the German Championships in Münster and following that the nominations will be announced, so I’m hoping that we can find our best form for that performance. We now know that the Dutch riders are very strong and so is Laura Bechtolsheimer, so we will be hoping to finish closer and closer to Laura and Adelinde (Cornelissen). Edward (Gal) seems to be in a league of his own but the other two riders are definitely within our reach.

Satchmo, Hannes, El Santo & Don Johnson…

As it stands Satchmo has qualified as my number one A, and Hannes as my number one B, although four years ago in Aachen it was the other was round. I am happy to have both horses on this level, and it is pleasing that Hannes has been so consistent and is not as spooky as he used to be.

Over the next two years we will see what happens to my two big hopes – El Santo (9-y-o) and Don Johnson (8-y-o) – who have both improved a lot. El Santo has already shown his talent in Grands Prix; however, Don Johnson still has to show his, so at the moment he will only compete in the small shows before he is ready for the Grand Prix circuit.

A new partner – Roberto Blanco…

I have some new freestyle music, which I am really excited about; it is mixed by Roberto Blanco and is really different to my old style. My thinking is that if we can’t win, we want to have fun; the music just really inspires me, and I hope it inspires the crowd, and of course the judges!

We had a meeting in the studio and Roberto was singing his famous song Ein bisschen Spass muss sein, and the Tom Jones song She’s a Lady. His music creates a real party atmosphere, which I think suits Satchmo really well. It was surprising how great Roberto was; he was really positive and motivated and he even met Satchmo! It will now be interesting for me to see how the music works in a competition environment and how the crowd will react, so I’m looking forward to it very much.

The German Dressage team at the WEG…

I am sure that Christoph (Koschel) and Annabel (Balkenhol) will do a really good job, and it’s normal that they will both need a bit more experience. Christoph surprised everybody with the improvements that he has made over the last few months, and his horse has huge potential. He had extra pressure on his shoulders at CHIO Aachen when he was the first team rider, but he performed well and he will now just grow in confidence.

Annabel and Christoph’s horses are both young and inexperienced so it will be a few more years until they reach their best form. This year and next will therefore be difficult for the German team and I don’t think it will be possible to beat the Dutch, but give us a couple of years and we will be competing with the best.

Isabell Werth, multiple Olympic Games gold medal winning dressage rider, is a Rolex equestrian sports Testimonee

Follow Australian Show Jumper, Edwina Alexander, on the road to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

2010-09-09T10:54:00.002-04:00

Edwina Alexander's Diary

Courtesy of Rolex

Edwina Alexander is writing a diary for alltechfeigames.com as she prepares for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG). Here is Edwina's fourth entry...

Plans beyond the CHIO Aachen and towards Kentucky (The WEG)…

Itot (Cevo Itot Du Château) will have three more shows after Aachen – Chantilly, Valkenswaard and Rio de Janeiro – and then he will have a month’s break. He feels in really great shape and has been jumping well.

I’ve received an email from my Federation (Equestrian Australia) confirming that I am on the team for the WEG, and they also confirmed that if I have another horse which qualifies then I am able to take it as well. I’m pretty set up for WEG and I don’t really want to take another horse if it’s not 100% ready.

I recently sold four of my horses, including two that had qualified for WEG. On the back of those sales I have just received a new eight year old (Ciske Van Overis) that has already qualified; she was seventh in the Grand Prix in Hamburg with Guy Williams, and fifth with me in La Coruña. It’s not my plan to take her to WEG but she will be a back-up in the meantime while Itot is doing his preparations.

Overall, I’m looking forward to going to WEG and I fully appreciate how tough a competition it is. I personally think that WEG is the most difficult championship that we have in comparison to The Olympics as I feel that it takes a lot more out of the horse.

Looking back to the WEG in Aachen, 2006…

I have some fond memories of the World Equestrian Games™ in Aachen in 2006, above all finishing in the top four. My goal then was to get into the top 25 so I thought I did pretty well to get to that point. My Federation is a very strong supporter of whichever programme and direction I choose, but at the same time I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Everyone has their aim and their goal, so I’ll try to do my best this year and my goal is to finish in the top four again.

It’s very important to create a good programme for your horse afterwards as the championships take a lot out of them; they have to be very fit as we found out after the last WEG in Aachen.

The WEG in the USA for the first time…

My horses are used to travelling and are incredibly fit, so I don’t see this being a problem. They are booked to go and will arrive in Kentucky a week before the competition starts, which I think is plenty of time for them to acclimatise. The travelling aspect won’t be a problem, and funnily enough it will actually involve less travelling than if they were to go to somewhere like Portugal, within Europe

The WEG – an individual or a team performance?

I think that Australia has a pretty good team and that this year is absolutely our strongest ever; we have two other strong riders (Chris Chugg and James Patterson Robinson) and their horses, and the fourth partnership will be selected following competitions in Hachenburg and Paderborn.

I would like to think that realistically we could finish in the first five, and of course a medal would be fantastic. However, for me it is difficult to think of WEG as a team competition; I have to focus on myself, and I know that might sound a little bit selfish but that’s how it is, and how it’s been since I’ve been competing in Europe, especially over the last five or six years.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™

Canadian Reiner, Lisa Coulter, qualifies for the 2010 Games on her aptly named horse, Weg.

2010-09-02T11:38:00.003-04:00

I did it!! I made the Canadian Team and am set to compete at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky!! I just got home from Chilliwack, BC where our team selection was held. Sharon Hall and crew hosted a wonderful show and really put forth a great effort in our selection trials.

I rode both Weg and Ace and both horses tried very hard. I figured I would ride them both to the best of their individual ability and see where we all ended up. The selection process was comprised of two runs and the top four composite scores from both days would make up the team. It was important to have two good solid runs both days without overdoing it and making errors.

After the first day Ace was half a point in front of Weg. Weg tried hard but fell out of lead in my small slow circle while Ace held together nicely but did not hit the stops as hard as Weg. I figured day two would be interesting for my horses. Weg went first and was super. He spun and stopped hard and never made any circle errors. Ace felt very tired and ended up 3 point behind Weg. Ace may not have held up to the 36 hour haul from Texas to BC as well as Weg and that may have been part of the difference. Regardless I am thrilled to be riding Weg! He is a tremendous stop and turn around horse and will be a threat in Kentucky. I love the fact that we bought him a year ago at the test event in Kentucky specifically for me to make the Canadian WEG Team. He is sound and fresh and ready. I have the good fortune to be going to Kentucky next week to compete in some CRIs as well as a schooling session for WEG horses.

My biggest thanks extends to my family and Bob Thompson. I would never have made it anywhere without your support and ultimate belief in me.

I have been dreaming and working towards WEG for over a year now (not forgetting WEG has been a goal for over 6 years as I unsuccessfully tried for the 2006 team). I have a sense of relief and confidence that is going to propel me into WEG full force. It all comes down to having the tenacity, support and hard work to fulfill a life’s dream.....oh and a very aptly named horse!...Who says there’s nothing in a name!

Maria Eilberg (GBR) Qualifies for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

2010-08-31T10:32:00.003-04:00

CHIO Aachen was great show with all the different disciplines taking place at the same time—Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Driving, Reining and Vaulting—there was no time to get bored! Unfortunately Two Sox got frightened as I entered down the centre line for the Grand Prix; it was very difficult to stop him at X! Not the best way to start the test and it did cross my mind that perhaps we should have been doing the reining competition!

Mike, my brother, did really well at Hartpury. The amount of packing and preparation I had to do before leaving for Aachen was immense; he was taking 6 horses so I had to make sure that everything was organised before I left! It was worth it though, as he came back with several wins and top placings on each of the horses including the National Shearwater and International Small Tour Championship! We had 1 week to get things organised for Hickstead. Hickstead was the final selection for WEG and the team was announced shortly afterwards!

All the hard work has paid off; I have been selected for WEG with Two Sox! He was excellent at Hickstead and pulled out all the stops. There was a bit of pressure as Aachen hadn't gone quite to plan but I knew he was up to doing it! My brother Mike also had a great show with good placings in the small tour and big tour. It was lovely to go together as a family; we had our new lorry which was lovely and spacious for us all to live in.

After having arrived home late from Hickstead, we went off to the Somerford Regionals the next morning. We took two horses and they both qualified for our National Championships which was great and well worth the effort. We were beginning to feel somewhat jaded! Next stop is the Addington Regionals where we will compete on four horses and then not long after that our National Championships, where we hope to qualify 10 horses! The National Champs will also be ideal preparation for Two Sox before Kentucky!

Endurance Rider Kathy Brunjes (USA) Follows the U.S. Endurance Selection Trials for the 2010 Games

2010-08-26T09:16:00.003-04:00

Endurance riders vying for a spot to represent the U.S. endurance community at the 2010 WEG participated in three separate selection trials during the 10-day period of June 18-27th.

Central started the process off with 14 nominated riders and 17 horses gathering in Danville, IL for an 80-mile trial that would demonstrate speed and stamina. Unfortunately weather conditions cut the trial short (to 54 miles) and speed could not be demonstrated due to footing on the course – rain and wind caused mud, wet fields and slippery grass, swollen creeks and trees crashing down across trails. Heat and humidity tested the horses and riders for the 54 miles. Veteran international endurance riders Valerie Kanavy, Margaret Sleeper, DVM, Michele Roush, DVM, Jan Worthington and Ellyn Rapp, along with some newer candidates (Kim Orr, Deborah Reich) successfully completed their shortened trial.

East sponsored the next trial at the Fair Hills location (Elkton, MD) with nine horse/rider combinations presenting. The course was 80 miles, and weather cooperated this time around for riders. Heat and humidity was again a factor, and tested both horses and riders. Four riders completed the course successfully (Nicki Meuten, DVM, Lisa Green, Deborah Reich and Meg Sleeper, DVM).

The final trial was held in Prineville, OR with lower humidity factoring into the demonstration for horse/rider combinations. Five selectors, Chef d’Equippe Becky Hart, and three veterinarians traveled across the country to put the West coast nominees through the same requirements asked of the East and Central riders/horses. Jeremy and Heather Reynolds, Lindsay Graham, Ceci Stasiuk, Christoph Schork, Charisse Glen, Carol Giles and Dennis and Sue Summers were among the 18 starting the 80 mile trial, which completed nine of those starting.

The final trial (the “Observation Trial”) was held back at the Danville, IL site (during the week of August 8-12) with all those nominated riders and horses who participated in one of the earlier selection trials invited to attend. From this final trial, a short list of 10 rider/horse combinations will be invited to attend further training prior to the WEG. The short list will move into the Shaker Village complex (Harrodsburg, KY – just a short distance from the Kentucky Horse Park) and await final selection to the Endurance WEG squad. The endurance squad will be named just prior to moving into the WEG venue (week of September 20).

More to come …..!

Four-Time World Champion Four-in-Hand Driver, IJsbrand Chardon (NED)

2010-08-09T15:57:00.003-04:00

Well on my way to Kentucky

After the Dutch Championships I successfully competed at Saumur, France. I won the dressage, I drove a very strong marathon in which I came second and I won the combined competition. I went to Saumur to try two other horses in the marathon and it went very well. With Victory and Whooper in the wheel and Zidane and Isovlas Paganini in the lead I could take any turn. I just had a small incident in one of the obstacles when one of my wheeler horses fell down. Luckily it was solved quickly and the horse did not get injured. (IJsbrand Chardon won the marathon in Aachen 2010. Photo Credit: Rinaldo de Craen)

After Saumur I started to prepare my team for Aachen. I took my best team with the same horses I used at the 2008 World Championships in Beesd. Unfortunately, my all-round horse Argus injured his leg just before the horse inspection in Aachen. He was really lame and was taken out for the competition. Luckily he is getting better now and I will be able to use him again this season. He probably twisted his leg. It was extra sad because I had considered bringing another horse to Aachen instead, but I decided not to do it. If I had done this, it would have all been different, but that is the sport! Now I had to use my marathon horse Tomasson in the dressage. I had several small mistakes, which resulted in the 6th place in this phase. For the first time, we had to drive the cones before the marathon and I was very happy with my double clear round. I came back very strong in the marathon where I was assisted by my wife Paulien and my son Bram, who celebrated his 17th birthday a few days before. We won the marathon by a fraction of a second ahead of Boyd Exell from Australia, who keeps performing very strong. We came second in the combined competition behind Exell. Despite the bad luck with Argus I am happy with my results and I believe we are on the right way to Kentucky. It was good to compete in Aachen against Boyd Exell, I now know where I stand. I have a good feeling about my horses, they are in good form. Chester Weber was in Aachen as a spectator and I consider him and Boyd as top favourites for the medals. It was a shame that Chester was not competing in Aachen!

To drive the marathon as last phase of the combined competition was all right. We started in reverse order of the standings after dressage and cones, so I was one of the last to go. The marathon was broadcasted live on television and the TV people had insisted on this experiment to be able to produce a winner of the combined competition at the end of the marathon. To me, I prefer to have the cones as last competition. Now, we did not have as much tension as we used to have in the cones. The obstacle driving competition can be nerve wrecking and is always very exciting, anything can still happen, for both the individual and the team standings!

My next show will be in Lähden, Germany, at the home of my fellow competitor Christoph Sandmann. I need to drive a good dressage again to make up for Aachen and I look forward to battle against the top drivers again!

2006 WEG Vaulting Silver Medalist Rosalind (Rosey) Ross (USA)

2010-08-04T15:18:00.009-04:00

Rosalind Ross has been traveling to Europe as a team vaulter since she was 9 years old, though she started vaulting at a much younger age. Rosalind, "Rosey," is a very expressive vaulter and puts her great choreography, skill, grace, and elegance into an emotional performance. Rosey is a gold vaulter (the highest vaulting category). She has been on many teams throughout the years, and has been on many vaulting clubs, starting at Coastline and Mt. Eden Vaulting Clubs.

Rosey is currently in college at Emerson, Boston. She is majoring in literature, writing, and publishing.

When riding the high of two consecutive Selection Trial wins, there is a danger of becoming complacent about training. Thankfully, my team is of completely the opposite mentality. Having experienced success early in the season, we are now training harder than ever to achieve a standard of excellence that even we have not yet defined. Vaulting is a sport in which it is crucial to continually progress and evolve, even throughout the peak competition season. Often times, the routine one performs in the first competition of the season is far different from the routine that vaulter ends up performing at the World Championships. As the routine becomes more secure, the vaulter may choose to raise the level of difficulty or heighten their expressiveness through choreographic changes.

The first of three U.S. Selection Trials was held at Garrod Farms in Saratoga, California, May 15 and 16. I was very impressed with the high level of competition and unusually high turnout of competitors. Clearly, having the World Equestrian Games on our home turf this year is a major incentive for U.S. vaulters to step it up. It has been years since there were as many as five A-teams vying for the spot of National Team in our country. Each and every team put on a respectable performance. My team, F.A.C.E., aboard the horse Palatine lunged by Carolyn Bland, ended up winning the competition. Our freestyle routine was far from perfect, but evoked enough compliments from the audience to leave us feeling relieved that we had created something our country would be proud to stand behind, should we be selected as the team to compete in Kentucky.
I believe I speak for my entire team when I say that we are more proud of Palatine than anything. The Garrod Farms competition was his debut as a true “team horse,” in which he certainly proved himself. To go from never having carried more than one person on his back, to nearly effortlessly carrying three people for the duration of a four minute routine, is an amazing feat for a horse to accomplish in less than a year’s time. Though I have vaulted on many fantastic horses over my sixteen years in this sport, I can honestly say that performing on Palatine is one of the most relaxing and liberating experiences I have had. For me, the most enjoyable vaulting happens when the horse’s movement is in such a soft, even, cadence that it becomes possible to forget that your stage is moving. Though of course not every second of the performance is so effortless, the majority of our routine now feels that way.

The second U.S. Selection Trial was held at the Portola Valley Training Center in Portola Valley, California. We had another clean competition, securing our second win. We also guaranteed ourselves an invitation (along with the second place team, Woodside Vaulters) to the CHIO in Aachen, Germany in July. Due to financial reasons, we initially thought we would have to decline the invitation. Fortunately, with some aid from the U.S.E.F., the trip became possible. We will traveled to Germany in the end of June to begin training on a borrowed horse, and then competed in Aachen July 9-11. Immediately after returning home on July 12, we traveld to southern California for the third Selection Trial (July 17 and 18).

Since the last competition, we have wasted no time in taking our training to the next level in order to prepare for international competition. Though a couple of our team members live on the east coast, our coach/team manager in San Diego, and our horse trainer in Tennessee, we have all managed to congregate in the Bay Area for the past few weeks for some focused training time together. We spend nearly every waking moment together, living and breathing our passion for the art we create, and hoping that our efforts will carry us to the top of the podium in Kentucky!

2010 German Para Dressage Champion, Angelika Trabert Qualifies for the 2010 Games

2010-08-02T14:15:00.005-04:00

ARIVA-AVANTI went with me to the first competition, got a little bit distracted by sun light that was falling through wooden bars, but she behaved well. So the next day we were on the road again to our first international competition in Mannheim. What can I say: I am a very lucky person and I have the honor to ride Ariva-Avanti! She was just awesome. Two starts and both times we came first. It was as if she had done that a million times before. I must admit that we had thought things over very carefully so as to not stress her too much. Michaela (Heinrich’s wife with whom I stable my horses) groomed for me. Heinrich coached me and Uta (our regional trainer) trained Ariva for the 20 min permitted per day. Those days Heinrich called Ariva’s breeder. He was so excited that he almost wanted to book flights to Kentucky right away. Since Ariva-Avanti is totally new "In the scene" I was asked by our trainer to show her once more internationally. Mulhouse/ France was the closest event and so we travelled South on the 16th of June. The competition was rainy and cold, but it was worth it!

The French did their very best to hold a competition in a friendly and warn atmosphere. Ariva herself was excited but showed again her qualities and her potential. We still have to grow together, BUT also this time, out of 3 starts we won three times. For the first time the Germans won the Nations Cup by 0.6% ahead of the Belgium team. The trophy was presented by Mrs. Jonquil Solt, former chairman of IPEC (International Paralympic Equestrian Committee). We were very proud. Ariva has to be trained carefully, she needs time to understand what I ask of her. But I am sure it is only advanced horses (like Ariva) which understand the different aids for turn on the haunches, halt or rein back, all without legs!

Yesterday was “day X”. The German Championships were over and the nomination of the German Para-Equestrian Team for the WEG took place.… and YES YES YES, we made it!!! Ariva-Avanti scored 70,476% in the team test, 71,21% in the Championship test and 73,25% in the Freestyle wish meant two first places and in the freestyle, second with 0,15% points behind Petra van de Sande (Netherlands), who was the winner at the Europeans in Norway 2009 in the Championship test! I was more than satisfied with those results. Ariva is for me already an outstanding horse, with a great character, esprit in the test and intelligence to understand my light aids.

Now we have to work on details and the freestyle performance, but Kentucky watch out, here we come!

An update on LONDRIA, … the positive is, that the vet gave us the OK to start training her again! The negative … she won´t be fit for the German Championships. This is sad on one hand, but the horse comes first, so the most important thing is to have the horse fully recover! We know what potential she has (winning gold and silver with me last year at the Europeans)!

Show Jumper Lauren Hough (USA) Blazing a Trail Through Europe on her Way to the 2010 Games

2010-07-26T14:52:00.005-04:00

Currently on the long-list for the U.S. Show Jumping Team, Lauren Hough is blazing a trail through Europe on her way to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The last two months have been spectacular.

The Global Champions Tour is the foundation of my schedule and a better series of events cannot be found. With unparalleled sponsorship the series provides a platform for top riders to compete for excellent prize money at wonderful venues with excellent footing and crowds of interested spectators. My European marathon of horse showing began in Valencia, Spain the first leg of the GCT. It's a neat venue as they drain a huge man made water feature at a city park to create the ring. The atmosphere is always festive and the spectators enthusiastic. For me the show was a good start to a long series of shows. Both my horses were strong competitors, Prezioso S placed third in the 5* Trofeo Iberia Aerea de Espana and Casadora placed third in the 5* Trofeo Masssimo Dutti. (Photo Credit: JL Parker)

A quick flight home for me to train and then off to Hamburg, Germany to meet Quick Study, Available Versace and a young horse Winand. I had a consistent show with top placings in every class we entered but luck was on my side as I was the last to go in the GCT Grand Prix at Hamburg and Quick Study and I were able to clinch the win with the only double clear round. That was a great win, friends Edwina Alexaner and Laura Kraut, who placed second and third, joined me on the podium as we celebrated with a huge champagne bottle presented by the sponsors.

Quickly back "home" to Rodrigo Pessoa's, where we are based in Belgiu, and then a flight to Rome and on to Turino. As much as I love Italy I always seem to loose my luggage there. But I was prepared and recovered my luggage in plenty of time. Turino is a neat town and a lovely venue. It is also a new venue for the GCT set against the beautiful mountains of Italy. Casadora and Prezioso S were consistent performers getting ribbons in several classes.

Back on a plane for Belgium and "home". This week I get an extra day at the farm as we are driving to Norten Hardenberg a more local show in the Germany. The ring at this show sits below a huge castle on a hill really amazing backdrop. It was a good week for me winning the €10,000 Preis der Hardenberg-Wilthen AG and placing second in the €50,000 Norten Hardenberg Grand Prix riding Casadora. The two young horses I brought placed well in every class they entered as well.

Another week of showing nearby and low key which is nice. Balve is a traditional old show with a fantastic crowd and a beautiful setting. The weather was hot this week in Germany, but the horses were good and and placed in many classes.

I am off to GCT Cannes a venue I like very much. It is held in a small park surrounded by apartment buildings that are on the pennisula over looking the mediterainian. There is actually a childrens swing set just in front of our stalls. It is very tight but the stands are full every night (the classes run at night) including Thursday the opening night. The high caliber of sponsorship and spectators makes this such a exciting event with unique qualities. The horses were great this week.

Home once again but not for long. Rotterdam is a Nations Cup event and I am on the US Team. This is an important show for me and for my country. The US stands in 6th place mid way through the series and we are battling to be able to compete in next years Nations Cup Series and the following years Olympics. Only the top 6 teams from 2010 will be able to compete in 2011. I am also challenging my fellow countrymen for a spot on the US Team at the WEG. The three tours comprised of a long list of riders chosen in selection trials this winter are competing for the 5 positions on the team.

Its been a cold and rainy week and thursday was not a good day for me but I will put that behind me and focus on the task ahead. George decided that I will go first for the US in the Nation Cup Class. Beezie Madden's horse was under the weather and Candice King and Skara Glen's Devos moved up to take their place.

It was a good day the team pulled together, with Beezie helping from the ground, we managed to win the Nations Cup!

A few days of R & R on my way to Monaco and feeling refreshed.

Global Champions Tour, destination Monte Carl. This is an interesting show. The venue is a parking lot at a marina on a beautiful harbor. The ring is small and things are tight but its amazing what you can do with a parking lot. The town is fun and the spectators lively. The Triumph Project is the primary sponsor and benefactor of this event. The Triumph Project is an awareness campaign funded by the Davis McCullough Foundation to enlighten the world through unified efforts both in the United States and abroad of the betrayal of our equine ally.The Triumph Project sponsored a Pro Am event, Bart Soetaers and I won the class which was a rousing success with the crowd. Prezioso S and Casadora were consistent and placed in each or their classes.

Home again, Home again. Then off to Estoril.

Irish Dressage Rider Judy Reynolds Blogs About Her Journey to the 2010 Games

2010-07-21T16:43:00.008-04:00

I’m just back from the Schindlhof – Fritzens CDI 4* in Austria. The owners of Schindlhof, Klaus & Evelyn Haim-Swarovski have once again held one of the most enjoyable, friendly and generous shows set in the most picturesque location that I’ve been to. It’s the 25th year the show has been held, and the 15th show in memoriam to Manfred Swarovski, Evelyn’s father and a great horseman who passed away in 1995.

The grounds are 900m, that’s about 3000ft, above sea level in the middle of the Tyrolean Alps. The famous ski resort city, Innsbruck, is only a 15-minute drive from the show. The grounds themselves however are 800 km’s (10 hours straight in the truck with no traffic) from my base in Voerde, which by the way is only 50m above sea level. I usually like to leave on long journeys as early as possible to try and avoid the heavy traffic around the Dusseldorf-Cologne area. If left to my own devices I probably would have been done and gone by 6am, but as Johann wasn’t coming we had a final training session the morning of departure with the two horses I brought, Remy and my younger horse J.P.

So off we set for the show a little after 1 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. Myself & Patrick, the 2 boys and the hound contingent of Blitzen and Pina -Pina is a little Jack Russell who actually belongs to Johann. Pretty soon after I moved to his yard I was watching TV after a long a day when I heard a short sharp bark outside. I didn’t think too much about it until I heard it again a couple of minutes later. I opened the door on the side of my apartment and in runs Pina! She’s quite old (No-one’s quite sure exactly, estimates put her at 11 or 12. Pretty old in doggy years, around 84 I think) she has a really good character and gets on very well with my long standing best friend Blitzen. So that night Pina decided that she was going to live here, and Blitzen and I decided that was ok. The show was Pina’s first trip outside of Germany, very exciting for an 80+-year-old Jack Russell I’d imagine!

I do all of my own driving, and even though we could have got there in 10 hours, there are rules for truck drivers regarding driving time and rest so the journey took a bit longer because of the rest-stops and minor delays along the way. In my truck Patrick can go out the back to check the horses and offer them water and carrots etc. I say offer them water because they never drink any! They know if they hold out on the water then they’ll get lots of carrots and apples to keep them hydrated. We tried cutting up apples and putting them into the water bucket to tempt them into drinking. This only served to annoy Remy because he can’t get them out easily, and nearly drown J.P because he doesn’t give up! We arrived at the show a little before 2am, which meant that we didn’t get to enjoy the scenery as we drove into the Alps. Even though it’s my 5th time to go to Fritzens the scenery still knocks me out. When I opened the curtains the next morning I got a full reminder of how amazing the place is. The weather was perfect. Blue skies, the sun beaming down and in every direction huge snow capped peaks. Fantastic! It was good to be back there.

On Thursday morning I let the boys have a lie-in after their long trip the day before. I took them out for a little exercise at 10am. The vet check wasn’t until 3pm, which gave me plenty of time to show them around before things started getting exciting. They were both pretty happy, presumably because I hadn’t woke them up to early! I took Remy for a walk in hand and Patrick took J.P.

J.P wasn’t entered in anything at the show. He’s just ready to do his first Prix St. George test at national level so he came along to get some show atmosphere experience, and so I could continue to work him. And in fairness to him, he went quite well. Jazz offspring are not known for their level-headedness… it was because of this that it was so surprising that between him, Remy and myself he managed to keep it together the best over the weekend...

My parents arrived on Thursday evening to lend their support and whatever help they could. My father and mother, Joe & Kathleen, come to as many of my competitions as possible. They never miss this one however, for many reasons. They also really enjoy Klaus & Evelyn’s welcoming and friendly nature, and my father has forged a good but sometimes strange friendship between himself and the owner of his favourite Alpine hotel, The Speckbacher-Hof, located a little further up the mountain than the show grounds. We went for dinner with my parents in their hotel that evening. As ever when my parents are in town Blitzen insisted on coming too. Anna Merveldt joined us a little later. It was nice to see her. Since she moved to Italy the opportunity to catch up doesn’t come very often. As always at the Speckbacher-Hof dinner was excellent, and as I had no tests on Friday we were able to stay a little later than usual. We all went into the residents’ bar for a drink after dinner. Dad’s friend, Andy, joined us and we all had a good laugh. However, It wasn’t long after dinner that I started to feel the drain of the two long days so we decided to call it a night. We got ready to go and called Blitzen. He didn’t move an inch. Except for his head, which he cocked to one side and looked at me as if to say, are you joking?

Of course when my parents are at a show Blitzen generally is nowhere to be seen. Well if you can see my mother you’ll catch a glimpse of him! He gets so excited when he see’s her at the airport or getting out of a car, that he actually forgets to breathe for a couple of minutes! Dad is a vegetarian, yet whenever he has a furry guest in the hotel he tends to take full advantage of the cold meat selection on offer at the breakfast buffet. No wonder I’m not the only one who gets a little depressed for a couple of days when Mum & Dad leave. So having left Blitzen nice and comfy in 4star surroundings, Patrick & I headed down the mountain for another night in the truck.

I have to say I was pretty nervous when I started to clean Remy and get him ready for the test. And as any rider will tell you, your horse picks up on how you’re feeling. This created a bit of a snowball effect and before long we were like a coiled spring. Not what we need before a Grand Prix test at a 4* international.

The test didn’t go so well. We went pretty much mistake-free, piaffe was a bit forward (something we’re working hard on) but everything else was ok. It just lacked the wow factor needed. And the tension showed in the movements so we weren’t able to draw the big points from the judges. Isabell Werth won the class with Satchmo on 73.5%. We finished mid-table and I was pretty happy that we managed to qualify for the special on Sunday.

Every evening at the Schidlhof tournament the owners have some entertainment arranged for the competitors and guests. Friday evening is one of my favourites! You might have recognised the name of the owners and hosts of the tournament, Swarovski? On Friday evenings they open their wonderful showrooms and factory outlet shop at the Swarovski factory in the town and we all get to enjoy the fascinating tour, and at the end, take advantage of a very nice discount in the biggest Swarovski-crystal shop you’ve ever seen! Having shopped myself into a happy state we went for dinner in a very nice little Italian restaurant in the centre of the town.

Saturday: The Grand Prix for competitors who wanted to ride in the freestyle to music was scheduled for Saturday. I had no tests so we had a fairly relaxed day. I worked the 2 boys as usual. Remy was much better than the day before and I thought over the test from Friday and what might have been. J.P went very well again. I worked him in the outdoor riding arena where he got to see lot’s new things and wavy flags etc. I had really expected him to be a bit more worked up by all the excitement and activity at a busy international show but he was really well behaved. After lunch I watched some of the riders in the class. Victoria Max-Theurer (AUT), Ulla Salzgeber (GER), Valentina Truppa (ITA) and America’s own Catherine Haddad amongst others rode in a hotly contested class, which Ulla Salzgeber won on 70.5%.

Later that evening Patrick and I had well needed showers and put on our glad rags for 8pm. We met with my parents and around 250 other guests outside the riding hall for a drinks reception and the start of the evening’s entertainment. A concert with the excellent Soprano singer, Eva Lind, was held in the hall that had only a few short hours earlier been the warm up arena for the tests! It was unrecognisable as the same place. The hard working crew at the show had covered a large area of the ground with temporary wood flooring and chairs and had set up the necessary extras required to put on a concert involving an orchestra! In this setting the enormous crystal chandelier, hanging from the ceiling was perfectly at home! After the concert we moved to the catering marquee. Everyone was seated at perfectly prepared tables scattered with tiny multi-coloured crystals and an army of excellent waiters served us a very tasty but definitely bad for my diet 4 course meal. We got the chance to dance away some of the calories before the evening ended and we headed back to the truck to get some rest shortly after 1am.

Sunday: The special started a lot better. I even got a 9 from one of the judges for my entry! It continued quite well for a while, he stayed up and with me and listening, until we came to our first piaffe.. I’m not sure what happened exactly, but as we started to ride the movement we got about 2 or 3 really good steps when all of a sudden he threw his head in the air and began to resist the aid. It took a moment to get this under control and from then on he got very tense and our marks suffered as a result. Our test that was on 70% (Patrick & my father informed me later. He could see the scores on a live board) was murdered down to the low 60’s. I was extremely disappointed. After we performed our duty in the prize giving, where Beatriz Ferrer-Salat was named the worthy winner of the class after a score of 74%, we packed the truck and left. It was along drive back with lots of time for reflection on the events of the weekend.

When you get down to it, Remy and I are still trying to navigate the Grand Canyon size valley between riding Grand Prix at national and at international competition. There are a few things we still have to work through and with only 78 days to go before Remy is due to leave for Kentucky horse park, I wouldn’t be honest if I said I wasn’t feeling the pressure. Two of the other Irish riders qualified for WEG have unfortunately had to withdraw. Yvette Truesdale’s horse, Has To Be Fun, has been out action for a while now, and there’s not enough time for her to get him back to full fitness. Anna Merveldt has withdrawn due to personal commitments. This is obviously a huge disappointment as it was my first opportunity to ride for a senior Irish team at a world championship and it would have been a fantastic experience. I’m sure it’s an even bigger disappointment for Yvette and Anna though and my heart goes out to them.
So now, unless Angela Crane can get her 2nd qualifying score, and I wish her the best of luck, it looks like it might just be me flying the Irish flag in dressage at the biggest equestrian event of my life. If I want to go to Kentucky and really show what Remy and I can do –and I really, really want that- we have to work harder than ever!

I believe that we have to try to get to as many international shows as we can between now and the world games as possible. For want of a better phrase, ‘international match fitness’ is what we’re lacking. We’ve only competed at five international-Grand Prix’s so far and a few more would definitely help us prepare for what will be required in Kentucky.

I’ll keep you updated on how we’re progressing.
Bye for now, Judy.

2008 British Grand Prix Freestyle Champion, and British National Champion Dressage Rider, Maria Eilberg (GBR)

2010-07-19T13:08:00.004-04:00

My elbow has been getting better slowly and I have been riding again. I still have to take it a bit gently but it is very difficult when having to do anything around horses! My family have been incredibly supportive and Mike and Dad have been doing a great job at keeping the horses going for me, I might even have trouble getting them back!

The beginning of July was quite intense with sorting entries. I was having to wait on selection for Aachen before entering Hartpury and then Hickstead had to be decided as well-they all had to be in by the end of June so I found myself having to meet the deadlines all on the same day! I have been selected for Aachen with Two Sox, Mike will do Hartpury which is the same week and then we will do Hickstead together. We are in the process of getting a new lorry which we hope will be here in time for these next shows . . .

So it had been a busy but efficient week until we had what could of been a major disaster. Dad got kicked. Initially we thought it was in the head but fortunately it was through the side of his cheek, the cut went all the way through so it was literally a hole! He has also wrenched his shoulder but all in all we have to be extremely grateful. Initially he did have loss of memory but gradually it's coming round. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that nothing else happens!!

Dad seems to be doing much better, we are having to keep a close eye on him but hopefully he has got away with it! The swelling on his face has come down and he is all colours of the rainbow with bruising!

Because I am having to look after my arm for Aachen and re team selection for WEG, Mike has been helping me out with the stallions. He competed Worldwide and Woodlander Rockstar for me today. He will look after them while I am away for Aachen and then everything should be back to normal.

We have the Badminton Young Horse Finals this coming weekend and then things kick off again with Aachen, Hartpury and Hickstead. It is going to be a busy month!

Irish Dressage Rider Judy Reynolds Vies for A Chance to Compete at the 2010 Games

2010-07-08T14:19:00.008-04:00

My 2nd qualifying score with Remember in Stadl Paura means that Ireland has 3 dressage riders qualified for a major championship for only the 2nd time…EVER!! I look forward to linking up with already qualified Anna Merveldt (aka Peetsy) and Yvette Truesdale to represent Ireland on the Big Stage!

Hi. My name is Judy Reynolds. I’m a long time reader first time blogger. Where to start? I suppose some details about me and my journey so far is as good a place as any. I’m 28, from Kildare, Ireland and I’m a professional dressage rider. I live in Germany with my partner Patrick, my dog Blitzen and three of my horses Remember, Vancouver and Bodessa who are all at different stages in their training.

Patrick and I have been together for over 8 years. I met him first when I was working part time at my fathers transport company. He left his job in Ireland and moved to Germany with me 3 years ago. Before Patrick joined me here it was myself with only my faithful hound Blitzen for company after the long days at the stables. His steadfast loyalty and honest advice are a big reason I’ve been able to dedicate myself to my training in Germany. I consider him a major factor behind my success, and Patrick isn’t bad either ;)

We live in a small town called Voerde, which is about 60 km’s north of Dusseldorf. I’m based at Johann Hinnemann’s stables with my horses for training and competition. I’ve lived in Germany for almost 7 years now, I spent the first few years in Bavaria where I trained with experienced Irish rider Anna Merveldt and then with Ulla Salzgeber. Around 2 years ago I moved to my current location to work on bringing my #1 horse, Remember (or “Remy” to his friends) from ‘Small Tour’ to ‘Big Tour’.

Remy is a really talented 12-year-old KWPN gelding. I bought him 6 years ago from a small producer in Holland. As a 7 year old he hadn’t done very much, he was competing at elementary level (German level L). He’s not the biggest horse -only 166cm, but I’m not the biggest girl, only 158cm (on a good day!) so the picture works. What Remy lacks in size he makes up for in presence. He has fantastic paces, in particular his canter. We had our most successful year so far in 2008. We had many wins at German national shows at Prix st George and Intermediare I level, beating some of the big name German riders in the process; we also won at the CDI Lipica, Slovenia. The successes of 2008 were culminated with me being named Irish dressage rider of the year by the main Irish equestrian publication, The Irish Field.

2009 was a quieter year on the competition front as we concentrated on making the step up to Grand Prix level. At our first time out at Intermediare II level last year we won the class with over 66%, this may have gone to my head a little at the time though because shortly after I entered for two international CDI’s at Vierzon in France and Hickstead in the UK. Neither show went particularly well but there were definitely some positive points. We picked up a WEG qualifying score at Hickstead and I learned something valuable about ensuring you and your horse are secure in the work before you take it in front of international judges. Anyway, lesson learned.

After Hickstead I went back to working hard on securing the new movements, which Remy had to learn to make the step up to Grand Prix (piaffe, passage and one tempi changes). Later in the year we competed at a couple of national shows to check what we were doing at home could be transferred to the competition arena and picked up another win and a few placings along the way.

2010 started with a bang and we won scoring over 70% at national shows here in Germany. At Easter we got our 2nd qualifying score for WEG at the CDI*** in Stadl Paura, Austria.

More recently we travelled down to Munich CDI***** where the best in the world were competing including Edward Gal, Adelinde Cornelissen, Isabell Werth and Ulla Salzgeber. It’s inspirational to watch these riders work their horses and ride among them.

I had my first Grand Prix win recently at a national show not too far away from home and I was also presented with the Deutsche Goldenes Reitabzeichen (German Golden Riders Badge) which you get for having 10 wins at ‘S’ level (Prix St George and above). This was a great honour for me and I am only the second Irish dressage rider ever to have earned it. It was so nice at the show in Krefeld as the Kuehnen family really made the presentation ceremony very special for me, and the spectators -though possibly seeing me for only the first or second time- gave me a brilliant reception, cheering and clapping during the lap of honour. I didn’t stop smiling for days! (Pictured from left to right: Judy's trainer Johann Hinnemann, Judy on Remember and the Vice President of the Rheinland Federation, Herr Heiner Nachbarschulte at the National Show in Krefeld, Germany where Judy won her first Grand Prix and received the Goldenes Reitabzeichen)

In between all my travelling around to shows with Remy I get the other horses out competing as often as possible and also go home to Ireland every 4-6 weeks to teach the growing number of students I have there.

Next up on the calendar are some more national shows in Germany and at the end of June the Fritzens CDI**** in Austria, this competition is run by the Swarovski family and is one of the most beautiful shows of the year. Set into the Austrian Alps and the hospitality is second to none.

www.judyreynolds.com

Reiner Lisa Coulter (CAN) On the Road to the 2010 Games

2010-07-07T10:49:00.004-04:00

Once again Angels Mark came through for me! I just got back from the Derby in Oklahoma City where Angel and I competed in the CRI. We put together a great run and won the CRI. That was just the run I needed to send me off to compete at the team selection. I was looking to keep my confidence and competitive level up going into the WEG trials.

The team selection for Canada will be held at Heritage Park in Chilliwack BC. There will be a great group of horses and riders competing to make the team. The show and facility are top notch and will host a super qualifier for us. Sharon Hall is tireless in her devotion to hosting great Reining shows and supporting all levels of Reiners in Canada.

I have decided to take Ace and Weg. They are feeling great and as ready as they can be. It will be very interesting to see how they each compete and which one comes out on top. They both have the capabilities to make the team and it will come down to which horse is more on that particular day. They are also very different and it will be up to me to ride them each to their best ability individually.

Making the team will not be easy and I am eager to get the show on the road! My sights are set on Kentucky and making the team will be a big goal accomplished. I feel ready for WEG as well and am so thankful I went to the test event last year. I feel like that gives me an edge as I had the chance to get comfortable with the facility and show pen.

I will give it my very best at the team selection and hope the next blog will be filled with great news! I am thankful for the friends and family who have supported me on this venture as nobody has success without support!

I wish everyone good luck and success on their path to WEG!!

2008 British Grand Prix Freestyle Champion, and British National Champion Dressage Rider, Maria Eilberg (GBR)

2010-06-30T11:40:00.005-04:00

Addington Premier League which seems ages ago now was great as a warm up for Wiesbaden and Lingen. No matter how many times I have ridden the Grand Prix I always feel rusty if not having competed for a month or so so it was good to have a practice run! Two Sox was full of beans and very happy to be out at a party again, perhaps a little too happy as we entered the Grand Prix at a buck! He had another little whiz just before the 2s but I wasn’t too bothered as I was glad he was feeling fresh. I had planned to do the Grand Prix only but as he was feeling so well he did the Special the next day as well which he was more settled for. Woodlander Rockstar did his first PSG which as I expected was a little green but he did everything and didn’t feel phased by the work. It was good for me to have a go so that I know what needs working on!

Wiesbaden was eventful! I had never been before--so many people and different events going on all at the same time! The warm up and main arena are situated in the middle of a park so you get a lot of people who are just interested to see what’s going on and children, so many children! I was working Rockstar the one morning and not only did he have a tractor harrowing the arena but a bus load of children appeared and started to have a coat throwing competition: Who can throw their coat the highest?! He was so good and the next day he had the vaulting horses to work around!! On the way back home we ended up being in the middle of the cross country course which was exciting, I heard the whistle and wham, I had a horse coming behind me at a gallop! Two Sox was a star and on great form. He was a little fresh when we arrived but soon relaxed and felt so loose and supple after the journey. He is so content with himself now taking everything in his stride and not being phased by anything. He used to get quite nervous at big shows and it would show with him being tight, anxious and not eating. Now he thrives on it, at the age of 16, loving the atmosphere and applause, and trying to get hold of any grub that is going, he is one happy horse!

In the Grand Prix he did pretty much a clear round, the piaffes perhaps being a little forward and the zig zag a little tight so a few edges but he did do his best ever extended trot which I was very pleased about! He finished third with 68% not far behind the winner which was really encouraging. We opted to do the Freestyle which I wasn’t quite sure about as it was to be the next evening under floodlight which was bound to be very spooky! I was drawn last to go at 11pm. The atmosphere was buzzing and electric, he came out onto the warm up quite nervous. After a good bit of suppling he started to relax and I had to keep him moving more or less the whole time so he didn’t have time to wind himself up, all he could hear was lots of murmuring from the people watching and there were shadows everywhere. When it was time for me to go in for my test we had to make our way through the crowds of people to main the arena, it was a huge party atmosphere with commentary and interaction with the audience and judges, like a demo. As the last rider was being interviewed the crowd gave huge applause and he got a little excited but did a great test, just two little blips, a small mistake in the one tempis on the half circle where he got a bit disorientated heading towards all of the people and a slight rhythm blip in the last ext trot down the centre line- I didn‘t support him enough. He finished third again with 73%, very close to second place, I was very pleased! I thought that perhaps the whole evening would have taken a lot out of him but no sooner had we taken him back to the stables and taken his bridle and saddle off did he walk straight into his stable of his own accord and start eating his hay! (Photo: Celebrating Wiesbaden!)

Unfortunately Lingen didn’t go exactly to plan! I was cycling back to the hotel when I fell off the bike and broke my elbow, I was going to fast down a hill and didn’t make the turn! Luckily it seems to only be a small fracture so I should be riding again in a couple of weeks which is very good news! I am also extremely fortunate to have my Dad and brother at hand to keep the horses going in the meantime.

The next goal is Aachen which I hope I have done enough to be selected for, it will be the final selection before WEG so fingers crossed!

2006 WEG Vaulting Gold Medalist and Recent Cornell University Graduate, Megan Benjamin (USA)

2010-06-28T12:53:00.004-04:00

Believe it or not (personally, I’m still in denial), I am a college graduate. After four years of 20-page history research papers, grueling exams, late nights in the library, and plenty of parties, on May 30th I graduated from Cornell University.

It was certainly a bittersweet moment. As challenging as my academic career at Cornell has been these past few years, I have loved every last moment. More than anything, as a California girl, I’m sad to leave my Cornellian friends, who will scatter across America’s northeastern cities from New York to D.C. to Boston. Luckily for us, there’s Skype and gchat, and as they reminded me as we said our goodbyes and I worried aloud about when I would see them again, “Megan, it’s not like you were ever on campus this semester anyway, and we’re still friends.”

Fair fact. Since January, I ventured to four different countries (Brazil, Denmark, Netherlands, and Canada) on four different occasions to teach clinics and compete abroad, went back to California for vaulting training camps and more competitions, drove over to Princeton, NJ to visit my boyfriend of four years, and flew to Portland, OR and Louisville, KY for the annual meetings of the American Vaulting Association and the United States Equestrian Federation, respectively.

My friends and family don’t quite understand how I managed to graduate (and maintain a pretty sweet GPA, I might add) from Cornell while simultaneously traveling the globe, training for WEG, and keeping my close friendships and relationships intact. The truth is this insane travel schedule and level of stress has been my norm for a long time. There are many things that are important to me, and I approach each and every one of these things with the time, effort, and dedication I believe they deserve.

As my mom has told me during times of stress, “You can have it all, but not all at once.” It is certainly true that if you stretch yourself too thin, it’s difficult to excel at any one thing. Although I’ve managed the delicate balance of my million and one passions these past four years of university, it’s time to scale back. As I write this, I am on a plane from Cornell to California. When I arrive, I will have a single focus for the first time in years—vaulting.

With no more academic obligations, I am finally free to train with my whole mind, body, and soul. With less than 4 months to go before WEG’s Opening Ceremonies, this is perfect timing. My calendar for the next few months is brimming with national and international competitions, vaulting practices, fabric shopping and uniform fittings, gymnastics and dance instruction, strength training, riding, and (of course) hours upon hours of barn chores. I’ve waited four years for this moment, and you can bet I’m going to take full advantage of every second.

Twenty-Second National Title for Four-in-Hand Driver IJsbrand Chardon (NED)

2010-06-24T10:00:00.002-04:00

Twenty-second national title for IJsbrand Chardon

At the end of May, I won the Dutch National four-in-Hand Driving Championship for the twenty-second time in my career. A Dutch Championship is always special and I never get bored of winning it! The Championship took place during the World Cup Qualifying competition in Zelhem (the Netherlands) and I also won the international class, ahead of my compatriots Theo Timmerman and Koos de Ronde.

It was only decided two weeks before the event that Zelhem would host the Dutch National Championship, but I did not mind that. At the start of this year, I choose to start my outdoor competition season and training schedule 5-6 weeks later than normal. The World Four-in-Hand Championships during the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky take place in the first week in October, which is much later than my usual ending of the season. In Zelhem I was pleasantly surprised by my dressage performance, for which I used my World Championship Team. If I drive like this in Kentucky, I will be very happy! The dressage is a decisive factor and I am extremely pleased with the way my horses went.

The marathon was a different matter though..! I noticed very well in this phase that we only had a short period of training before Zelhem. My fellow competitors had all driven more marathons than we did and I really had to work hard to keep up with the speed! The level is very high at the moment and I was still happy with my fifth place in the marathon which abled me to keep my lead in the Dutch Championships and the international competition.

I also had different, but experienced people on the back of my carriage in Zelhem. My wife Paulien stayed home because our eldest daughter Jeannette (18) had to do her school exams. We believe school is very important and that is also the reason why my son Bram (16) will not be able to compete in one of the nicest international pony driving competitions in The Netherlands this summer. Bram has moved on to national level with his pony team at the start of this season. He and I now regularly compete at the same shows, so he won’t be able to backstep for me all the time. But Paulien and Bram will for sure be on my team in Aachen and at the World Equestrian Games!

The final obstacle driving competition went very well, I drove a clear round within the time allowed and it was a great feeling to hear the national anthem being played for me for the twenty second time!

I know what to work on to perform better in the marathon and I will use different wheeler horses in Saumur this weekend. After Saumur, the next important competition is Aachen. I will meet my strongest opponents there; one of them is Boyd Exell from Australia. I consider him as a medal candidate. I feel it is important to scale yourself and not to stay on your own isle.

Endurance Rider Kathy Brunjes (USA) Blogs about the Endurance Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

2010-06-22T09:57:00.004-04:00

Back from the Shine and Shine Only CEI */** outside San Jose, California (held May 15). Many west coast endurance riders came together to either finish qualifying themselves and/or their horses for the WEG or to bring young horses up through the FEI mileage/qualification system. My good friends (and fellow team-mates) Heather and Jeremy Reynolds provided a very nice horse for me to compete on; this was to be his first 120km. The trails were some of the most beautiful I have ever ridden, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for this east coast rider! Unfortunately, my mount developed a small cramp in his hind-quarters at 60 miles, and we were withdrawn at that point. Heather and Jeremy went on to win and place second in the 120km on their horses. The course was well-marked, officials were helpful and ride management provided a spectacular venue (both scenery and hospitality). I’m ready to move!

The first of our WEG selection trials will be in Danville, IL. Central riders and horses, along with some East and West riders nominated on multiple horses, will be tested and examined over a course being laid out by our Chef d’Equipe and local volunteers. Immediately following the Central trial will be the East (Elton, MD at Fair Hill), then the West trial will conclude the initial selection process in Prineville, OR. Approximately 60 horse/rider combinations will be demonstrating during these trials. Added to the 45+ riders listed on the Endurance Rider Ranking List (ERRL) are the Wild Card invitations, extended to riders with their nominated horses who did not make the ERRL in the past 20 months, but have demonstrated a potential that has caught the eye of both the Selectors’ Committee and the Chef. Up to ten Wild Cards were allowed in the procedures, and eight invitations were extended to attend one of the three trials.

I recently took my nominated horse, Theatric, to a three-day competitive event, using this as cross-training before we went into our last week of sprint work prior to attending our East trial. The weather is warming up, humidity has entered the picture and we are keeping our fingers crossed that everyone stays sound and healthy for the next three weeks. Riders will have a chance to ask questions of our Chef at the upcoming informational call on June 7, and there will be one last chance to qualify nominated horses before the selection trials at the Ft. Howes CEI*** on June 13 (Ft. Howes, MT).

More to follow……..
Stay sound! Kathy

Vaulter Ali Divita (USA) Blogs About Her Beloved Horse, Lorino

2010-06-14T14:32:00.007-04:00

Vaulter Alicen Divita (USA) was set to compete in the CVI in Saumur, France when her beloved horse, Lorino, fell ill. Below Ali recalls some of her favorite memories with Lorino, who is now on the road to recovery.

After my parents graduated from college, my dad got a job in Hawaii. Still living in California, my mom sold her horse to buy a plane ticket to go visit him; my dad told her that one day he would buy her an even better one. Sixteen years and four kids later, my Dad kept his promise. That is how Lorino came into our lives.

I remember that first day when he came to the barn, I took him out of his stall and used all of his new brushes, making his already clean coat even shinier and smoother. I had never had a horse before, but I grew up always wanting one. Even though I was already a young teenager, I felt that same little girl awe as I stood there with my 17.1 hand Hanoverian “pony”.

I remember learning to ride with him. I think I was the smallest girl in the lesson, but Lorino towered over everyone. All of the other girls could control their little ponies and would guide them in a perfectly straight line; daintily leaping over the sweetly arranged jumps one after the other. Then came Lorino and me. Barely making it around the corner, we serpentined towards the center of the arena, reigns being pretty much ignored on both ends, toes pointed into the stirrups, all four of our eyes sparkling at the jump ahead. Lorino would leap with all his might, clearing the 6 inch jump by at least 3 feet, all four feet at the same time, like a mix between a kangaroo and a little boy on a trampoline. It was clear we were going to have to find a creative way to express our “unique” energy.

I remember teaching him what vaulting was about. My mom would get him trotting on the lunge circle, and I would slowly start trotting next to him. Immediately he would stop. I would keep running forward, softly holding his bridle leading him forward, “No silly just like me, keep going.” Eventually he learned to keep going at the canter, and soon I was able to run all the way towards him, grab the grips and use the momentum of his stride to pull myself up onto his back. This is how we learned to work together. When I stand on his back, my legs extend all the way to his hooves, when he pushes off the ground the energy comes all the way back up through my arms. Maybe the director of Avatar was trying to get at this. I am pretty sure that if Lorino and I braided our manes together the result would be slightly more awkward, but the connection is there, it is the most natural feeling in the world.

I remember when I was in high school, coming to vaulting straight from school, totally exhausted and not even sure why I was sad, and just leaning into his shoulder feeling completely safe because he knew. It is that level of communication that does not require words.

I remember walking with him back and forth through the parking lot to cool down after morning practices, both of us still breathing hard. Our heart rates went down as the sun came up, I felt like I was watching the rest of the world wake up. Lorino would push my shoulders with his nose, both of us just being there in the moment. Sometimes Lorino would take advantage of these moments of awe, because he has one fault: food. Somehow he had a way of leading us closer and closer to the trailer each time we circled. Then, just at the right time he would make his mad dash to the cookie jar, pulling me along with him and reminding me that a “lead” line is only defined by the end that can pull harder.

I remember driving all over the country with him and my mom. At each gas stop he would poke his head out the window, ready for his treats: that was the whole point of the ride right? I would feel so proud as people would marvel at how big and pretty he was, he was always the one I told the smallest kids they could pet, “You can always trust Lorino,” I would say.

I remember last year, stumbling through my routine at practice, starting to lose hope as I missed a handstand and landed on my shoulder. With my ear pressed into his back gripping the handles I had a moment of wanting to give up. But with the energy of his stride, I actually felt Lorino encourage me. He put in enough effort for both of us, moving forward he told me I could do it, “Just like me,” he said with his stride, just keep going.

This Sunday was the first time I realized that Lorino is not always going to be there. Coming back from yoga I wondered why my mom wasn’t home, I called my Dad and he told me that they were at the emergency vet. Lorino had been looking uncomfortable earlier that day, but after walking him around for a few hours the vet and trainers said nothing seemed to be seriously wrong. My sister, Shannyn and I got in the car and drove straight out to see him. When I saw him standing there with an IV in his neck, I started to cry. Things got better and worse as the night went on, and eventually it was just my mom and I in the early hours of the morning.

After some much-needed bonding time with my mom, I started thinking about the term paper I was supposed to be working on for my East Asian Art History Class. They say that before Buddha was born as a human he was born hundreds of times as various different animals. I told my mom and she said, “So Lorino could actually be a future Buddha?” A Buddha is supposed to have extreme wisdom. We looked over and Lorino was spraying water everywhere as he scratched his butt on the automatic water dispenser. “I am not sure if wise is the first word that comes to mind,” my mom said. But as we stood there laughing I couldn’t help but think about how good it felt to be there with my mom and our horse, in the middle of the night, during finals week, having completely forgotten about everything I was stressed about earlier that day. Buddhists say we are taught by skillful means; he moves in mysterious ways. Sometimes it is obvious what we learn, or what we take away from our relationships, and sometimes it is a blessing wearing a very strange disguise.

We were lucky that we were able to give Lorino surgery, and he is doing much better now. It doesn’t look like I will be vaulting on him at the selection trials this year, but that doesn’t mean he is not still with me. Just as when we meet new people we bring with us what we have learned from our previous relationships, I know that I will always have what I have learned from Lorino when I vault on other horses and when I continue on in life. We are the result of our different experiences. It is about being strong enough to hold the move steady, but loose enough to absorb the stride. As a rider you may think you are in control, but I think really we are just being taken on a ride. So all I can say is enjoy it, and make sure to keep your eyes open.

The Latest from Olympic Show Jumping Gold Medalist, Beezie Madden (USA), on her European Tour

2010-06-11T14:30:00.003-04:00

Show Jumper Beezie Madden (USA) blogs about the end of her first European Tour with her mare, Madmoiselle. More to come as she continues on her second European Tour with her gelding, Danny Boy.

Our third and final Tour 1 Super League show took place in St. Gallen Switzerland and finished last Sunday. The team was the same as in Rome and LaBaule with the exception of McLain who rode Rothchild in the Nations Cup instead of Sapphire. Since Sapphire had little to prove, Rothchild got the chance to do his first Nations Cup.

Unfortunately, we again did not have a good day as a team. The conditions were tough as it had rained most of the day on Thursday and most of Wednesday night causing the cancellation of all the classes on Thursday. They did allow the Nations Cup horses to jump a warm-up round on Thursday evening. The ground was still quite soft on Friday for the Cup, and some horses handled it well and others did not. Our first round was dismal again.

Richard had eight faults, McLain had 13, I had nine with Mademoiselle, and Mario rode anchor with five faults. The time allowed was very short and, along with the difficult conditions, made for tough jumping. The French team, however, came out firing again and was in the lead after the first round. Our second round was only slightly better.

Richard was clear, McLain had eight, I had a disappointing 13 faults, and Mario had nine. We finished a very disappointing 7th place. I think some of our horses were feeling the effects of having already done two Super League shows with a lot of traveling and not much time off.

In the Grand Prix, we had another mediocre showing. Richard placed 10th with five faults in the first round and four in the jump off. Mario also made it to the second round with four faults in the first (the top
13 from the first round came back for the jump off) and completed the jump off with eight faults. I had nine faults with Mademoiselle, so I did not have the performance I hoped for to make the team for WEG. I can't, however, be that disappointed with her since she jumped three Super League Grand Prix's, two with four faults and one with nine. Our process of getting to know each other is ongoing. And with a little more time under our belt, I feel we can be very competitive at the highest level.

My focus now has to be on Danny Boy and his performance at Rotterdam next week and later at Aachen. With good results at those two shows, he could be in striking distance of making the WEG team. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Update from Olympic Show Jumping Gold Medalist, Beezie Madden (USA) on her European Tour

2010-06-08T15:20:00.002-04:00

Olympic Gold Medalist, Beezie Madden (USA), blogs about the second leg of her European Tour in Rome.

Our second Super League show has finished with mixed results. We went to Rome with the same team as in Labaule: Myself, Mario, McLain, Hillary and Richard. This time ,however, I was on the Nations Cup team with Mademoiselle instead of Hillary with Quincy B. It was not our day as far as the team result. We finished a disappointing sixth out of 11 teams.

I was very happy, though, with Maddy in her first Nations Cup with me. With a four-fault score in the first round and a clear in the second round, we were the best combination of the American team that day. Richard started the team off with what was looking like a clear round, but ended up an elimination at the final double combination. This put the pressure on the rest of us.

I followed with four faults as did Mario with Urico. McLain as our anchor rider turned in an unusual eight faults with Sapphire. With a 16 fault score in the first round, we barely made the second round and came back first in the order. Richard produced a clear followed by a clear by me and Maddy. Mario then had four faults, but our comeback was looking good with McLain left to go. Unfortunately he had a light rub that fell for four faults, and we came back from our ninth position going into the second round up to sixth. This is why Nations Cups are so unpredictable. It's hard to have four horses and riders peaking on the same day.

The rest of our show had not quite the success as we had in Labaule, but McLain won the Grand Prix with Sapphire and two other classes with his other horses, and Hillary won a class with Corlette. Mademoiselle had four faults in the Grand Prix, but jumped and went beautifully. I am looking forward to St. Gallen this week. Again I am hoping for a fantastic week with Maddy, so we can move up the rankings on the long list and leave this first Super League Tour with a bang.
-Beezie

Olympic Eventing Gold Medalist, Stuart Tinney (AUS) Blogs About His Trip to the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event

2010-06-04T15:47:00.008-04:00

Stuart Tinney Attends the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event: Proudly funded by Equestrian Australia and Australian Sports Commission.

It was with great pleasure that I took the opportunity that Equestrian Australia gave me and others to travel to Lexington, KY for the 4 star Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April in the lead up to for World Equestrian Games later in the year. Coach Wayne Roycroft, Vet Denis Goulding, High Performance Manager Brett Mace and fellow rider Megan Jones were the eventing contingent that went from Australia. Veterinarian Graham Potts and rider Sam Griffiths where to go from the UK but the Icelandic volcano put a stop to their travel.

This was also a problem for the event organizers, as two of the ground jury members could not get to the event and they had to call in some help. Marilyn Payne and Christian Landolt where both judging in Florida and they could step in the last minute to be the part of the ground jury which was lucky. And also lucky, the horses that where to compete from UK flew out the day before the airport shutdown. William Fox-Pitt (the eventual winner) and Oliver Townend got themselves to Spain and where picked up by private jet from there, all a bit of a logistical nightmare that seemed to get sorted out very well!

The venue is as amazing as you might expect. Having seen many photos of the area it did not disappoint at all—lots of white post and rail fencing and very green grass. Although the cross country course for WEG will be on a totally different track it was great to see the terrain and landscape that will be used, which I think will be very valuable. Having been familiarized with the accommodation and the general lay of the land and the set up of the event and the facility will be a great benefit, come the time of the championships. Again, thank you to EA and The Australian Sports Commission for this opportunity.

The Road to Kentucky...
Time certainly draws closer to the World Games for Vettori (Kiwi) and myself. We recently had a good run at the HSBC World Cup in Sydney May 7-9. The dressage was indoors and competitive, with the Australian judges scoring us 49.4 penalties for the CCI***A test. The XCountry was tough, technical and some tough questions on some lines. The HSBC World Cup was presented at The Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Those that remember the Sydney Olympics in 2000, it is quite hilly and the track this time was no exception. The horses really had to be fit! I put my foot down a little this time, Kiwi was just super and came home with .8 time. The field was large on Australian standards 31 starters, 20 were left after XCountry day. This left us in 3rd position, however the scores were close. Kiwi had an uncharacteristic 2 rails in the Indoor show jumping. His first start of the season I was overall pleased with his performance.

We will now look forward to Melbourne International Three-Day Event June 12-14. I am also taking Panamera (Buzz). She has not had an eventing start since Adelaide, although she has been to some dressage comps, as we have been attempting some embryo transfer. Buzz will have a CIC*** run in a couple of weeks and Kiwi will go show jumping!

Thanks to Kathy Ward and Peter O’Connell owners of Vettori for their continued support, Tim Game owner of Panamera, my sponsors Coprice, Bates, Nature Vet and Horseland.

That’s all for now on my campaign trail for WEG. Regular updates on our progress can be found on http://www.tinneyeventing.com/.

Eight-Time USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Champion, Chester Weber (USA)

2010-06-01T14:46:00.003-04:00

My team and I are in full swing for this summer’s events. We have made the decision to train and compete in North American this year and prepare for WEG. It was a tough decision, we love competing in Europe but I feel that training and competing here is a smart decision. I have had the opportunity to compete under several European judges this season and we feel confident in our choice.

This summer I plan to fine-tune the horses at Garden State (CAI Allentown), CAI Bromont, and Iron Horse CDE in Illinois. I feel this will give us the chance to reach our goal and have the horses peak at WEG.

Meanwhile, the team made their debut on TV last month. NRHA is hosting a Countdown to the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games sponsored by Adequan, featuring different disciplines each episode. This particular episode featured driving. Check out the video on the NRHA Inside Reining website, visit http://www.insidereining.com/ or www.facebook.com/insidereining.

While I am busy schooling the horses at home I recently attended school, this time in front of the class. I visited the Central Florida Community College and attended an Exercise Physiology class for the Equine Studies Department. It was the last class of the semester and I summarized to the students my training and conditioning program for my horses. I spoke specifically about my feeding program, cardiovascular conditioning and how I maintain soundness through post-exercise therapy and regular veterinary evaluation. The students were fantastic and it is great experience to help influence the future of the horse industry.

2006 Vaulting World Champion, and Seven-Time German Vaulting Champion, Kai Vorberg (GER)

2010-05-28T10:50:00.007-04:00

“So now I can start to plan precisely…”

First I want to apologize for not updating my blog in a while! But there were many things to do and to get started to have a good run into an outstanding season.

The first international competition was held in Saumur, France in April. I did not compete there because my longeur was too busy and so I travelled with my team to support them.

Two weeks later in the Netherlands, I had my first international competition with my new Freestyle concept. The CVI** was held in Ermelo, NED where they have the KNHS, the National Riding Centre of the Netherlands. It is a nice venue which gave us a good opportunity for the first start. I won and I am quite satisfied with my progress so far.

The last weekend (May 1-2) we had the first WEG qualification in Germany.
At the “Prize of the Best” in western Germany was the first possibility for everybody to show up. This was quite important for me, because I needed to see how my routine works in tough competition, and I was very satisfied with my horse“Sir Bernhard RS vd Wintermühle”! He had some brilliant moments and some with a little lack of concentration, but he definitely keeps moving forward! And that was the most important thing to see.

My new Freestyle had good reviews, so I am happy with what the people and the press think about it. Not to forget the judges! And I am looking forward to present it more people in Europe and of course especially in the US!

I was happy to win, and in second place was my teammate Gero Meyer. He is a little older than me, but actually we are both the only ones left from an older generation of vaulters.
We can still show the young guys what’s going on and we are very proud of that!
After the awards ceremony the committee gave the official confirmation
that I have permission to compete in Kentucky for the 2010 WEG! The other individuals still need to qualify, but because of my success in past years (medal in every championship since 2003), and especially because of my shape at the moment and that I have quite a few top level horses, I got selected as the first Individual for the Games for Germany! That makes me very proud and I am truly happy to have reached that first, and very important, step by now!

When I was standing with Gero in the awards ceremony we made a pact that we will show the new generation what our passion for the sport is all about!

I will be sure to keep you posted about my journey to Kentucky!

YOURS,
Kai

2008 British Grand Prix Freestyle Champion, and British National Champion Dressage Rider, Maria Eilberg (GBR)

2010-05-25T09:15:00.006-04:00

The 2008 British Grand Prix Freestyle Champion and British National Dressage Champion, Maria Eilberg, 26, blogs about her horses, and her journey to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games:

So, with having had a major effort in Spain in April (The Spanish Sunshine Tour) in March it was nice to have some home time. I enjoyed Easter, almost didn't remember but a few Easter Eggs helped! We were fairly chilled for the bank holiday and had catch up time with the family which was nice.

(Pictured: Maria and Two Sox winning the National Grand Prix Title in 2008)

April 9-11 I had Woodlander Rockstar, an 8yr old dark bay Hannovarian Stallion who is owned by Lynne Crowden of the Woodlander Stud, compete in our National Winter Championships. He went very well and won his class which was the Advanced Medium Open Championship. Being first to go I thought it was going to be difficult to hold the lead from the front but he did it bless him! I think having gone to Spain prepared us well for the atmosphere; you always come back being somewhat bomb proof with having had almost everything thrown at you from barking dogs to whizzing mopeds to screaming kids. At the time it is a little frustrating but in the long run the horses need to learn to cope with it and put their trust in you—you never know what might happen for those few minutes in the ring! I had also been preparing him at home as though I was going to ride a PSG, the Adv Med then felt easy. I could tell as I rode him around the arena that he was pretty relaxed and focused, he didn't even flinch at the banners. Generally he is feeling so much stronger and established in his work and I feel he is now ready to move up a gear! My brother Mike did very well on his small tour horse Torino in the Int 1 Music in the evening. It was quite a long wait with Rockstar having gone at half one but it was worth the wait. I managed to catch a glimpse of some of the other evening performances aswell, as is nearly always the case when you're competing you don't get to see anything! Have to say I thought the Bad Boys Pas de Deux with Charlie Hutton and Henry Boswell was great, they were wearing leather jackets with shades, very cool!!

Two Sox, my Grand Prix horse, was not happy to be left at home but his turn will come again soon (he is enjoying a well deserved break after Spain.) I managed to lead him out for some grass for the first time yesterday which he thoroughly enjoyed with a big smirk across his face. He so loves all the extra pamper and I have to say he is thoroughly spoilt, as they all are! It is amazing how they thrive on individual attention so it is really important to make that extra time for them.

Worldwide, a stallion I am riding for the Parkland Stud, has now started with the double bridle. Touch wood he seems to be liking it, I've only put a very soft curb in to get him used to it. He is also starting with the flying changes as well-with having qualified him for the Summer Regs at Medium before I went to Spain it now gives me a bit of time to play with the changes without having to worry about competing.

I had actually planned to go on holiday towards the end of April, but my brother Michael was invited to go to Saumur so I have had to stay at home to keep things going. With the volcanic ash cloud my flight was cancelled anyway which made me feel a little better!

The weather has been lovely so the horses have been enjoying the sunshine, we have been hacking out, riding on the sandtrack and hand grazing. I have been doing a few new things with Rockstar in preparation for the Intermediare 1, he is currently working at Prix St Georges. I am planning on going to Germany for a couple of shows with Two Sox and it would be great if I can take Rockstar for the small tour as well . . .

We have a few young horses in the stable at the moment, working with them has been fun and interesting, after having worked with the more advanced horses it makes you remember where it all starts, I feel like I am learning all over again!

May has proved to be another busy month with Mike having been to Saumur, my Dad having been to Badminton to help with the Dressage and myself having done Central Camp followed by BYRDS and SW Training, and it's already time to start preparing for the Addington Premier Show which is next weekend! I am aiming to use it as a warm up for Wiesbaden and Lingen Internationals which are going to be held in Germany at the end May/begin June. I will be taking Two Sox for the big tour and Rockstar for the small tour-he hasn't even done his first PSG yet so this will be quite a challenge!!

(Here is a picture of our Jack Russell, "Rocky," who, by the looks of it, has been feeling just as tired as us this past week!)

The horses have been going quite well, and I am having to remind Two Sox he has not quite made retirement yet, and that he has some rather important shows coming up! I had been giving him a bit of a break from the arena, especially while the weather was so nice, with loads of hacking, sand tracking and of course the all important hand grazing and I think he is definitely of the opinion that that is how life should be! It is very important to keep his mind happy and interested as he has been doing the Grand Prix work for 6 years now. Rockstar on the other hand is still learning and having to get his head around some of the more advanced movements-he is coping very well, I think he is really enjoying learning new things and feeling very pleased with himself!

Update from Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden (USA) on her European Tour

2010-05-19T14:38:00.004-04:00

May 17, 2010--We just finished our first Super League competition in La Baule, France, as a team and the Americans did extremely well. The team consisted of myself with Mademoiselle, McLain Ward with Sapphire, Richard Spooner with Cristallo, Mario Deslauriers with Urico and Hillary Dobbs with Quincy B. We all had additional horses there for classes other than the Nations Cup and Grand Prix. We finished second in the Nations Cup to the home team of France and McLain won the Grand Prix with Sapphire. Mario finished just behind him in second with Urico. In addition, McLain won two other classes with a new horse, I won a 1.50m class with Via Volo, and Richard Spooner won the Derby with Pako. McLain ended up the Leading Gentleman Rider of the show, and I was the Leading Lady Rider.

I was pleased with Mademoiselle’s performance since she was third the first day in the qualifier for the Grand Prix and then had just four faults in the Grand Prix. Our chef de equip, George Morris, chose not to have me ride on the Nations Cup this week, but based on Mademoiselle’s performance in La Baule, he plans on having me on the Nations Cup team in Rome. I hope she and I can have a great performance there to boost her chances of making the team for the WEG in October. Since she is a new partner for me and she finished ninth in the rankings, she needs to come on strong now to make up some ground on the others.

Since I haven’t written in a while, I would like to give a brief summary of what the horses have been doing. Danny Boy and Mademoiselle both had a few weeks of light work after the Florida Circuit. They traveled to Lexington, KY instead of home with our other horses, so they could be there for the test event at the horse park during the Rolex Three Day Event the last week in April. I planned to compete with them in two competitions there, but due to inclement weather, the first one on Saturday night was cancelled. That meant that Sunday was my only chance to get them into the stadium. Luckily, they both were very comfortable in it. Danny Boy won the Grand Prix and Mademoiselle was fifth. Obviously, the course was not as big as what it will be at the WEG, but I was relieved to know that both horses liked the venue.

From there they went home for one week and then flew to Europe. They stayed about three days at our base in Holland, at Johan Heins’s stable, and then traveled by van to LaBaule. Right now, Danny Boy is in Torino waiting to compete there this week, and Mademoiselle is in Milan for one week of R&R before her next competition in Rome. More to come after Rome!

Beezie

Endurance Rider Kathy Brunjes (USA) Blogs About Spring Training and the Upcoming 2010 Games Endurance Selection Trials

2010-05-18T10:04:00.005-04:00

APRIL: TRAINING ROUTINE
Training in the NE going along nicely - weather has been phenomenal, with temps in the mid-70s. April in Maine usually means icy trails, 2-3 foot snow banks and temps around 40 degrees. With the mild weather, we are not only able to get out on trails usually blocked until mid-May, but we're also getting some good "heat" training in for the more southern competitions coming up. Southern, of course for those of us in the NE, means anything south of Massachusetts!

The weekend of April 10-11 was an FEI endurance "qualifying" event in Inyokern, California - I was scheduled to attend this, flying out to San Francisco, to compete on a young horse belonging to fellow WEG nominees (and friends) Heather and Jeremy Reynolds. Unfortunately I had to cancel due to a death in my family. We'll try to get together in mid-May outside of San Jose for another qualifying event for both riders and horses.

Our major training attempts are focusing on the prestigious Biltmore Challenge (first weekend of May) in Asheville, NC. The course winds around the Biltmore estate. All FEI endurance events are qualifying events for riders and horses working up the FEI mileage "ladder" and the (formerly called) certificate of capability required in the qualification process.

Since I was unable to go to California, I'll be away to increase mileage in our training; 15-20 miles per horse per day over the weekend. All endurance riders on the ERRL (endurance rider ranking list) met (by teleconference) with our Chef last evening to touch basis and go over use of our GPS units during our training sessions. You can feel the excitement in the athletes' voices as they ask questions and respond to our Chef's questions.

MAY: PREPARING FOR SELECTION TRIALS
Selection trials are in another month, and athletes and horses are continuing their quest to complete their qualifications. The Biltmore Challenge was held in Asheville, NC during the weekend of May 1, an important FEI ** and *** event for endurance; with near-perfect weather conditions (although there had been predicted thunder storms/storm cell to arrive mid-day, the weather held off until later in the evening, when most riders/horses had completed the course) and no mud on course this year, it proved to be a challenge, never-the-less for many athletes. Yours truly did not complete the course on my alternate horse prospect, being eliminated at the end of the fourth phase (at 70 miles) for left front lameness. Running out of time to qualify this particular horse - my primary mount will be my nominated horse for the selection trials.

There should be between 50-60 horses/athletes at the three zone trials; Central Zone will host the first of the three trials from June 18-20 in Danville, IL. East Zone will be held at Fair Hill in Elkton, MD during June 21-23 and the Selectors and Chef and veterinarians will conclude their marathon evaluations on the West Coast from June 24-26 (Prineville, OR). Footing for all three trials should be very close to what is anticipated in Kentucky at WEG and although the West Coast trial may not be as humid as Kentucky could be, the Central and East trials should come pretty close to what we can expect in Kentucky.

Athletes and Chef are "meeting" monthly via telephone conference call, going over expectations for both the trials and the WEG. Everyone is getting pumped!

This past weekend I took Theatric to a local (4 hours away) endurance event (a 30-mile Limited Distance and a 50-mile open) as a small tune up ride. We entered the Limited Distance (30-mile) due to weather conditions - unexpected cold spell with rain, snow flurries (yes, in May!) and 40 degree temps. Theatric's 3/4 brother, Synthetic (ridden by my good friend Melody Blittersdorf - also a nominated WEG contender who has just received her invitation to attend a selection trial as a "Wild Card" invitee) was also at this ride, so Mel and I decided to ride together as a team and let our boys have some fun. Both horses breezed the 30 miles and averaged a nice 10 mph speed over the hills and through the bad weather to finish tied for first place. It's always fun to win - especially with such great team mates. We were able to put the horses up, shower and have lunch before noon! There's something to be said about Limited Distance!

I'm off to California for the Shine and Shine Only endurance events (May 14-16) in San Jose, California. I'll be riding another team mates horse (Heather and Jeremy Reynolds of Los Gatos, Calif.) on his first 75 mile event. I'm looking forward to seeing all my West Coast friends, and our Chef this weekend. The next East Coast 50-mile endurance event will be held in CT/RI at the Escoheag Park (hosted by the New England Arabian Trail Organization - NEATO). A good many of the East nominated riders and horses will be using this 50-mile event as a final warm-up/tune-up for our selection trial in June.

More news to follow - I'll report on the West coast riders after the SASO events this coming weekend.

Follow Australian Show Jumper Edwina Alexander On the Road to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

2010-05-14T09:31:00.003-04:00

Edwina Alexander is writing a diary for the Official Athlete Blog of the 2010 Games as she prepares for the 2010 Global Champions Tour (GCT) and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG). Here is Edwina's second entry...

The last month…

The last month has been a real rollercoaster with quite a few shows and then the Rolex FEI World Cup Final. Overall, I’m feeling pretty good in myself and I’m trying to get as much rest as possible, but not doing too much isn’t the easiest thing in the world at the moment! I was up at 4am last Wednesday morning to go to Copenhagen for a photo shoot and got back home at about 1am the following morning. I was then up very early to jump five horses ahead of the four-day show in Mannheim, so I haven’t had as much rest as I would have hoped for!

Itot (Cevo Itot Du Château)…

Itot was a completely different horse when he arrived in Geneva for the Rolex Final compared to how he was in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Paris. I’m not quite sure what happened but his back was causing him a lot of discomfort; maybe he rolled in his box, but I really didn’t know what the problem was at the time. In hindsight I shouldn’t have jumped Itot on the second day of the Final, and I was thinking that before I went into the ring; sometimes you should listen to your own instinct. After the round my osteopath took a look at Itot and said that one of his joints was a little bit out, so it was just a case of putting that back in. Thankfully, after one week of just walking, being on the lunge and some massage, he’s much better. I did some small jumps with him this morning and he’s feeling like his old self again.

Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final, Geneva…

The Rolex FEI World Cup Final was a fantastic experience and in my opinion it’s one of the most beautiful indoor shows in the world. I stayed at a fantastic hotel which was right opposite the showground, which was lovely and also extremely convenient when I needed to practice or get to my classes! I was typically doing some light riding every morning between 7 – 8.00am to get the horses loose and relaxed, and I think I rode once at lunchtime as the classes weren’t until the evening. Outside of that I watched a little bit of the other classes, did a bit of reading and went for a few walks to try and stay as relaxed as I possibly could. I was obviously disappointed with my result in the Rolex FEI World Cup, but Socrates’ (Cevo Socrates) performance and second place in the Grand Prix was a great consolation; he always seems to pull something out when it matters.

What’s next…?

This weekend I go to Mannheim and I’ll take four horses, one who I’ve only ridden once and who I don’t know at all! It will give some of my younger, less experienced horses a chance to step up another level, and I aim to do that at least once every three weeks with those kinds of horses. My focus now is very much on the GCT, which starts in Valencia and runs from 7 – 9 May.

Summer 2010’s schedule…

I’m going to be playing this summer a lot by ear but Itot is very much at the forefront of my plans as, being the number one horse, he is going to have the best and busiest programme. I’m conscious not to give him too much work as I want him to fully recover from his back injury. Itot will go to Valencia and then on to Hamburg, and then I have a pretty heavy programme with my other horses. I go to the Turin leg of the GCT and after that to the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco, which I’m really excited about. Following Turin I go to Wiesbaden for a couple of days, then back home for a day or so, and then to the Rome CSIO – so a busy schedule coming up.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

2008 Paralympic Silver Medalist Angelika Trabert (GER)

2010-05-12T10:32:00.005-04:00

First of all I want to excuse myself - sorry my second blog entry has taken so long. A lot has kept me from my desk. See for yourself:
(Pictured: Angelika Trabert on Ariva-Avanti)

LONDRIA, went with me on a training weekend with Manolo Oliva and did really well BUT the following week she was not a 100% sound. What a shock! She was diagnosed by 2 different vets with something very similar to a carpal tunnel syndrome in humans. So what does that mean?

First and foremost, LONDRIA will fully recover! But it will take time (not something we have a great deal of this year). However, to keep her fit without too much muscle loss while not being ridden, she is receiving suitable wellness training on my account...including aquatraining (water training). We will have to skip the first qualification competition in Mannheim in May. But we hope to be ready to "Rock and Roll" again for the Germans in July. In between we will have to attend training weekends and regular horse shows to prove that we are fit and ready. Quite a challenge ...

WALMOREL had her first foal on the 26th of March - a very nice little colt by Fuerst Romancier. His name is "Finaud Coquin" (pictured right). I think (hope) he has a bright future. But talking of the future, competitions in 2010 to be precise, as both of my horses (L & W) were one way or the other not up to joining me on training weekends I have been in a bit of a bind. However, again I was lucky. Heinrich, a good friend and the owner of the establishment where I stable my horses, found another horse which I am able to ride.

So let me introduce:
ARIVA-AVANTI (pictured above), a 7 year old mare by Alabaster, dam sir Florestan I. She is fairly young and has had no proper training in the last two years (she had 2 foals instead). I have been riding her for the last three weeks and she impresses me with her intelligence, fairness and her attitude. We have travelled to three different training weekends throughout Germany. Each time she was very excited, but after being shown around, she adapted quickly to the new situation. So in two weeks we will have our first regular horse show. I would be very happy if I could just manoeuvre her through the test without a major error. If this is the case we will go straight to our first international horse show in Mannheim. It will be very exciting (for both of us) I suspect we could probably both do with some extra nerve. So everything is in progress and I sure hope I can prove the quality of my horses which as you know I admire greatly!

Four-Time World Champion Four-in-Hand Driver, IJsbrand Chardon (NED)

2010-05-10T11:41:00.005-04:00

Four-time World Champion Four-in-Hand Driver, IJsbrand Chardon (NED) blogs about his sucess in the 2010 FEI World Cup Driving Finals, and his journey to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
(Photo Credit:Rinaldo de Craen)

We completed our indoor driving season with the third place in the FEI World Cup Driving Final in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Cup season was successful for me. I bought three Lipizzaner horses of my Hungarian colleague Jozsef Dobrovitz at the end of November, especially to compete in indoor competitions. The four-in-hand team I had for indoor driving was good, but the standard nowadays is so high that I had to make a change in order to be able to win. I successfully competed in several World Cup competitions with these Lipizzaners and I qualified for the Final. Three weeks ago I completed the team with the fourth Lipizzaner horse, which I also bought from Dobrovitz. I am very pleased with the third place in Geneva and my goal is to perform even better with this grey team during the coming indoor World Cup season. The Final was a good closure of the indoor season and we are looking forward to the outdoor season with the WEG in Kentucky as highlight.

We already started the preparations for the WEG straight after I won my fourth individual World Championship title on home soil in Beesd in 2008.

I have 8 horses at my disposal, amongst which the same horses as in Beesd:

Tomasson, 1990, KWPN gelding, all-round horse and usually goes in the wheel in the dressage and cones competition.

Argus, 1995, KWPN gelding, all-round horse

Isovlas Tango, 1996, Swedish warm blood gelding, all-round horse

Isovlas Paganini, 1994, Swedish warm blood gelding, all-round horse

Zidane, 1992, KWPN gelding, all-round horse and usually one goes in the dressage and cones competition.

Whooper, 2003, KWPN gelding, all-round horse but specialized in dressage. Whooper was successfully part of my team in 2009 at several big competitions.

Victory, 2002, KWPN gelding, all-round horse

Zep, 2004, KWPN gelding, all-round horse

Kelvin, 1992, KWPN gelding, marathon horse.

Last year we invested in the accommodation of our riding school and training centre which turned out to be very useful last winter! We built a large indoor arena so I was able to train throughout the very cold winter period in The Netherlands last months. We also realized an outdoor driving arena with an all-weather footing, which allows me to train under ideal circumstances.

I believe it has been a great advantage to me that I was able to keep training in the winter. I have not lost one day of training and the horses are very fit.

I focus on dressage training and I also select new horses on their dressage skills. If you get too far behind in dressage, you have already lost the competition. My horses are all ridden regularly, this is good for their balance, bending, discipline, obedience, just good for everything really!

I also drive them in a pair regularly and since March I drive them in a team once a week.

It all looks well, we have had our first national training in March and I was very pleased with their performance. We have several highlights this season before Kentucky; Zelhem, Aachen the Dutch Championships. We will use these shows to compete against the other top drivers and to see where we stand!

To visit IJsbrand Chardon's Website, go to http://www.chardon.nl/.

Canadian Reiner and 2010 Games Hopeful, Lisa Coulter

2010-05-07T15:55:00.004-04:00

I have been a little worried about connecting with my new horse, Weg, but after the CRI at the NRBC in mid April in Texas I am feeling a lot more confident! I decided I needed to run him hard and we had a great run. I was a little tentative as the goal wasn't to win it but the goal was to go hard under pressure and against top horses and see how we fared. We ended up with a good score of 219.5 and in 6th place. I was pleased with that but more pleased with the connection Weg and I are making. I feel we are getting to a trust level in the show pen that is critical to us being a successful team. I will be schooling him and Ace now in preparation for the final in mid July to select our WEG team. I have decided to only take the 2 horses and leave Angel at home. I just think that is the best strategy and management is part of what it takes to win. (Pictured: Lisa Coulter on her horse Weg. Photo Credit: Waltenberry)

I was posed with an interesting question recently. I am a guest on a radio talk show that is following athletes on their quest for WEG (Horse Radio Network). It is a lot of fun to do and the hosts, Samantha and Glenn, are wonderful. They asked a thoughtful question about why there were so few women in the sport of Reining at a professional level. I stammered over the answer. There are truly great professional women in Reining but the numbers are very low. However the Non Pro level is filled with super talented women. They do not make their living at it though. So I have given this a lot of thought but still have few answers. There are plenty of equine sports that are filled with women pros. I keep going back to the fact that Reining was derived from Cutting and that is a cowboys' cowboy game. There are many successful women in the Cutting but I see it also have more men in numbers than women. So it could be we are somewhat of a boys club that simply does not attract women. Lets not forget Reining is only about 40 years old so maybe as it grows more women will become professionals in it. I don't see one reason a woman cannot make a career in the Reining industry. There are many doing it and have done so for years. I am proud to be in the Reining industry and have never felt at a disadvantage being a woman. I always say that its actually better as I get to be the one in the pretty shirts!! Its an interesting question and I wonder if there is a definite answer?

Looking to June I will be going to a couple schooling shows but nothing competitive. All efforts are pointed to the preparation to make the team. I will be keeping Weg and Ace focused and ready to perform. I know all the equine disciplines are gearing up and preparing for WEG and Reiners everywhere are focusing and awaiting the challenge!

2009 AERC National Champion Endurance Rider and UC Davis Veterinary Student, Lindsay Graham (USA)

2010-05-03T09:32:00.006-04:00

Hi, my name is Lindsay Graham and I am a fourth year veterinary student at UC Davis. I have been competing in endurance since 2004 but began riding as a kid and showed in hunter/jumpers for several years. On the international level, I competed in the 2005 North American Endurance Championships as a Pacific North Squad member on a horse named Phoenix Affair. This horse also took me to a 7th place Tevis Cup finish in 2006. (Photo: Lindsay and her horse, Monk)

At the end of the 2008 endurance season I began riding a horse named Monk, owned by Chris Martin of Grass Valley, CA. Chris needed a jockey to campaign his horse at the international level so I shortly took over the reins.

Monk is a 15.3, leggy Arabian gelding that is very quiet on the ground but means business under saddle. He has proven to be a spectacular athlete with a 100% completion rate, 1st place finish and Best Condition at the 2009 AERC 100 mile National Championships and a recent 2nd place finish and Best Condition at the 100 mile CEI *** Git R Done ride. The talent that this horse possesses is beyond what I have ever experienced I am looking forward to what lies ahead.

Finding time to train Monk has been a challenge as school takes up most of my time. Chris and I have worked out a great system where he does most of the training and hard work and I ride Monk whenever and wherever I can. Monk and I have finished our WEG qualifications, are currently tied for fifth on the national training list and at the moment, are fine-tuning ourselves for the big events ahead.

Six-Time Olympic Dressage Gold Medalist Isabell Werth (GER)

2010-04-29T14:44:00.004-04:00

Isabell Werth is writing a diary for alltechfeigames.com as she prepares for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games from 25 September – 10 October. Here is Isabell’s first entry...

Could you describe a typical training day?

Since my son Frederik’s birth last year the day now starts with him! I then start with the horses at around 9.00am and I can ride about seven horses per day. The rest of the day is now usually based around the stable business and Frederik.

How many horses do you have at the moment?

At the moment we have around about 40 horses under the saddle, so my whole team is very busy!

Do you have any up and coming horses that you see real promise in?

I have two horses with a lot of potential and great futures. The first is El Santo who is a horse with a lot of hope – he competed in the FEI World Cup™ in Gothenburg in February and I think he’s really talented; he did a great job there and also last week in Dortmund. The next horse is Don Johnson who is quite naughty at the moment, but he is an outstanding talent and I hope I can bring him to the Grand Prix at the end of the year.

Can you briefly explain El Santo’s and Don Johnson’s personalities?

With Ernie (El Santo) training is easy as he’s so uncomplicated and polite, and I would say he is the easiest horse at my stables. Don Johnson is a very strong character and needs a few more shows to increase his experience and calm down, so it is difficult for him to come to big showgrounds at the moment.

What are your plans now that the indoor dressage season is over?

We have to prepare for the outdoor season at the beginning of May and we will try to concentrate on the big shows, then come back in good shape and be prepared as best as possible for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in September 2010.

Which shows have you got lined up between now and the World Equestrian Games?

The big shows will be in Munich, Wiesbaden and, of course, Aachen, and then we have our National championships in Munster. We have a lot of shows up until August, and then after the German Championships we have the team nominations, and we will see what’s going on then.

Are you looking forward to London 2012?

Yes, it’s a big goal with one of the young ones, and Hannes (Warum Nicht) will be 16 then so he’s a possibility; I think we will have a few options and I hope we will be able to fight for the top places.

Isabell Werth, multiple Olympic Games gold medal winning dressage rider, is a Rolex equestrian sports Testimonee

2006 WEG Vaulting Silver Medalist Rosalind (Rosey) Ross (USA)

2010-04-27T09:21:00.008-04:00

Rosey is currently in college at Emerson, Boston. She is majoring in literature, writing, and publishing.

This month Rosey blogs about her team training and her new team vaulting horse, Palatine.

Today marks two months before the first selection trial competition, and I can only assume that all of the vaulters vying for a position on Team USA this year are feeling the same pressure that my team is. We just concluded a 10-day intensive training period where our aim was to have our whole freestyle routine working on the horse in sequence. We generally practice our material in sections, which makes it easier for both the vaulters and the horse. Since our horse, Palatine, is brand new to team vaulting, we have been easing him into it by not asking him to carry the entire four-minute routine in one go just yet. Over these past 10 days, we felt that he was finally ready to carry the whole routine, and I think I speak for the whole team when I say that we are very proud of how he did. Just two years ago when Palatine was our team’s compulsory horse, we never would have imagined him carrying our freestyle!

Palatine’s improvement in strength and endurance is due in large part to the dressage training he receives. Carolyn Bland of Cadence Sport Horses has been the F.A.C.E. team’s longtime “horse expert.” She has been responsible for our horses’ training under saddle and on the lunge line for even longer than I have been a part of the team. Carolyn currently lives in Tennessee and flies out to California for the team’s weekend practices, and in cases such as last week, for a longer duration to get some intensive training done. The lungeur’s duty requires far more than general knowledge of how to lunge a horse, and is probably one of the most under-valued pieces of the puzzle. The lungeur must know the team’s routine as well as the vaulters in order to gauge when it is acceptable to ask the horse to move forward or slow down. The difference that it makes to have an experienced lungeur is huge.

In addition to Carolyn, our team this year is supported and assisted by a wonderful group of people. One of the most integral parts of our team is the highly successful vaulting veteran herself, Anna de la Motte. Anna was brought on board this year as assistant coach and team manager. Not only does she take care of all the paperwork, scheduling, and organizing of the team administratively, she works with Devon to design our training regiments and coach at practices. Our costume designer Melanie Vissuzi has proven herself year after year to be a reliable supporter of the F.A.C.E. teams. Though we often give her complex instructions and ridiculously short deadlines to complete a set of eight costumes by, she always manages to provide us with the product that we had envisioned. Last week we were measured for our new costumes, so once a design is submitted, they should be underway!

Lastly, much credit is due to Richard and Sydney Frankel, owners of the beautiful facility in Woodside, California where we are fortunate enough to train. Without the generosity and support of the Frankels, our team may cease to exist at all this year.

Though our ten days of training ended up being quite productive, it was definitely an uphill battle. The weather was certainly not on our side, and being that we do not have a covered arena to train in, our time training on the horse was fairly limited. For the last two days of training we had beautifully sunny weather, which yielded some quality horse practice that we all felt good about. I never really cease to be amazed at how much our team accomplishes with such a limited amount of actual training time together, being that we all live so far apart. I can only hope that our accomplishments within the next two months are sufficient in getting us through the selection trials and ultimately on our way to Kentucky!

Show Jumper Lauren Hough (USA)

2010-04-23T15:15:00.005-04:00

Currently on the U.S. Show Jumping Long List for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Laruen's publicist, Jen Markee, gives us an update on Lauren and her horses from the World Cup Finals and the Kentucky Cup Jumping test event for the 2010 Games. (Photo Credit: J.L. Parker)

All three horses traveling to the World Cup landed safely in Amsterdam. After a few days layover and schooling they headed to Geneva. Lauren is fortunate to have three horses entered in the World Cup's horse show:
Quick Study
Prezioso S
Available Versace

Lauren celebrated her 33rd birthday on Sunday, April 11.

Lauren arrived in Geneva Monday, April 12 and began preparations for the World Cup competition (April 14-18).

After the World Cup Lauren will head back to the US to compete in the WEG Test Event April 23-25.

Lauren produced consistent performances at the World Cup.

Quick Study owned by Laura Mateo
Final Rank 16th
Round I Clear
Round II 8 faults
Round III (two rounds) clear and 4 faults

Prezioso S owned by Joan Simms and Highlife Farms 1st Pres de Communes Genevoises 7th Prix L'Hebdo

Available Versace owned by Chloe Reed and Available Jumpers.com 3rd Prix de l'Arve 5th Prix "En Chatillon" (Natural Obstacles)

Quick Study was a little under the weather during the week but was feeling better by Sunday morning.

The week was filled with extraneous distractions. The FEI's ruling eliminating Sapphire and the volcanic ash disrupting travel all created concerns other than the competition.

Lauren was fortunate to get on a flight to the USA on Tuesday as many riders and spectators maybe waiting as much as a week to get out of Geneva. Many considered other forms of transportation.

After the WEG Jumping Test Event this weekend, Lauren and the horses will travel to EU through New York.

Lauren will spend the balance of the year in Europe competing on the Global Champions Tour and representing the USA on Tour #2. This tour will create the short list for the WEG in the fall.

Lauren's EU Show schedule:

Valencia
Hamburg
Milano
Norten Hardenberg
Cannes
Rotterdam
Monte Carlo
Aachen
Chantilly

Seven-Time USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Champion, Chester C. Weber (USA)

2010-04-21T17:06:00.006-04:00

It is a great feeling to have Live Oak under my belt. Live Oak was extremely successful for my team this year and we had great turnout despite the weather. I am very pleased with our eighth USEF National Four-In-Hand win. My team had wonderful dressage and cones performances, but the marathon phase proved to be a challenge. My team won four of the first five hazards and finished second in number four by tenths of a second. Unfortunately at the “Gulch” we split the two lead horses on a post which caused us to loose some time, but the horses stayed calm and we were on our way without even a navigator to free them. It was the longest 45 seconds of this past year for me.
(Chester Weber winning the Kentucky Cup Driving Test Event and his seventh National Championship. Photo Credit: Jennifer Singleton).

Team Weber has many things going on this month. My horse Rolex W found his creative side and painted artwork for ReRun’s “Moneigh” collection. The artwork will be posted on ebay.com later this month and the money from the sale supports the ReRun charity. Rolex’s artistic talents and philanthropic side will be recognized this week at Rolex in Kentucky.

Jamaica is going to be at star at WEG this year whether he competes or not. Breyer is working on the finishing touches of a Jamaica model horse that will be debuted at the World Equestrian Games. Jamaica and I will be on hand to sign the model likenesses and meet Jamaica’s fans!

I just participated in a SUCCEED equine digestive health seminar at The Sanctuary Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation Center in Ocala. I explained to the audience how SUCCEED can help competition horses that experience high amounts of stress and physical demands.

On the first of May will know whether or not we will show in Europe this summer, meanwhile we are enjoying the view from top as we have held are number one ranking for WEG following Live Oak.

www.chesterweber.com

Para Dressage Athlete Mary Jordan (USA) Blogs About Her Journey to the 2010 Games

2010-04-19T09:53:00.005-04:00

My name is Mary Jordan and I am a Grade 4 Para- Equestrian Dressage rider with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) from Wells, Maine. I am sitting in a plane somewhere over the United States on my way to speak at a special program for MS patients, savoring this quiet time to start my blog, to chronicle my journey toward the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Para-Equestrian Dressage. What an exciting year it has been! My goal is to earn a slot on Team USA at the WEG. Currently 13 US Para-Equestrians scores (including myself) have scores that will allow us to compete in the US Selection Trials June 24-27, 2010 at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, outside of Chicago. A total of 10 riders will be selected for the WEG; four will make the team and six will ride as individuals. I thought along the way I would share my training experiences with my horse “Paxton Abbey,” a Hanoverian cross mare who was born in my lap and who has been my loyal competition partner, as well as share my physical training I am doing as an MS patient to be ready for this level of competition. (Pictured: Alan, Mary and Tristan Jordan with her two horses, P. Sparrow Socks (left) and Paxton Abbey (right)).

First, A Little Background…
As a lifelong equestrian growing up in Clinton, New York I had an inexplicable love of horses from the time I could walk and talk and wander around the dairy farms of upstate New York. Over the years I have seriously and successfully competed at the regional and national levels in dressage and eventing on horses I have bred, raised and trained myself. Along the way I spent my earliest years around hunter/jumpers, was involved in the US Pony Clubs, served as a staff member in foxhunting, and later bred my own horses and showed them in-hand at major breed shows such as Dressage at Devon.

Riding is clearly one thing I love to do; the other is writing. On the professional side of things I have worked as a journalist, editor, freelance writer, therapeutic riding instructor and public relations (PR) professional. I currently am an MS motivational speaker working with the MS community around the country and also work with Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies as a Territory Manager in New England and New York. I always keep my hand in a variety of written projects which I enjoy. I work full-time and I am a mother and wife as well! I love doing all the things I do in my life!

My world, however, changed eight years ago when I became the third person in my family diagnosed with MS, a chronic neurologic disorder that affects approximately 440,000 people in the United States. A botched spinal tap early on left me unable to stand and walk for a short period of time and I feared I would never ride and compete again. I had four horses at the time and I put them up for sale. Despite that initial shock, I never gave up my dream to pursue my goals and I directed all of my energies to moving forward in a positive manner.

My fate was quite different, however, than the severe disability suffered by my father James, an Episcopal Minister and College Philosophy Professor who was quadriplegic I never saw stand or walk. The difference in our experience with the disease was largely because new medications that were available when I was first diagnosed were not invented at the time he showed symptoms as a young boy; sadly he lived and died when they were not available. I, however, immediately started daily injections of my MS medication three days after my diagnosis and it has made a world of difference.

Every day I feel blessed to be doing all that I am doing. To help move things forward I am involved in several MS research studies in Boston and am doing everything I can to contribute to finding a cure for MS, as well as helping people afflicted by the disease by sharing my story to offer them hope, inspiration and information.

Although I have been a dressage and event rider all of my life, my Para-Equestrian adventure started a year ago when I first got my classification as a Grade 4 Para-Equestrian in Seattle, which is basically the most able-bodied a Para athlete can be. The dressage is the equivalent of 3rd level, with the freestyle allowing more advanced movements.

From the start of this, my quest and goal was to ride internationally, to someday represent my country as an equestrian. Just 3 months after my classification I found myself in Holland and Germany training for the European Para-Equestrian Dressage 4* CPEDI Championships in Kristiansand, Norway with Dutch Coach Paulien Alberts of Emmen, Holland and riding a German Grand Prix stallion “Bohmer’s As” who was owned by her student Martina Bohmer of Lingen, Germany. We dubbed ourselves “Team International” since I was the sole American at the competition.

It was an intense immersion into the sport at this level, but it was an invaluable learning experience, showing me I could go above and beyond what I thought I was capable of achieving. In the training arena we had hybrids of 3 languages flowing, intense daily training and work, and three short weeks to transform ourselves into an international class FEI rider. Riding before five Olympic judges I wanted to give it my all and perform my best. No pressure!

From the start we were on a mission in Norway to achieve my qualifying scores which would allow me to ride in the US Selection Trials for the World Equestrian Games (WEG), riding against the highest quality and most inspirational horse and rider combinations in the world, some of whom went to the Olympics. I was the sole American, the wildcard, and I was tested on every level: my borrowed stallion had to be re-inspected at the jog after a long trailer and ferry ride from Germany to Norway and ultimately he passed with the amazing help from the British Equestrian Federation who stepped in to help since I was there alone (I am forever grateful!). In the end, however, we were successful earning three scores over 60 % from five Olympic judges and breaking into the Top 10 in the Musical Freestyle portion of the competition–the highest showing of any American Grade 4 rider at a 4-star level. One judge placed me as high as 5th with a score in the 70s…and I was thrilled!

Coming into this winter I dedicated myself into working with my mares “Paxton Abbey” and “P. Sparrow Socks” aka “Clever,” her little sister. Both horses are award-winning Hanoverian crosses I bred, raised and trained myself. They are phenomenal mares, thriving on working and showing, and they are very much a part of our family. Paxton will be my mount for the US Selection Trails and hopefully the WEG, and I am looking at several additional prospects now to borrow and bring as a second mount to the trials.

I thought in my blog I would share our journey, riding and training my horses, as well as insights into what I am doing to train myself physically as an MS patient. There is no mistake… any success from horses is a team effort, and as an MS patient sometimes you need to develop an even a larger support team than usual! I am indebted to the many people in my life and sponsors I have along the way, helping me on a number of different levels (I apologize if I left anyone out!!): my family and dear friends… all of you!!!; my MS sponsor for their inspiration and support; my neurologist Dr. Guy Buckle of MS Partners Center in Boston; my coach Paulien Alberts of Holland, her family and stable at De Oude Meerdijk in Emmen…as well as the legion of quality coaches I have had all along the way in jumping, eventing, dressage…so many of you have taught and inspired me; my dear friend Anna Kjellstrom and the entire staff at both and Kentucky Equine Research and Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies for their support and who also helped formulate my horses diets and offered unprecedented guidance and products to bring my horses into peak fitness; my vets past and present… the amazing Dr. Heidi Jorden, Dr. Jay Merriam and the TNT staff by Dr. Deme Erikson; my farrier Larry Giles, who himself has family members with MS; the staff at Quest Fitness in Kennebunk, Maine for their expertise and support into transforming me into a fit athlete; Back On Track, Horse Quencher and Charles Owen for your innovation and support!

GETTING STARTED…WHERE HAS EVERYBODY GONE?
January in Maine. A time of resolutions. A time of looking ahead to the spring US Selection Trials. Time to get fit. Ride. Plan ahead.

And then there is a Maine winter. Snow and more snow. Ice and 60 mph winds toppling 80-foot White Pines in my yard. Where did everyone go? I look around my wintry world and any dressage rider and trainer worth their salt have pointed their trailers south, to Florida and the Carolinas to escape the elements and train.

With my family here and my 13-year-old son in Junior High School the Wellington option was not in the cards. So we put the ‘ole Yankee ingenuity into play. Paulien, my coach from Holland, offered to come monthly to Maine for winter clinics to train me. I contacted my fellow snowbound Para-athletes and able-body dressage riders to come for weekend clinics which included help with musical freestyles –Paulien’s specialty.

I think people here thought I was nuts. I think people in Holland must have thought Paulien was nuts, flying into Boston on a Thursday in the winter, teaching two and a half days solid and then leaving for Amsterdam Sunday afternoon. But all I know is that Paulien and I, and our friends who are all diehards, are having a heck of a lot of fun and learning a lots about riding dressage.

It hasn’t been exactly easy. I fantasize about training around palm trees. Since I don’t have an indoor I have to truck over for every ride to nearby Spring Creek Farm, owned by Sarah and Nick Armentrout, who graciously hosted the clinics which were full each and every month. One Sunday morning it was -9 degrees below zero. Another evening I trucked to the indoor in a blizzard. On the trailer ride from my barn to the ring Paxton’s whiskers once completely froze. I live in layers of polar fleece and heat packs for my hands and feet, and I drink endless cups of hot coffee or tea to keep the blood flowing. But as Paulien and I both say in our weekly Skype chats: we are on a mission!

Stay tuned for Mary's next blog about how she stays fit as an athlete, and how she keeps her horses in top condition.

Endurance Rider, Kathy Brunjes (USA) Blogs for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

2010-04-14T16:47:00.003-04:00

Hi! my name is Kathy Brunjes, and I live in Maine. I have been involved in the endurance discipline on the international level since 2000, and have competed in endurance since I was a teenager. I was part of the USA- East endurance squad at the 2001 PanAms (as a rider) and a competitor (and team member) for the endurance team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games (in Jerez, Spain), a rider for the USA-East endurance squad at the 2005 North American Edurance Challenge and rode for the USA at the 2007 World Endurance Championship Pre-ride (The Sultan's Cup) in Malaysia, the 2008 President's Cup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and then was selected for the 2008 World Endurance Championships (Malaysia), riding as one of the four-member team. Theatric, the horse that I rode in Malaysia in 2007, Abu Dhabi in 2008, and Malaysia in 2008 will be my nominated horse for the 2010 WEG.

Theatric is a 16h. chestnut Arabian gelding, with much international experience. Theatric will be 12 years old at the time of the 2010 WEG. I am in currently in the process of qualifying Theatric's full brother, Tektonic (9 year old 16.1h bay Arabian gelding) as my alternate horse for the WEG. "Nick" will be competing at the prestigious CEI *** (160km) Biltmore Challenge (Asheville, NC) the first weekend of May, as part of this qualification process. Theatric ("Tee"), Nick and I just returned from Florida, competing at the Fun-in-the-Sun endurance events - all part of our meeting qualifications prior to attending our endurance selection trials in June. Tee and I tied for first in the CEI *** (160km) (with fellow competitor and team-mate, Meg Sleeper) at FITS, in course time of 7hr.44min., and Nick and our young rider, Lindsay Bean, competed in the CEI ** (120km) at FITS and competed the course in 5th place, in 9hr.

Training the horses in Maine in the winter can be a challenge, and we make many trips south (FL) during the harsh winter months to train and compete. Interstate 95 is well-known to us! I'm looking forward to competing and qualifying for the WEG this year, and will keep you all updated on our selection process in the coming months.

Australian Show Jumper Edwina Alexander Blogs About Her Preperation For The Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final

2010-04-12T16:55:00.004-04:00

Edwina Alexander will be blogging for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games as she prepares for the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Geneva from 14 – 18 April 2010. Here is Edwina's first entry brought to you by Rolex...

Could you describe a typical training day?

I normally wake up at 7.00am and I am in the stables by 8.00am ready to ride the horses. Every day is a little bit different but on average I ride between 6 – 8 horses each day, and I will keep riding until 1.00pm. I’ll start riding again between 2.00pm – 4.00pm. I then spend some time in the office in the afternoon catching up with emails, organising travel arrangements for upcoming shows, sending videos to clients. I feel more relaxed if I know exactly what’s going on!

How have you been keeping busy since your Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series win in Vigo?

I kept Socrates (Cevo Socrates) and Itot (Cevo Itot Du Château) busy in the lead up to Gothenburg, where they both jumped well. Since Gothenburg they have both had a break from showing which has included one easy day during the week, some hacking in the woods, dressage and a bit of a lunge in the afternoon. I have been to Australia since Gothenburg but they have both been kept active with some small jumps work.

What kind of character is Itot?

I’ve had him for two years and he’s a funny horse and actually extremely sensitive. He can be hard to catch in the stables and to get out of the box, and more times than not my groom will have some carrots or sugar when I’m trying to get on him!

Who do you see as your main threats at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in Geneva and who do you admire?

I would have to say Jessica (Kürten) is probably my biggest threat because she and her horse are both very competitive. I admire her a lot because she is tough and determined, and she seems to have that edge. Pénélope (Leprevost) is another rider that I admire as she is so quick. You never know with Marcus (Ehning), but he’s one of the best riders in the world and it will depend on how well he has his horse organised.

How do you rate your chances at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in Geneva?

After how well Itot jumped at ‘s-Hertogenbosch last weekend I feel pretty good and really confident and relaxed. Itot jumped very well in Gothenburg and he definitely feels better than ever at the moment. After the last World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas I wasn’t anywhere near as well prepared as I am now. This time around Itot doesn’t have to travel as far and he and I both know the arena in Geneva very well.

How will you be preparing for WEG?

This year is one of my biggest years ever. I have the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final and WEG and also the Global Champions Tour which I need to qualify for. I’ll use the Global Champions Tour shows to prepare Itot for WEG, but I’m conscious that I don’t want him to do too many shows or too much travelling.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

2008 Eventing Olympic Silver Medalist Megan Jones (AUS)

2010-04-09T10:56:00.002-04:00

Australian Eventing Superstar and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, Megan Jones, blogs about her trip to the Kiwi's at the Kihi Kihi World Cup CIC*** in New Zealand over the Easter weekend.

PACKED AND READY TO GO

4 bags, 1 terrific groom, 1 truck driver/heavy gear lifter, 1 rider and 1 totally amazing white pony "Jester". Yes we have everything and we are ready to cross the Tasman and take on the Kiwi's at the Kihi Kihi World Cup CIC*** in New Zealand over the Easter weekend.

Jester has had his usual early hair cut because on the first of March each year he grows a full winter coat including curly leg hair!!! He is such a mountain pony in so many ways. He will grow this clip out in around 10 days and need to be clipped again.

We leave from Kirby Park 11:30 pm Saturday night to arrive in Melbourne Sunday morning in time for Jester to have his tick wash...... yuck! I tried telling him to pretend it is going to be a warm sponge bath with aromatic oils. But Jester knows the reality is that it will be a cold smelly wash given by a stern looking quarantine officer/vet. So I will stay with Jester and Kate to make sure he is rubbed dry and warm before I leave poor Kate there all day on her own with Jester. She will be picked up around 8pm to head to the airport.

Kate will take her first ever horse flight with Jester and the team from IRT on Sunday to arrive in Auckland around 4am Monday morning. Steve and I will fly out Sunday also but go via Sydney and arrive at midnight. We will them wait to collect Kate and Jester and go and get some sleep!!!

www.kirbypark.com

2009/2008 AVA/USEF Gold Women’s Individual National Champion, Alicen "Ali" Divita

2010-04-07T12:41:00.007-04:00

2009/2008 AVA/USEF Gold Women’s Individual National Champion, Alicen Divita, “Ali,” is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies at UC Berkeley.

20 year old Ali, knows that it takes discipline, dedication and a pure love for what you do to succeed. Ali has won the National Individual Championship at every level, Bronze in 2003, Silver in 2004 and Gold in 2008 as well as 2009. She has proved to be just as competitive in the international scene. She placed 4th at CVI Saumur in 2006, and in 2007 she brought home the gold from prestigious CVI Krumke in Germany. In 2006, just five years after she began vaulting, Ali attended the World Equestrian Games as the alternate for the US Individual Team. In 2008, along with many other successes, she earned her spot as a competitor in the World Vaulting Champions in the Czech Republic. Yoga, gymnastics, dance and her creative spirit coupled with her school studies, volunteer activities and a spot on the lightweight crew team keep her balanced both in and out of the vaulting arena. Ali looks forward to competing in the selection trials and hopes to earn her spot as one of the top three vaulters in the country along with the ability to represent the US at the World Equestrian Games.

In January of 2010, Divita was in Germany, working with German vaulting superstar Gero Meyer before vaulting by invitation at a Masters Class at CVI** Leipzig she retells her experience here.

Racing to get to the opposite side of UC Berkeley’s campus between classes today, I swooped into a small café to pick up some food on the go. When breakfast is at 5:30 before morning practice, by the time lunch rolls around, my stomach is loudly exercising its right of free speech, much in the Berkeley spirit. The checkout lady hands me my receipt and as I thank her she gives me a funny look. It takes me a minute before I realize that I had thanked her in German, laughing out loud I politely correct myself and wander off in thought. I just got back from a trip to Germany, and after missing the first week of school and jumping right into life back home in California, my worlds, and my words, are beginning to whirl together.

Leberkäse, which translates directly to “liver cheese,” has nothing to do with liver or cheese. When I arrived at the train station in Munich, I met up with German vaulting master, Gero Meyer and ordered me one with mustard. As I drank in the whole scene, I have to say it was quite good- kind of like high quality spam, but much tastier than it looks and sounds. Sometimes we read or hear about people’s perspectives and hear “leberkäse” but cannot experience the flavor of the situation. This year, the year of the World Equestrian Games being held in my own country, where, for the first time I can compete on my own horses in an international event, is about enjoying the taste from the start to the finish.

Gero was going to do a weekend of clinics down in Austria, so once we got in the car that is where we drove. After explaining vaulting to a passenger we picked up, he asked why we do it, as there must not be much money in the sport. The answer came naturally, “Well ja, we do it because we love it, isn’t that supposed to be the point?” I have a silent moment of “Aha!” and as I listen to Gero further explain his perspective, I want to give him a high five. (Such an American thing to do, I know). I realize that one of the things I love most about vaulting not being as big as some other sports, where the money and the fame start to determine much of its importance, is the people that it attracts. There are no ulterior motives; I know that the physical prizes do not outweigh what you must put in. You get so much more out of it than that. Because of this, I really believe that the drive comes from the heart, it is all about the passion and love for what you do.

When we get to Austria, I feel like all of the German I previously understood has left me. I definitely did not prepare for the accent. When talking to our host parents, I smile whenever Gero smiles and nod enthusiastically whenever his reply to one of their questions is yes. The result of this was that all weekend we were both served Gero’s favorite foods, and of course, he got the room with the bigger bed.

Once we were back in München where Gero regularly trains, I got to live with another lovely family. Like so many of the people that I have stayed with throughout my vaulting adventures, they were incredibly welcoming. They were a very musical bunch, just like my own family (my personal musical talents, however, being more focused on consumption). I love coming home to listen to my dad and brother play guitar, as my little sister and mom sometimes chime in singing. It is the “samsara” of the day, a place to let our bodies catch up with all that we have experienced the hectic hours of being awake.

It does not get cold in California. No matter what I thought before, we really are spoiled when it comes to temperature. However, I once heard someone say, there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. No matter what situation you find yourself in, it is always about the perspective that you bring. In the morning, I wake up and begin the process of getting dressed for vaulting. Just imagine a suitcase very full of vaulting clothes, to those not familiar, this includes leg warmers, thigh high socks, fuzzy spandex pants- pretty much anything and everything stretchy and warm. In the next scene, picture the suitcase now half empty, me standing there like a Michelin man, sweating. I waddle into Gero’s room and tell him that I am ready to go. The look on his face explains that humor is often a result of our varying interpretations of “appropriate.”

We get to the barn and Gero decides that it would be a great idea to go running through the hills that are covered in a foot and a half of snow. It is -2° Celsius and I look down at my new running shoes made of mesh. Right, running through the snow, just what I was thinking. But somehow he finds a way to make it fun; soon enough the Michelin man layers become unnecessary and I find myself sprinting up hills and jumping to knock the snow off tree branches. I always find it funny to hear people say after they have achieved something great, “it hasn’t hit me yet.” I had this realization that that’s because it has already hit you. This is it. All we have is today. And then, as if you didn’t see it coming, a huge ball of snow hits me in the face. Thanks Gero.

After spending a week training with Gero, I head off to Krumke, my home away from home, where the horse I will compete on and my “adopted” family live. As I get out of the car, I see Oma and Opa standing outside near the vegetable garden. The first time that I came to this home I was twelve, now standing here as a twenty year old I feel so much more comfortable; I am so thankful to be welcome in this town where they say horses outnumber humans.

As you can tell, my experiences here have taught me so much about language. Although I joke about my abilities, having studied German in school has literally opened up the worlds of being able to speak to people I meet. The gap is easy to overcome, and it is often my favorite- and by far the most entertaining- part of my travels. Trying to tell Marion that she and her siblings have a similar sense of humor, I mistakenly add “sch” to the beginning of “witzen” (to joke), and as Ines dies of laughter, Marion cannot figure out why I am telling her that she sweats just like her sister. Oops. Sometimes we would skip the words and get directly at the meaning. One of my favorite moments was at lunch, when I asked Oma where the schnitzel had come from. With the sweetest face, and the cutest grandma like way, she simply holds up an imaginary chicken and mimes slicing its throat herself. Message received. A whole new respect for Oma gained.

If you have a message that you are passionate about, you will find a way to communicate it. The language is just our connection with words, music, food… or maybe the connection we have when finding harmony of our own movement and that of a horse. For me it is about finding that passion and soaking in everything it takes to get to that point of expression. Now I am off to France, a country where I do not speak a lick of their beautiful tongue, to compete in an international competition in the historic town of Saumur. I shall write next time with the results, but after reading this blog, you can probably predict it’s actually going to be about the experience.

Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and Dressage Superstar Anky van Grunsven (NED)

2010-04-05T15:30:00.003-04:00

March 21, 2009
Last Sunday I came back from the international show in Dortmund, Germany. I had both my Grand Prix horses, Salinero and I.P.S Painted Black with me and both did very well. With Painted Black I rode the national tour. We won both test and especially in the freestyle he did a very good job and scored 80%. I showed Salinero in the international tour and we won the Grand Prix with a very good score of 76,6%. I was very happy that Sali was so concentrated on me and reacted very good to my aids. In the second test we made two big mistakes as he cantered in both trot half passes. That cost a lot of points and we came third. But, for me it’s clear that both horses are fit and ready for Kentucky. But first I will go to Indoor Brabant next weekend. Unfortunately I did not qualify for the World cup final so I will ride the CDI Grand Prix instead.

At home things are pretty busy as well. The big rebuilding that took over a year already is almost coming to an end. The new stalls very ready a few months ago and now the offices, canteen, apartments are ready too. This week they work on the parking place. From Cavalor I got a new feeding trolley that is very easy to push and steer. We have all kinds of Cavalor food so that we can individualize every horse’s meal. In that way every horse gets exactly what he needs.

That seems to be about all for now. Until next time!

www.anky.com

Reiner Lisa Coulter (CAN) on the Road to Kentucky

2010-03-25T11:55:00.005-04:00

I recently returned from a competition in Stephenville, Texas where I competed in 2 CRIs. The race is on to get qualified in both Canada and the USA. The CRIs were well attended and competitve. I have qualified as far as I possibly can to make the Canadian Team and its all about the final team selection in mid July in Chilliwack, B.C. However I feel strongly about keeping up competitvely and testing myself and my horses at the CRIs. It is the best way to keep the high level pressure as well as put me and my horses under the strict guidelines and criteria the FEI expect. As Reiners we are still relatively new to the criteria and it is a positive and necessary step in our progress in our sport.
(Photo Credit: Equisport Photos)

I am also looking ahead to the Masters and World Rankings so gaining points is also very important. I competed on Angels Mark. This is a 7 year old gelding owned by Bob Thomspon. He has been a wonderful horse for Bob, in Non Pro events, and has just begun to show with me in the Open. The greatest thing about this horse is his mind and how absolutely intent he is on pleasing his rider. He rarely takes a bad step and if he does its only because you put him there. He may not have plus one maneuvers but he is a solid plus half every day and his ability to patiently wait and work to the level you ask is astounding. Run after run this horse proves himself and the fact that he will come out sound and able to handle run after run makes him a fantastic FEI horse.

We marked 72 to 73s on both runs. This placed us 6th the first CRI and 3rd the second CRI. This was more than I expected as the competition was tough and I hoped to sit in the top ten but knew I was under-horsed. However Angel was his sturdy self and proved that a great heart and effort will be rewarded. I was able to acheive more points than I had hoped for and also came away from the event very confident and feeling more and more ready for WEG.

I schooled my top two horses in Stephenville in an effort to get them ready for the finals in July. Ace was his usual self and allowed me to school him like I needed to. We have minor problems and he is so honest he will make the mistakes and allow me to fix him. Then he simply gets better for the big runs. Weg (aptly named horse) is still my biggest challenge. He and I have not connected fully yet. He is by far my best maneuver horse but he is not my best minded. He requires preparation and patience...he also requires trust and I have been slow giving it to him. I feel great runs with Weg and myself and hopefully by the finals we will be ready. My plan is to run him at the CRI2 at the NRBC. This is not an attempt to win but to put a high pressure run together and see how we both fare. He then will go back to schooling to prepare for team selection.
(Photo Credit: Equisport Photos)

The NRBC has 2 CRIs scheduled in late April and that will be my next effort. I will be both schooling and showing all 3 horses to keep us all up to par.
I am feeling more and more confident as we get closer to WEG and look forward to the team slection. Its a new challenge I look forward to and a goal that sets me on fire. My focus is strong and my horses are ready......bring on WEG!

Paralympic Medalist and European Para Dressage Champion: Sophie Wells (GBR)

2010-03-23T09:05:00.006-04:00

Welcome to my first blog entry for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This World Equestrian Games is different from any previous event because it’s the first time that all 8 FEI equestrian disciplines are competing together!

First I will introduce myself. I’m 19 years old and started riding when I was about 7. I did the normal riding club and pony club activities until I specialised in dressage at the age of 11. I first got introduced to Para Dressage at 13 and it all took off from there! I still compete in able-bodied dressage, and have competed and won internationally for GB too. I was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, which left me with just a few fingers. The doctors managed to save my feet but I have bad scarring and nerve damage in my lower legs. So I have good days and bad days! I’m a Grade IV Para rider, so I compete in the least disabled category of the sport. (Pictured: Sophie on her horse "Noki")

Campaigning for a place on the British Team is well underway now, but there are many riders going for just a few places, so competition is tough! Qualifiers for selection have already begun, and we have made a good start winning and coming second in both qualifiers I have done this year. I have two horses I am competing in the selection trials, Pinocchio (Noki, 13 yr old 17.2hh chestnut gelding owned by Dr Jackie Walker) and Valerius (Reece, 8 yr old 17.2hh liver chestnut gelding owned by myself since he was 5). My first major Championship was only last year, the European Para Dressage Championships in Norway, where I rode Pinocchio, and it was a great debut where I learnt a lot and was thrilled to win 3 gold medals!

I only started riding Noki at the beginning of 2009, so our partnership is getting even stronger now. While we were snowed off over Christmas and New Year, my trainer (Angela Weiss) and I sat down and sorted out a competition schedule for both horses for the year.

Next week I have a qualifier and then a lesson with Nicole Werner, Edward Gal's trainer, which should be great! We then go on to World Class Performance squad training, so I’ll let you know how it all goes!

www.sophiewells.com

Olympic Eventing Gold Medalist, Stuart Tinney (AUS)

2010-03-17T09:57:00.004-04:00

Stuart Tinney OAM Olympic Gold Medallist Sydney 2000.

Being my first blog for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, I find that there is not much to tell just yet!

The Eventing season has only just kicked off here in Australia with CNC events, so only some young horses are out.
(Photo Credit: Jenny Barnes)

What I can do, is mention my prospects for the 2010 Games. Vettori, owned by Kathy Ward and Pete O’Connell, is my premier mount right now. With his win at Adelaide International CCI**** (and as long as the wheels don’t fall off) we are sure that the selectors will trust putting us on the team. As far as back up rides my mare, part owned by Tim Game, will certainly be one I will prepare. An outsider, Watermark Grayson owned by Sarah Ingham just may be hot on their heels, with a win at Puhinui CCI*** in New Zealand late last year.

All three horses are in full work and will go to maybe the HSBC FEI World Cup CIC*** Sydney in May, or to Werribee International CCI*** Victoria in June. There will be a few lead up events, but realistically they don’t need to do much; just be sound and fit.

I have few clinics lined up (trying to gain some revenue!) and also some nice young horses to ride, so with roughly 12 in work, both Karen and I are very busy! One trip I will be making is to The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event this April with my Federation. I will not be going to compete, but I will be going with some administration staff to “get a feel” for the grounds. I am looking forward to that trip very much.

More news as it comes to hand, certainly an exciting year.

More info www.tinneyeventing.com

Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Blogs About USEF Show Jumping Team Selection Trials for the 2010 Games--Part V

2010-03-11T15:51:00.003-05:00

Wellington, FL--March 8, 2010--It's the morning after, and I have to say I'm relieved that it is over. I can say that because I am also excited about how well it went for me. Danny Boy really shined yesterday with a clear round to finish tied for third in the selection trial standings. He also had a fast clear in the jump off and finished second by just a tenth of a second to Cedric in the Grand Prix. I feel really good that he and I were able to pull off a good performance when we really needed one.

Although Mademoiselle finished with 8 faults, she was also very good. She handled all the scope tests very well again. Perhaps a little fatigue after all she has been through in the last month, caused one fault in the last line, and her other fault was at the second fence which did not cause much trouble all day. I think I was a little anxious and over-rode her there. She still finished 7th in the overall standings for the selection trials. It looks like I will be on two tours to Europe.

The first tour with Mademoiselle and the second with Danny Boy. None of the results become official, though, until this evening after all of the official committees have met and approved the recommendation of the selectors. I am optimistic at this time about the chances of the United States fielding a team for the WEG that could win the gold medal. If all the horses and riders can stay healthy, we have some strong combinations available. With McLain, Laura and Lauren already selected, I will probably be ranked 6th with Danny and 10th with Mademoiselle. So, for me to be a part of it, I will have to have some strong performances in Europe.

It's still a long time until the WEG and I look forward to the challenge. Whether I make the team or not, I will at least have been a contributor to the team at this point by being a part of the Super League teams and, at the very least, pushing the others to be their best. The first tour starts up May 13th. Both of my horses will have a couple of weeks without competing now. It is a well deserved rest. They will not have to peak again until their European tours. I'll be sure to keep you informed on how they are doing.

Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Blogs About USEF Show Jumping Team Selection Trials for the 2010 Games--Part IV

2010-03-10T13:52:00.002-05:00

WELLINGTON, FL--March 6, 2010--Yesterday we were back at our familiar venue of the International Ring. I had good results with both of my horses. Mademoiselle was clear with a time fault, and I couldn’t have been happier with her. The time fault is just something that I need to get quicker on the ends of the ring with her. Danny Boy had four faults. He seems to have plenty of energy still, which might have caused the four faults. I’m hoping, however, that that will give him the stamina to come through on Sunday. This trial was part of the CSIO division at this show, however only one other CSIO competitor chose to compete. This is probably due to two factors: one is that riders are only allowed two horses in the CSIO division. There was a big class on Thursday and the Nations Cup last night, making it difficult for everyone to schedule their horses to compete Friday afternoon. The second factor was that everyone knew it was a selection trial and the course would be very difficult in relation to the $30,000 prize money. The standard of the course was similar to what we will see on Sunday for the $150,000 Grand Prix. In the end, Danny Boy finished ninth out of those eligible for prize money. Again, Mademoiselle was not eligible because she was the second horse that I rode in the class. You might be confused that some riders such as our student Cara Raether did not place with her horse Ublesco, but this is because she was not qualified for the CSIO division. It’s a complicated system but it’s all working out in the end. Sunday (3/7)there will be fifty riders who qualify during the week or were prequalified before the week started, plus the additional horses that are in for the WEG Trials. I’m expecting a very difficult course again. Right now, I’m tied for fifth with Mademoiselle in the standings and seventh with Danny. I’m looking forward to the final day and anxiously awaiting the final results of the trials.

2006 WEG Vaulting Gold Medalist, Megan Benjamin (USA)

2010-03-09T16:20:00.004-05:00

Megan Benjamin is an equestrian vaulter. She is the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) women’s vaulting champion, 2006 WEG Team Silver medalist, 2008 World Championships Team Bronze medalist, and three time national champion. Following her success in 2006, the US Olympic Committee named her the August Female Athlete of the Month. She was also named the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equestrian of Honor and a co-recipient of the coveted Becky Grand Hart trophy. She was named to the FEI Athletes’ Committee by FEI President HRH Princess Haya of Jordan, to the USEF Youth Council, and was nominated by her peers to serve on the American Vaulting Association (AVA) Board of Directors and the USEF Vaulting Technical Committee.

I like to think of myself as multi-faceted, but my friends know well that I have two prominent “facets.”

1. I’m a vaulter, and
2. I’m a bit of a nerd.

I am currently a senior at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York trying to reconcile these qualities while simultaneously gunning for a spot on Team USA and hopefully the podium at the upcoming World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. This has been no easy task.

For those of you who don’t know Ithaca, it’s this great little hippie town in upstate New York (about four hours north of New York City) that just happens to be home to Cornell University. Well… not just happens. Apparently Ezra Cornell (the university’s founder) got a great deal on land in the 19th century and didn’t mind that he was about to found such a great university so far away from any real civilization. When I started my first year at Cornell, my dad, who himself was a Cornellian, explained that I probably wouldn’t be coming home for Thanksgiving, or any trip shorter than a couple weeks, because even though Ithaca is still in the United States, it is really in the boonies. Ithaca has this quaint regional airport with four gates and frightening puddle jumpers, but the trip from Ithaca to California, all said and done, takes at least nine hours. It’s almost easier to fly to Europe.

Needless to say, in signing on to be a Cornellian, I entered a land of self- imposed isolation, which was fine and great as a retired vaulter, which I was after the 2006 World Championships. But then I was roped me back into the sport when my WEG teammate and friend, Rosalind Ross, talked me into competing with the Dark Side of the Moon team for the 2008 World Championships. It was after those Championships I decided I couldn’t bear the idea of letting the World Equestrian Games in my home country pass me by, and I began to figure out the logistics, including a training plan, that would prepare me and simultaneously allow me to finish and enjoy my senior year at Cornell. Although these puzzle pieces have not been easy to connect, I have been lucky to be surrounded by great people, many of whom I have met along the journey, who have reached out to make my dreams possible.

My first and most important puzzle piece was, of course, finding a vaulting horse. My longtime vaulting horse who helped me win the 2006 WEG selection trials, Faronia, is now happily retired in California, and my WEG vaulting horse, Leonardo, is with my trainer Lasse Kristensen in Denmark, preparing for European competitions and eventually for this upcoming WEG. To be prepared for the Games, I needed a horse to keep here in Ithaca who was already trained in vaulting, was high quality, and was willing to travel to the bitter cold tundra of Ithaca to be my training partner. To my fortune, some great friends of mine, the Hamar Family, offered to sell me their pride and joy, Paradox, so I could train for the Games.

But then I had to find a stable in the area… preferably one that had a decent arena, some nice footing, and ceilings high enough for leaps. The first stable I called had all these qualities, was a ten minute drive from my apartment, and had one open stall available. Are you sensing a theme? This stuff literally FELL into my lap.

Before Paradox made his trek east, I had to find a lunger. For those of you who are unfamiliar with vaulting, this is the person who controls the horse from the center of the ring. The lunger is fundamental to the performance of the horse, and therefore, to the performance of the vaulter. My roommate, a member of the Cornell Equestrian Team, had a teammate who mentioned teaching vaulting at summer camp. As it turned out, Kelsey O’Shea had been lunging horses for summer camp for the past four years and knew all about vaulting! And I thought I was the only vaulter around these parts…

It was amazing how quickly all the basic pieces came together with seemingly minimal effort and astonishing ease. Unfortunately, even with my team of random but enthusiastic supporters, I am still training in Ithacan isolation. One of my coaches, Emma Seely, lives in California, and the other, Lasse Kristensen, lives in Denmark. My personal trainer, Stacey Burnett, also lives in California and sends me my workouts electronically—videotaping herself doing the exercises and explaining proper form. My chiropractor, my dressage trainer, and all my vaulting peers are in California, and I’m here, in snowy New York.

For the most part, I have made things work. I coach myself, create my own schedule, and force myself to stick to that schedule. I have found a great local gym where I do my “Stacey” workouts (people look at me as if I’m crazy when I’m doing them). I train once a week with a private gymnastics coach, twice a week with a dance instructor, and I have even found a pretty good substitute for my favorite chiropractor. Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated when there is snow on the ground, the wind is blowing, and it’s 10 degrees outside, but then I just think about the Kentucky Horse Park, the experience I had vaulting in that brand new arena this past summer during the Kentucky Cup, and how great it would feel to stand on that podium once again.

Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Blogs About USEF Show Jumping Team Selection Trials for the 2010 Games--Part III

2010-03-05T14:23:00.002-05:00

WELLINGTON, FL--March 3, 2010--It was another day of mixed results to say the least. WEG trial #3 was a very nice event held in a grass field which gave the horses something fresh to see and changed things up a bit. It was Danny Boy’s day to shine with a clear round. As I thought he might, he responded well to the change of venue. He has had a lot of experience on grass at places like Spruce Meadows and Aachen, so while he hadn’t had a look at this field before, it wasn’t something too unusual for him.

Via Volo and I had trouble at a difficult double. Again, it was a matter of not knowing the horse very well and her not having a lot of experience. It was an airy double with a spooky panel at B. Her attention was totally on B, causing her to have A down quite hard. The rail went in front of her, and it would have been pretty impossible for her to jump B – she ducked to the left, and I fell off to the right. The fall results in elimination and put us out of the running in the standings. I won’t be doing any more trials with Via. She’ll have some time off since she’s been doing a lot lately and then we’ll start her in smaller classes, and I’ll take my time getting to know her as I normally would have if I hadn’t had gotten her just in time for the Trials. She’s a very nice horse, and I’m looking forward to spending the time with her.

Mademoiselle was the last horse that I rode. I thought she had a good day even with her 8 faults. Similar to Via, I had no idea how she would react to having to jump a big course off the bat in a new venue and on the grass which I haven’t done with her before. I was happy with how she responded and know that each day I’ll learn more and more about her.

The last two Trials are on Friday and Sunday. Mademoiselle and I should continue to get more comfortable with each other, and I’m hoping that Danny stays on the upswing. I have the feeling that he’s getting more and more comfortable and in the groove.

Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Blogs About USEF Show Jumping Team Selection Trials for the 2010 Games--Part II

2010-03-03T08:04:00.003-05:00

WELLINGTON, FL--February 28, 2010--Saturday night was the second round of the WEG Trials. As expected, the course was a lot more difficult than the first one. I had mixed results with my horses: Mademoiselle was clear, Danny Boy had 8 faults and Via Volo had 12 plus a time fault. Although I was a little disappointed with my scores with Danny and Via Volo, I am still very happy with the horses. Mademoiselle jumped beautifully, but I am not going to get too excited with how high she is in the standings. And I’m not worried about where Via Volo or Danny are right now because we’re less than halfway through. You can see how much the standings changed just from trial 1 to trial 2, and at this point all three horses are right in the hunt to be in the top 15. As I get to know Via Volo better, I think we will be able to handle the more difficult courses together more easily. Danny’s faults were just a misjudgment at a not very wide oxer which is very uncharacteristic of him and also a triple that was difficult for a lot of the horses.

Some of you may wonder why I didn’t ride in the jump-off with Mademoiselle. The reason is that riders were only allowed one horse in the class unless they were participating in the Trials and in that case, only one of the horses would count toward prize money. Since Mademoiselle wasn’t eligible for prize money, I couldn’t go in the jump off.

The next Trial is on Wednesday afternoon (March 3) on the grass polo field. The change of venue will be interesting since I have no idea how it will affect my new horses. I think Danny may like it, though. He has been a little tense under the lights at this venue so I might notice a real difference in the afternoon.

Stay tuned to hear more from Beezie Madden as she blogs through out the U.S. Show Jumping Team Trials!

Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Blogs About USEF Show Jumping Team Selection Trials for the 2010 Games

2010-03-02T09:07:00.005-05:00

WELLINGTON, FL--February 26, 2010--It’s the morning after the first Trials for the 2010 WEG, and I’m feeling great about my horses. One went clear and the other two had just four faults each. When I last wrote, I told you about Danny Boy and my newest horse Mademoiselle, but even more recently, I got another horse to ride, Via Volo, that I will tell you about it a bit.

First of all, I have to say that I’m so pleased with Mademoiselle. One of questions we had with her was how she would handle championship level courses so I was glad to see that she handled it easily, finishing with only four faults. Danny felt like he got off to a great start. He just had the last fence down, and he feels like he’s set up well for the next Trials. Since they are so new to me, I’ve never jumped either Mademoiselle or Via Volo as high as I did last night. Though they’ve jumped tough courses with other people, it felt great have them both respond so well in our first real test together.

It’s really been kind of a whirlwind lately. It felt last-minute enough getting Mademoiselle with the Trials just a few weeks away, and then Via Volo came up for sale. We just got her about a week and a half ago! That suddenly gave me three horses to ride in the Trials, for which I needed to get permission. Georgina Bloomberg was the only other rider in that position, and we both found out it was granted on Monday. And then on Thursday, Via Volo came through for me with a clear round. She is a 12-year old and by the same sire as Danny Boy, Clinton. Via Volo comes to me thanks to Allison Robitaille, who would have had a great chance to make the team herself with this horse, but decided to spend more time with her husband and young child instead of taking on the commitment of a big European tour over the summer. Alison came to us, knowing that we were looking for a top horse, explained the situation, and told us how much she believes in this mare. I have been watching Alison and Via Volo for years, giving input whenever Alison asked, and had always been impressed. But she was never for sale. Alison felt Via Volo should have the chance to shine, and that’s why she was willing to give her up. Thankfully, Gwendolyn Meyer of Rancho Santa Fe, California, who has been a client of ours for a few years, bought the horse for me to ride. I’m delighted with Via Volo so far. She has scope and can handle a big course easily and has a really good temperament about wanting to do the job. I’ve actually found that she’s better in the ring than outside it.

I’m so lucky to have owners who provide such great support. This is the first horse that Gwendolyn has purchased for me to ride so I appreciate her confidence. Abigail Wexner has been there for me for a long time now. Not only does she own both Danny Boy and Mademoiselle and several other horses over the years, but she also owns Authentic, the horse that has made so many of my dreams come true.

The next leg of the Trials is coming up on Saturday night. We’re not planning anything different in terms of preparation – we’ll just try to keep the horses as happy as we can! Last night was a great first test for the horses (I was actually surprised so many went clear), but I’m expecting a harder course on Saturday. There will be more horses competing in the class because it will include horses and riders not participating in the Trials as well. More horses will actually help me in a way because it should spread out the time between my three rides more.

Since the Trials are scored overall on faults, not placings, I’m feeling great about where I am with a clear and two four-faulters. Competition is tough though, which says great things about the depth in the U.S. this year. Laura Kraut’s Cedric is of course a proven horse, and Lauren Hough’s Quickstudy has been solid performer. Jeffrey Welles has the great Armani back. Todd Minikus, one of the winningest riders, proved it again last night taking first with Pavorotti. There is also a lot of West Coast talent in the mix: Rich Fellers, Richard Spooner, Nicole Simpson, Will Simpson and Ashley Bond. Of course, the top U.S. horse, McLain Ward’s Sapphire, isn’t competing in the Trials because she appropriately has been given a bye onto the long list of horses that will to go to Europe. As far as my own chances, it’s hard for me to say which one of my horses is best right now, but the Trials will probably sort that out.

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Dressage Superstar, Anky van Grunsven (NED)

2010-02-23T11:54:00.008-05:00

Seven-time Olympic medalist, two-time World Champion, four-time European Champion, and winner of nine World Cups, Anky van Grunsven is one of the most decorated Dressage riders in the world. Follow her her journey to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in the official Athlete Blog of the 2010 Games.

Welcome to my first blog entry for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Right now it’s February and in about seven months the World Championships--the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games--begin.

Twenty years ago I competed in my first World Championship. I competed on Prisco at that time, my first horse. I got him when I was twelve years old and I even rode him in the 1988 Olympics. I know how to prepare for the World Championships but every time again it’s a big event and a lot to prepare for, especially this year, when the WEG takes place in the States.

By riding in shows regularly I keep myself focused and the horses fit and in the routine of the shows. This rhythm is very important for the horses. At this stage I am not quite sure which horse I will compete on, Salinero or I.P.S Painted Black, so I will compete on both during the outdoor season. But before the outdoor season starts, we first have several indoor shows, ending with the World Cup Finals in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. There are many good Dutch riders at the moment so it’s not sure I can ride the final.

Next weekend I have the last qualifier in Göteborg, Sweden. I will keep you updated!

For more information about Anky van Grunsven, visit her website, www.anky.com

2008 Paralympic Silver Medalist, Angelika Trabert (GER)

2010-02-19T13:16:00.005-05:00

Welcome to my first Kentucky blog entry. This is very exciting for me. I am one of the original Para-Equestrian (PE) newcomers to FEI. Kentucky will be another first because it is where people with a disability will, for the first time, compete in the same place and at the same time with colleagues from all our FEI disciplines.

My career with horses started long ago (if you are interested you can read more on my website www.angelika-trabert.de). But my first major Paralympic International event was in 1996, when Atlanta hosted the Paralympics. Since then I have been the athletes’ representative and fighting for Para-Equestrian to become an equal partner in the international equine world.

Why you might ask. Well horses are the best compensating aids we have. They make it possible for us to ride in both para and regular horse competitions up to top level. After all the Danish dressage rider Liz Hartnell won silver at the first Olympics in 1952, the first time women could compete.

Let me explain a little bit about FEI’s 8th discipline Para Equestrian. We ride in 5 different Grades, based not on our riding ability but on our level of disability. This is to make the competition as fair as possible. People in one Grade ride against each other. We are allocated a Grade after examination by a specially educated doctor or physiotherapist depending upon on how able/ disabled you are. The more disabled you are, the lower the Grade. The test you ride relates to the Grade, so the more disabled riders are in the lower Grades and they ride less difficult movements. For example, a Grade Ia rider will do a walk only test, while Grade IV riders (the least disabled – perhaps missing an arm, having a stiff ankle or missing a lower leg) must perform tests which can be compared to a medium standard test in able bodied competitions. The tests have been specially created for Para-Equestrian, so when you come to see us ride, I am sure it will be a new and unique experience. I can assure you that you will see some very fine riding by some extraordinary people, who incidentally, are more than happy to discuss their disability and how it impacts on their life and riding. So if you are curious to learn more about Para- Equestrian or us don’t hesitate to ask.

Something else that is different from many other Equestrians is that most of us are total amateurs. We mostly have a job in order to earn the money for our horses. So we are not that free to train as we would like. Indeed we have often to be close to a genius in logistics and organisation to do what we love doing.

Now I would like to introduce myself and my horses to you!

Most important are my horses. So the one who most likely is going to book a
flight to Kentucky is LONDRIA. A 10 year old Hanoverian mare by Londonderry, dam sir Weltmeyer. I bought her when she was seven. She is somewhere between genius and crazy. Very sensitive and therefore great with my light aids, but if she gets distracted she might very well ignore me on top. So I have to be quick and I have to keep her busy to stay with me in her mind. She is definitely a challenge every time I get on her. In Hongkong she won the warm up well but then got distracted in the Championship test (would have been nice if we’d got it the other way round). However, last year at the Europeans in Norway she proved that she is capable of listening and she showed me what great potential she has. It was a gold! So I guess everything is possible and I’m certainly hopeful for this year!

Oh I forgot all about it, my disability: I was born without legs and on my right hand I have only three fingers and I miss the middle joints. Therefore it is a challenge if my horse gets scared and jumps to the side. My centre of gravity is just too high. So Londria and I do have our days, but we are getting there.

Then there is my second horse, WALMOREL, she is a 15 year old Hanovarian mare by Wolkenstein II, dam sir Pik Bube. I have had her since she was 9 and she has been quiet a challenge too. She is not the greatest dressage horse, but she has an amazing attitude to work and a willingness to really focus on whatever work you want to undertake with her. So she made it possible for me to ride my first S-dressage last year, which was an amazing feeling. Since then I believe that everything is possible with the right horse. But for two reasons she will not fly to Kentucky this year! First of all she will have her first foal in March (by Fürst Romancier) and secondly, our priority will be to compete together in able bodied competitions.

For more information about Para-Dressage, go to http://www.fei.org/disciplines/dressage/about-para-equestrian-dressage.

2006 WEG Vaulting Silver Medalist, Rosalind "Rosey" Ross (USA)

2010-02-11T15:31:00.005-05:00

Devon and I came up with a plan to perform a pas de deux (two person) routine for the 2009 competition season, since there were no World Championships and therefore no real incentive to create a team. We arranged practices on both the east coast and west coast, using every spare opportunity we had to train. Unfortunately, our season was cut short in November when I sustained a shoulder injury during a training session that required me to have surgery. Today marks one year exactly since my surgery. Though the rehabilitation process was lengthy, frustrating, and put me out of training for close to six months, I can look back now and reflect on the idea that perhaps the injury was a blessing in disguise. While my shoulder was inadequate for vaulting purposes, it did not prevent me from doing other forms of physical activity. I was able to begin studying dance seriously, which has been a longtime interest and passion of mine that, until recently, I had never had the time to pursue with intensity.

Dance, particularly ballet and contemporary, is my inspiration for vaulting. The beauty of the sport is that the performers are allowed such artistic freedom with their styles of vaulting. Some vaulters tend toward more gymnastic or acrobatic styles, others more theatrical, and others more dance-like. I would say that in the past four years, my “style” as a vaulter has matured significantly by using dance as my foundation and inspiration for exploring movement. There is nothing more moving to me than seeing an exquisitely choreographed routine performed in perfect harmony with the horse. When this perfect harmony is achieved, the performance looks effortless and the horse canters as though the performer is weightless.

This year, with the WEG in our own country, we finally have the good fortune to compete on the same horse that we will have been practicing on all year. In past years, we have always borrowed a European horse for the Championships that we had only a few weeks of preparation working with. Our horse for this year is Palatine (affectionately called Pally), a 12-year old Westphalian Warmblood owned by Devon Maitozo. We performed the compulsory exercises on him during the Selection Trials in 2008, when he was still brand new to the sport. This year, we are challenging both him and ourselves by relying on him to carry both our compulsories and our freestyle routine. Training a horse to carry a team freestyle while simultaneously training ourselves to know the routine is quite difficult, but we are all extremely pleased with Palatine’s progress so far.

Jumping back to the summer of 2009, thoughts started forming about putting together a team for 2010. I decided that I missed vaulting enough to sign on to the team that Devon was creating for 2010 in pursuit of the World Equestrian Games one last time. Recalling memories from the 2006 WEG in Aachen, standing on the podium with my team and having a silver medal draped around my neck, stirred within me a sense of national and artistic pride that I could not ignore. I had a feeling, which has so far proven me correct, that this season would be one of the most difficult ones logistically in terms of training and preparation.

I had applied and been accepted to a study-abroad program in Europe for the fall semester of 2009, which I promised myself I would not back out on. Training and competing in Europe for so many years with vaulting instilled in me a sense of adventure and an affinity for new cultures that I was eager to experience under different circumstances (ie academically). I spent three months in Europe while my team began training back home in California. I did what I could to keep in shape physically, but I knew that going home and resuming training with the team would be a major reality check for me. One day after arriving back in the States, I started practicing with the team again. It didn’t take long for me to affirm why it is that I love this sport so intensely. I couldn’t ask for a more inspiring and motivated group of athletes and performers to be connected with. I love my teammates dearly, (including our wonderful horse, Palatine) and consider them all like family.

Our team this year is comprised primarily of members from the San Francisco Bay area, aside from Annalise VanVranken from New Jersey, Nicole Czyzewski from Colorado, and myself now a resident of Massachusetts. Our training as a group is limited to one or two weekends per month, which in comparison to most other teams, is very little time. Though this technically puts our team at a pretty significant disadvantage, we do have the advantage of experience. In both 2006 and 2008, Devon compiled teams of vaulters from around the country, and both teams were highly successful. Our biggest initial challenge will be preparing for the Selection Trial competitions that begin in May and end in July (a total of four). The competition within the U.S. will be tough this year, as there are six teams vying for the qualifying position. We also plan to attend the CHIO in Aachen, where we will have to borrow a horse from Europe to compete on, and the U.S. National Championships. Our ultimate goal this year is of course to take home the illustrious gold medal for our country that has eluded us just barely at the past two World Championships.

Now that my mind has wandered to visions of performing to an enraptured audience in Kentucky, I must burst my own bubble and slip back into my role as college student to write an essay for my literature class that is due as soon as I step off the plane on Monday morning!

Until March…

2006 WEG Vaulting Gold Medalist, Kai Vorberg (GER)

2010-02-09T13:12:00.002-05:00

So from now on there are only 8 months left until all of the athletes will know what they have been working for since the 2006 Games in Aachen Germany. Participating in the Alltech FEI Games in Lexington this year will be a dream come true for me!

I won the Gold Medal in the individual male vaulting competition in 2006 and so I was
asked to attend in the closing ceremony. I even handed over the FEI flag of the World Equestrian Games to the President of the ALRV, the vaulting organizing club, and he gave it as a token gesture to the next host of the 2010 Games.

Then there was a celebration with a presentation of the plans of the Kentucky Horse Park and I knew I must plan go on with my career and be there. I was so inspired and it was clear for me that this would be my next strategic goal!

So far I am on track and after two years of reprocessing, winning two silver medals on the World- and the European Championships for me, I think I can say I will be in the shape of my life for the next battle ahead. My concept is ready and I am trying hard to get everything sorted the way I plan. My horses are in good shape as well and I will make sure that all the experiences to come we will share together.

In March there are still some clinics, in April we will be starting the summer competition season and then it counts, because of course I still have to qualify for the Games and even also important is that we need to get even more experiences with the new programme and the new technical elements.

And for 2010 I have a very special concept for my routine which I hope will touch the audience, as it meant so much to me while creating it. My new concept for 2010 will be made of history and I hope it will make history! My relationships with American people and the spirit of freedom in the United States have been a very important inspiration for my free style program of 2010. I hope everybody will enjoy it as much as I do and of course I hope it has the power to make my dreams come true with another Gold Medal. But for now, I must keep it Top-Secret!

See you on the way to Kentucky!
Until next time, take care,

Kai Vorberg

Canadian Reiner, Lisa Coulter

2010-02-04T09:01:00.000-05:00

Its only February and I already have WEG fever! Actually that fever began and has been ever present since I competed at the test event for WEG last July in Kentucky. I was excited and proud to represent Canada at the test event and really was naïve about the path I was about to embark on. I had 2 great runs on Hollywood Aces and ended up silver in the team and individual events. Standing on the podium after the individual final was a thrill I won’t soon forget. It also accelerated my ambition to make the Canadian Team and be at WEG in 2010.
(Pictured: Lisa Coulter and her 9 year old daughter, Clancy)

The path to an event like WEG is a long one filled with triumphs and hurtles. I have been collecting the best group of aged horses I can find to qualify at CRIs and compete at events such as the Masters. That is a tough chore as our reining horses start their careers as 3 year olds and usually have most of their best runs by the time they reach 6. So finding 6 year old horses that are sound and still fresh to show is challenging. I have a group of about 6 horses that I can compete at the CRIs on. I rotate them to keep them sound, happy and ready for big runs when I need them.

Hollywood Aces has become a standout that crept up on us. He was purchased for me to compete on as a 5 year old and only had a few runs before me and that was due to an injury as a 3 year old. Without the FEI events this horse would have been left standing in a field or had a very limited show career. Instead he has proved he loves to show and has the charisma to wow a crowd. What he lacks in big maneuver skills he makes up for in likeability. He is a pudgy buckskin gelding with a big kind eye and a prettiness that is hard to beat. The confidence I have on Ace will put him in my top two horses to compete on in the finals we face in July to determine our team for WEG.

My very best horse is still new to me. Bob Thompson, who owns all the horses I ride,
purchased him from Sammy Ely via Shawn Flarida right after the test event in July. Shawn had done tremendously well with the horse and so had Sammy in the Non Pro events. Shawn knew the horse would fit me and also knew the horse was still up for some big runs. I won back to back CRIs in Mexico aboard him and have started to gain confidence with him. We are going to keep to schooling for the next few months to get to know each other better. We aptly named him Weg, he lacked a barn name and Western Whiz was a mouthful, he is proving to be my best contender to make the team and live up to his name.

The two horses are very different. I have a bond and confidence with Ace that you strive for with a horse you’re competing on. Weg can out maneuver him but he and I have not fallen in to step as well as Ace and I have. That takes time but I can feel it coming. The goal right now is to keep both horses sound and competitive. I will attend many schooling shows over the next few months to keep them quiet and responsive in the show pen. I will have one or two more hard runs on Weg, including the CRI at the NRBC, to keep gaining trust. However I am saving Ace for the final team selection. I just ran Ace hard at the Masters in December and he was solid. I know the skills we need to work on and know how he must be prepared. Weg will be another story.
(Pictured: World Games 2010 Foundation Staff with Lisa Coulter at the Kentucky Cup Reining Test Event. Photo Courtesy of Equisport Photos).

Reining is generally new to the FEI curriculum and with that comes a lot of changes and new concepts we must embrace. I have totally refocused my career to join the FEI events and am excited to be a part of it all. I have been gearing up for WEG since 09, but have been competing at the FEI events since 2005, including 3 Masters Finals. I have given up futurity horses and only hit a few derbies. I am actually saving my good young horses in hopes they will make strong FEI horses. As it is increasingly harder to find 6 year old horses I have turned our efforts to saving the young ones and gearing them for events such as WEG and the Masters.

I have qualified as far as I need to for Team Canada and now it is a matter of preparing for the final team selection in July in Chilliwack B.C. I have had some good success the past years but that has been not without defeat. The only other time I tried to make the team was 4 years ago and did not do so well. That was super tough to go through but I learned what I needed to do differently. This time I think not only do I have stronger horses but I have taken myself to another level of competition. Like the thrill of winning comes the absolute agony of losing and without that we would not be the competitors we aspire to be.

I am looking forward to blogging once or twice a month about my horses and our progress on our road to WEG. I will be competing all over North America as well as Europe over the coming months and will be keeping my troop of 6 FEI horses geared up and ready to show. My other 4 horses are nothing to sneeze at and it may be that one sneaks up just like Ace did and becomes the next WEG hopeful. I have learned in my life that anything is possible and starting in small town Princeton, BC big dreams and big determination are what takes a small town girl to Lexington, Kentucky.

Olympic Gold Medalist, Beezie Madden (USA)

2010-02-02T12:20:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my first blog entry for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Web site. I’m so excited the WEG will be in my home country for the first time, and this blog is a way to share my journey in preparation for the selection trials and then hopefully onto the WEG itself. I plan to post a couple times a month and more often during key times.

My husband and partner John and I recently arrived in Wellington, Florida from our home in Central New York. It’s nice and warm here, but for us, Florida means getting down to business and gearing up for a busy winter circuit and the all-important selection trials. These trials will determine a short list of 15 possible horse/rider combinations who will later go on to Europe to earn their spot on the team that will represent the U.S. at the World Equestrian Games. After a week of acclimating and some schooling of the horses, we began competing. I’m coming off the longest layoff of my career; I had shoulder surgery in mid-September to correct a chronic condition and haven’t competed since Spruce Meadows in early September. The shoulder is feeling good, so it is good to be back in the swing of things. The horses have also had a nice long break, which I think has been good for them. Unfortunately, Authentic, who earned medals in the last two Olympics and at the last WEG, suffered an injury in September, and it’s quite unlikely he’ll be ready for this WEG.

Thankfully, I have other less experienced (it’s hard to be more experienced than Authentic) but talented horses to try to make the team with. Both horses are owned Abigail Wexner. The first is Danny Boy who is 10 this year. John and I have had him since he was 5, bringing him along all the while with the idea that he’d be ready for the 2010 WEG. He was Best Young Horse at Aachen in 2008, was 12th at the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, won the CN Performance Grand Prix on the Spruce Meadows Summer Circuit and had a solid first-time nations cup Superleague tour last summer (his worst score was 4 faults). He’s a little bit of a heavier type than Authentic, but he’s sensitive to ride and scopey and careful. Rideability can be an issue with him, but he’s getting better and better all the time. He’s started out here in Florida much more mature and grown up, and it’s always a relief to see a horse come off a long rest well. We started showing him early here so that he could get more experience under the lights and were happy to find that he wasn’t affected by them at all because last year showing under the lights seemed to make him a little nervous.

John and I are also excited about Mrs. Wexner’s newest purchase which happened just days ago, a mare named Mademoiselle. With a lot of luck, she might be a real contender in the WEG Trials, but time is against us. With only a few weeks until the trials, I will be working to get to know Mademoiselle as best I can. She was ridden very competently by Katherine Bardis last year on a developing riding tour with the U.S. team and in some World Cup Qualifying classes, but at 13 is still untested at the championship level. She’s a thoroughbred type, which is good for me, and seems very nice to ride. The big question is whether she has the scope to compete at the very top, but we tested her well when we tried her, and feel like she has what it takes. It’s always an unknown purchasing any horse, and whether she will be ready to impress in time for the Trials is something we just don’t know.

It’s a long road to the WEG and for me Florida marks the beginning of the home stretch. Some people who know me understand that I’ve been aiming toward this goal since just about when I stepped off the medal stand at the WEG in Aachen four years ago. In reality it’s been at least that long that things have been in the works with this goal in mind. You have to think long-term when you’re bringing horses along. It would be almost impossible to top what Authentic and I were able to accomplish at the last WEG, so what I am hoping for is to do well in the selection trials and be a strong contributor to a gold medal winning U.S. team in Kentucky this October.

Volunteer Update

2010-01-11T16:40:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your willingness to be a Volunteer for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Many of you have already registered. But now what? Here’s a look at the status of our Volunteer Program for the 2010 Games.

I registered years ago and I still haven’t heard anything. Why?

Thousands of people have registered their interest in volunteering over the past two years. Many of those same enthusiastic volunteers changed email addresses since then.

In September, we reached out to our entire list and asked people to reconfirm their interest and get ready to select volunteer positions. If you did not hear from us, you may need to update your information on your volunteer profile. We still need volunteers! It is not too late to re-confirm your interest. We can help you re-activate your account if you are not sure what email address is currently listed for you. Feel free to call our VOLUNTEER HOTLINE at 859-244-2996 or email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org.

I confirmed my interest, selected a position, and got an itinerary. Does that mean I am definitely a volunteer?

Your confirmation email displays the itinerary and dates you selected, but it is not your official letter of assignment. It only confirms that your request was processed.

We currently have a multi-step selection process in place that includes a back ground check. Official WEG volunteers will be confirmed at the end of that process, which will take place over the next couple of months.

Competition volunteers are being hand-selected by each Discipline Manager and will be notified soon.

How do I sign up to volunteer for more than one position?

We are working on improving our registration process to allow you to sign up for more opportunities. We will notify everyone when those additional opportunities become available.

Will there be volunteer opportunities/accommodations available for those with disabilities?

Yes, there are many opportunities well suited to volunteers with disabilities. Go ahead and register, and then if you have any concerns, please feel free to call us at 859-244-2996.

I need to plan my housing options now. What should I do?

We are working to provide a range of affordable housing options for volunteers. However, each volunteer is required to pay for and complete their own hotel/housing arrangements. We have sent a list of preliminary options to our registered volunteers. For your reference, that list (“Housing Options”) is posted on the volunteer website.

What if I am waiting to buy tickets?

We hope that everyone has an opportunity to experience these Games as a spectator and enjoy this world-class competition. To make the most of your spectator experience, we encourage you to go ahead and purchase tickets to those events that you most want to see. We hope that your time as a volunteer will be spent focusing on the important job you will have—and we want you to relax and enjoy the events you most want to see as a spectator!

Do you still need volunteers?

YES! We still need to fill thousands of general volunteer positions—and every one of them is important! If you are already registered, please let others know about this opportunity.

How long will you take volunteer registrations?

We will be taking registrations until early spring. However, due to abundant interest, we encourage everyone to sign up as soon as possible. You can sign up at www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer

I am a member of a group that wants to volunteer. Can we do that?

YES! Groups are a vital part of our volunteer program. Young Professionals, Corporate Groups, and Community Organizations are all needed to make our Games a success. Email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org for more information.

What if I still have questions?

Feel free to call us at 859-244-2996 or email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org, for General Volunteer Questions, and competitionsupport@feigames2010.org, for Competition Volunteer Questions. We will personally respond to your questions; please allow 48 hours to receive a reply.

Cyber Monday got you thinking about Holiday Shopping?

2009-11-30T16:24:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving now behind us, the rush for everyone to do their holiday shopping has begun. And while there are those few people who plan ahead, many of us, myself included, are now facing the dreaded task of determining what to buy all of their family, friends, and loved ones for the holidays.

What do you buy the mother that has every perfume ever carried by Macy’s? Or the father who has everything short of his own personal Ty Pennington in his tool shed? What about the niece that already owns hundreds of Breyer Horses, or the nephew who wants to be a cowboy, but you already got him those really cool chaps…you know, the kind with the fringe?

Enter shameless plug here: Buy them tickets to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, of course!

But seriously, tickets to the 2010 Games make for a once-in-a-lifetime gift. With prices ranging from as low as $25 to no more than $150, there is something for everyone. Ticketholders will be able to browse the extensive international trade show (note: Mom may end up trying on beautiful Derby hats at the Hats by Katie booth), or tour a replica of Mammoth Cave in the Kentucky Experience (note again: here you might find that Dad has wandered to the local bourbon tasting section…), or wander the Equine Village where kids can see Molly the Pony or watch the exciting California Cowgirls drill team.

So on this Cyber Monday, think about what your family, friends, and loved ones might really enjoy this holiday season. Tickets to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don’t miss your opportunity to get tickets while they are still available! And for those who can’t decide which events they want to see, check out our website (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/content.aspx?id=3292) where you can find descriptions of each event.

Happy shopping!

Louise Bowden
Public Relations

Details, Details...

2009-11-23T12:15:00.000-05:00

Let's be honest--normally, it's tough to work hard during a holiday week. Everyone is excited to be going home, seeing family, and relaxing for a few days.

Well... not here!

Short weeks for us mean less time to complete important tasks. And with just 305 days left until the Games, that means we have to move even faster.

This morning, we visited the Kentucky Horse Park to celebrate their green initiatives, which includes a very interesting way to create power from horse manure. Check it out on the Kentucky Horse Park's web site.

This afternoon, our entire staff is once again tackling the DMAS, or "Detailed Master Activities Schedule" for the duration of the Games. With our test events over for the year, we are turning again to this important task. We literally walk through each hour of each day and discuss how the movements of people, horses and events on the park impact every department of our organizing committee. We'll be undergoing this process until early 2010, then we'll take a break from this activity to start planning our last and biggest test event--Kentucky Cup Dressage and Jumping--in conjuction with the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.

We are also very busy recruiting Heroes--that is, volunteers! We still need volunteers, and right now, our focus is particularly on volunteers within the state of Kentucky. Hopefully you will see me on Kentucky's local tv stations and hear me on the radio talking about how to lend your expertise to the Games with a dose of hometown pride and Bluegrass hospitality! More information about volunteering can be found on our web site.

With all this going on, I have NO IDEA when I will manage to get any Christmas shopping finished. I'm usually a better planner around the holidays... but not this year. Shameless plug here: Tickets to the 2010 Games are a gift you can only give once--and you can only give it this year! Reserve your seats before they sell out at www.alltechfeigames.com/tickets.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

Amy Walker
Public Relations

Are You a Fan of Breyer Horses? Check Out the Official Model Horse of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

2009-11-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

The world’s finest model horse brand and the world’s most prestigious equestrian competition are joining together, as Breyer Animal Creation is the newest sponsorship of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

As part of the partnership, Breyer has commissioned sculptor Kathleen Moody to create a sculpture to symbolize the spirit of the horses competing in eight different disciplines. Known as “Esprit,” the sculpture will be available in several mediums to commemorate the Games.

Breyer will also create a number of Traditional® Series portrait models of key competitors from various disciplines, play sets for children incorporating the WEG disciplines and other commemorative products.

In addition, Breyer will create an interactive play area for children, incorporating equine-themed activities using Breyer’s realistic model horses and pint-sized jumps for children!

What horse athletes would you like to see as a Breyer Horse?

Week Two at the Royal

2009-11-13T16:42:00.000-05:00

This week at the Royal has been fantastic! The Direct Energy Centre is a perfect venue for such a large show. We have had a constant flow of traffic at our booth, which we are sharing with the State of Kentucky and the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A vast majority of people we have talked to have already purchased tickets. The rest were searching for accommodations before purchasing tickets. We have urged everybody to use the Housing Bureau. The LCVB has been great in helping figure out what to do while they attend the Games.

In addition to people coming to the Games, I’ve been amazed by the amount of people who have already been to the Kentucky Horse Park. We have a 2 x 3 ft poster of our venue map in our booth and it gets a TON of attention. Everybody walks by and gets pulled in by the fantastic visual that is the Kentucky Horse Park. They say “Oh, I’ve been there before,” and we encourage them to come back next fall!

We’ve met some wonderful people down here including the Chef D’equipe of the Canadian Endurance team who is “praying for dry weather next year.” The buzz about the Games has been more than we expected and the support of those fans is overwhelming. The show concludes on Sunday, which is far too soon, and we’ll have more for you next week. We’ll also announce who won the Games prize pack from the show. If you’re in Ontario and haven’t had a chance to come by remember we’re in Exhibit A Booth 522.

Volunteer Update

2009-11-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your willingness to be a Volunteer for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Many of you have already registered. But now what? Here’s a look at the status of our Volunteer Program for the 2010 Games.

I registered years ago and I still haven’t heard anything. Why?

Thousands of people have registered their interest in volunteering over the past two years. Many of those same enthusiastic volunteers changed email addresses since then.

In September, we reached out to our entire list and asked people to reconfirm their interest and get ready to select volunteer positions. If you did not hear from us, you may need to update your information on your volunteer profile. We still need volunteers! It is not too late to re-confirm your interest. We can help you re-activate your account if you are not sure what email address is currently listed for you. Feel free to call our VOLUNTEER HOTLINE at 859-244-2996 or email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org.

I confirmed my interest, selected a position, and got an itinerary. Does that mean I am definitely a volunteer?

Your confirmation email displays the itinerary and dates you selected, but it is not your official letter of assignment. It only confirms that your request was processed.

We currently have a multi-step selection process in place that includes a back ground check. Official WEG volunteers will be confirmed at the end of that process, which will take place over the next couple of months.

Competition volunteers are being hand-selected by each Discipline Manager and will be notified over the next several weeks.

How do I sign up to volunteer for more than one position?

We are working on improving our registration process to allow you to sign up for more opportunities. We will notify everyone when those additional opportunities become available.

Will there be volunteer opportunities/accommodations available for those with disabilities?

Yes, there are many opportunities well suited to volunteers with disabilities. Go ahead and register, and then if you have any concerns, please feel free to call us at 859-244-2996.

I need to plan my housing options now. What should I do?

We are working to provide a range of affordable housing options for volunteers. However, each volunteer is required to pay for and complete their own hotel/housing arrangements. We have sent a list of preliminary options to our registered volunteers. For your reference, that list (“Housing Options”) is posted on the volunteer website.

What if I am waiting to buy tickets?

We hope that everyone has an opportunity to experience these Games as a spectator and enjoy this world-class competition. To make the most of your spectator experience, we encourage you to go ahead and purchase tickets to those events that you most want to see. We hope that your time as a volunteer will be spent focusing on the important job you will have—and we want you to relax and enjoy the events you most want to see as a spectator!

Do you still need volunteers?

We still need to fill thousands of volunteer positions—and every one of them is important! If you are already registered, please let others know about this opportunity.

How long will you take volunteer registrations?

We will be taking registrations until early spring. However, due to abundant interest, we encourage everyone to sign up as soon as possible. You can sign up at www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer

I am a member of a group that wants to volunteer. Can we do that?

YES! Groups are a vital part of our volunteer program. Young Professionals, Corporate Groups, and Community Organizations are all needed to make our Games a success. Email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org for more information.

What if I still have questions?

Feel free to call us at 859-244-2996 or email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org. We will personally respond to your questions; please allow 48 hours to receive a reply.

The Royal Winter Fair--Toronto, ON, Canada

2009-11-09T16:53:00.000-05:00

What an exciting week it has been in Toronto and at The Royal Winter Fair and Horse Show!

I arrived in Toronto last Wednesday to attend The Royal on behalf of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Now Kentucky is known for its southern hospitality, but I have found hospitality is not something you can only find in the South, or in the United States. The people in the city of Toronto could not be more welcoming, laid-back, and helpful –especially the street car drivers who know a first time visitor when they see one!

Toronto is a city of 5 million people, which is immense in comparison to Lexington’s 250,000. In Toronto you see street cars, buses, pedestrians, and taxis everywhere, and the movement of people and automobiles is endless. Drive five minutes out of downtown Lexington and you see rolling pastures, grazing horses, and endless bluegrass. In other words, Toronto is the last place you would expect to see cows and pigs and horses being unloaded from a trailer while waiting for a street car….but we did!

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Horse Show is truly where country meets city. Among the horses, cows, and pigs, there are also sheep, llamas, alpacas, goats, and dogs. There are multiple exhibition areas that house all types and breeds of animals, as well as food from around the world and tradeshow vendors from all over Canada, and the United States.

I was born and raised a city girl in Washington, DC and ended up in Kentucky because of horses. I have never been to a state fair, so the idea of showing livestock was very new to me. Did you know that they blow-dry cows? And that sheep wear these blankets that cover every part of their body to keep them clean? I am still very intrigued, and I think this might warrant a trip to the next Kentucky State Fair.

Our booth for the two weeks of The Royal is next to the Canadian National Equestrian Federation, and is among the “Spirit of the Horse” exhibit, which will be similar to the 2010 Games Equine Village. In fact, several of the demonstrators will be at the 2010 Games. Ruth Sturley, Kentucky Cup Endurance participant and 2010 Games hopeful, has done a demonstration about the discipline of Endurance on her Arabian (who has competed in the past 3 World Championships!). Also giving a demo this week is “Two As One Horsemanship,” who will be participating in the Equine Village next year.

Many people have stopped by to tell us how excited they are for the 2010 Games, or that they are interested in coming. With my trip coming to a close, I realize that my job really is one of a kind. And while the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be a little different than the “country meets city” feel of The Royal Winter Fair here in Toronto, I look forward to what lies ahead, and in the meantime, I think I’ll just stick to horses.

Louise Bowden
Public Relations

2009-10-30T14:14:00.000-04:00

Volunteers have been a big topic at the 2010 Games office this week. We have already had hundreds of volunteers sign up to work job shifts--now our discussions are turning to recruiting more volunteers, clothing them, housing, them and feeding them!

If you have signed up to be a volunteer at the Games, watch your email and this blog. We're going to answer many of your questions in a volunteer update next week.

And THANK YOU for volunteering. I don't think anyone realizes the important role that volunteers play with an event of this magnitude. If you haven't signed up to volunteer yet, please know that we still need volunteers!

We were very excited this week to release our current participants in the Equine Village. This will be a pavilion area with educational demonstrations, entertainment, exhibits, and more. We are so excited to have Pat Parelli, John Lyons, Clinton Anderson, and Craig Cameron at the 2010 Games, among many other incredible showcases. For a full list, visit the Equine Village page of our web site. It promises to be a spectator favorite at the Games!

20 Questions for Two Time World Champion Vaulter, Kai Vorberg

2009-10-28T14:24:00.000-04:00

Pictured: Kai Vorberg at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games One-Year-To-Go Celebration on September 25, 2009 (photo credit: Matt Wooley and Equisport Photos)

NAME: Kai Vorberg
AGE: 28
DISCIPLINE: Vaulting
COUNTRY: Germany

1. When did you start in your discipline?
I stated vaulting in 1992, but actually I wanted to become a dressage rider before. But then I watched some idols in 1992And that clinched it for me to focus on Vaulting first.

2. How did you get into riding?
My mother has been a professional riding and vaulting coach for many years.

3. Do you have any lucky riding attire?
We have to change our vaulting uniforms every year, because they are related to the theme and the music.But my Vaulting Pad, which is under the handles has always been the same old one for years!

4. Do you have any advice for younger riders aspiring within your discipline?
Spread your passion to find people who support you and stick with it, even if it might be hard sometimes!

5. Who is your equestrian idol?
Reinhard Klimke, Ludger Beerbaum, Christoph Lensing

6. If there was one other discipline you could compete in, what would it be?
Dressage

7. What characteristic or quality do you value most in a horse?
Of course we need horses in Vaulting that we can trust! Apart from a good canter and the skill to focus when it matters most, the relation to our horses make us strong.

8. Where will you be in 5, 10 years?
If I would know that…I would tell you!

9. What are 3 things you are most likely to find in your refrigerator?
Natural flavored water, Yoghurts, some juices…

10. What is one thing you always take with you to horse shows/on the road?
My Laptop

11. What is the coolest place in the world horseback riding has taken you?
Dubai, Las Vegas, and Kentucky

12. Given the chance, what horse other than your own would you like to ride/compete on? To vault just one more time on my old Championship horse “Picasso RS vd Wintermühle”

13. What is your favorite horse show?
CHIO Aachen has an outstanding position for me, but many other make the same efforts and are as important as any of them

14. What is the best/worst part about riding and showing?
Best: to be challenged and able to show what you can do. Worst: to be in the pressure of dates almost every day

15. What have horses and showing taught you?
To be patient and how to find happiness!

16. What have been the biggest rewards of your career?
The medals, the feelings and the respect you get of the people for the work you do!

17. What are you most likely to be doing if/when you’re not riding?}
Almost not happening! And if, then I enjoy doing nothing but, reading, making music , sleeping and eating

18. How do you unwind after a long day in the saddle?
On the couch or in the cinema!

19. How do you juggle your riding career with your life as a mom/dad?
I am not a dad yet and probably never will be a mom!

20. What excites you most about the 2010 Games in Kentucky?
That it will be the biggest event I have ever participated in and for me in personal probablythe most emotional competition I will ever have competed at.

21. Have you ever ridden any other disciplines?
I have made the two years education as a german Bereiter, so I am educated and trained as a Dressage and Jumping rider and trainer as well. But I mostly always preferred Dressage.

22. What music are you currently listening to?
Jewel! Take That, Sugarland, cross over, …

23. What do you think when you think about possibly riding in next year’s WEG?
I am amazed and would be absolutely delighted. I really want to give my best and achieve all that is possible!

24. What are you doing to try to get there?
Training hard and focusing on things that help me to make it

25. What impact do you think having WEG in the US will have on horse sports in this country?
I hope that it will help horse sports tobe better recognized in the entire country, and especially for Vaulting, it is a big chance which we as the discipline community have to take.

2009 Alltech On The Road Tour

2009-10-26T17:22:00.000-04:00

Susan Reynolds is on the competition staff of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. See what she has to say about her two-day tour with Dr. Pearse Lyons of Alltech to equestrian communities on the East Coast.

We are now on our third stop of the 2009 Alltech On The Road tour—and you want to talk about a whirlwind tour! In a matter of 27 hours (we left Sunday afternoon), we have already visited Middleburg and Upperville, VA, Pinehurst and Southern Pines, NC, and we landed in Aiken, SC hours ago. Tonight we will fly onto Louisville, KY for one last stop before making the short trip back to Lexington.

We have had warm and enthusiastic guests today that have shown great interest and support for the Games in Middleburg VA, Pinehurst and Southern Pines NC and Aiken SC. It has been exciting two days visiting multiple equestrian communities, and talking about the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Thank you to all that have taken time out of there busy schedules to come and show their support for the Games. Hope to see everyone next year!

Where Did October Go?

2009-10-23T14:35:00.000-04:00

October has come and gone--and just where did it go? I look out my office window to turning leaves, slow, steady rain, and a cool breeze.

Of course, I can really count the days--they've been spent at our Kentucky Cup Driving and Kentucky Cup Endurance test events! These were a dramatic change from our first two test events. We left the comfortable, climate-controlled confines of the Kentucky Horse Park's Indoor Arena used for Kentucky Cup Reining and Vaulting, and were quite literally thrown to the elements!

These outdoor test events proved to be incredible learning experiences for our team and our preparations. For one, you certainly can't control Mother Nature! Kentucky Cup Driving was held with a little rain for Dressage, but a gorgeous Marathon day. However...

For those of you who attended Kentucky Cup Endurance, I must say hands down that you are true supporters of the 2010 Games AND of Equestrian sport. Those athletes are some of the toughest ever as well--even with the race shortened due to the weather. Temperatures plummetted to the low 40's with an onslaught of rain, leaving our entire competition venue--and anyone there--covered in a layer of wet, sticky mud. But the show must go on! We endured Kentucky Cup Endurance, and managed to enjoy some of it! It was definitely a challenge, and our staff took away some prized lessons to add to our planning.

Among some serious discussions, here's some lessons I learned:
1. I must buy new rain boots and keep a rain suit with me at all times in 2010.
2. Lap-top computers are wonderful... until you risk carrying them across a muddy, wet field.
3. Golf carts do not drive well in mud and ruin polo fields at the Kentucky Horse Park.
4. Copies of results cannot be read if they are dropped in the mud first.
5. Rain + mud + a 75-mile race = COLD.

Sensing a theme here?

With our final test events over for the year, our staff is taking a good, hard look at where we are. We're gearing up--we want to hit the beginning of 2010 knowing exactly what we have to accomplish in the final nine months so that everyone has a great experience starting on September 25, 2010.

In the meantime, our Competition Equipment Coordinator, Susan Reynolds will be blogging for us Monday while she is on the Road with our title sponsor Alltech. They are visiting Middleburg, VA and Southern Pines, NC to tell the story of the Games. Come back and find out how their trip goes!

20 Questions for Vaulter, Mary McCormick

2009-10-21T16:13:00.000-04:00

Name: Mary McCormick
Country: USA
Discipline: Vaulting

1)When did you start in your discipline?
1992

2) How did you into riding?
I met a girl at school who said she stood up on moving horses and I knew I wanted to do that.

3) Do you have any lucky riding attire?
My “Sun Team” bracelet.

4) Do you have any advice for younger riders aspiring within your discipline?
Work hard and dream big.

5) Who is your equestrian idol?
Nadia Zulow, multiple time World Vaulting Champion.

6) If there was one other discipline you could compete in, what would it be?Eventing.

7) What characteristic or quality do you value most in a horse?
Willing attitude.

8) Where will you be in 5, 10 years?
Vaulting, coaching and lunging.

9) What are 3 things you are most likely to find in your refrigerator?
String cheese, ground turkey and Diet Coke.

10) What is one thing you always take with you to horse shows/on the road?
My iPod. It’s good to visualize my performance to music wherever I am.

11) What is the coolest place in the world horseback riding has taken you?
CVI Leipzig Germany. We were part of a partner Pferd.

12) Given the chance, what horse other than your own would you like to ride/compete on?
Arkansas, a German horse.

13) What is your favorite horse show?
Nationals! I get to see my friends from all over the country.

14) What is the best/worst part about riding and showing?
The best is doing well and having my work pay off. The worst is getting out of sync with my horse because of the competition stress or environment.

15) What have horses and showing taught you?
It’s not about winning, just doing your best, being proud of your team and enjoying the journey.

16) What have been the biggest rewards of your career?
Watching my students grow and improve as people and equestrians.

17) What are you most likely to be doing if/when you’re not riding?
Dancing and climbing anywhere and everywhere.

18) How do you unwind after a long day in the saddle?
Dinner, Diet Coke and time with my horse.

19) What excites you most about the 2010 Games in Kentucky?
The possibility of representing my country IN my country.

20) Have you ever ridden any other disciplines?
Yes, Western pleasure, barrel racing and hunters.

21) What music are you currently listening to?
Country.

22) What do you think when you think about possibly riding in next year’s WEG?
I think it will be amazing and I am so excited.

23) What are you doing to try to get there?
Train hard, build solid foundations with my horse, and do my best in and out of the ring.

24) What impact do you think having WEG in the US will have on horse sports in this country?
I think/hope equestrian sports will gain popularity and awareness among American people. I hope it will help recognize equestrians as the dedicated athletes and professional athletes we are.

20 Questions for 2010 Games Para-Dressage Hopeful Erin Alberda

2009-10-07T10:47:00.000-04:00

NAME: Erin Alberda
AGE: 30
DISCIPLINE: Para Dressage
COUNTRY: USA

1. When did you start in your discipline?
I began riding when I was 9 years old. My disability onset in college, and I quit riding for a number of years, but started again in 2004, and became involved in Para Dressage

2. How did you get into riding?
I was a horse-crazy kid! I begged my parents until they finally signed me up for some lessons! I continued being a bit horse-crazy into college, competing in hunters, until my disability onset. A few years later, I was able to get back in the saddle at a therapeutic riding center (Little Bit TRC in Woodinville, WA).

3. Do you have any lucky riding attire?
I am a bit superstitious about my show attire...can't wear anything new! I do have a lucky stock pin that belonged to a close friend who passed away.

4. Do you have any advice for younger riders aspiring within your discipline?
Strive for excellence, do not be limited by what you think you can or cannot do - it is all possible and within reach.

5. Who is your equestrian idol?
I have so many!! Robert Dover, Lendon Gray, Carol Lavell, as well as my teammates & Para riders who have helped me get where I am today - Hope Hand, Lynn Seidmann, and Margo O'Callaghan.

6. If there was one other discipline you could compete in, what would it be?
I am hoping to learn driving. Reining also looks like a lot of fun!!

7. What characteristic or quality do you value most in a horse?
Temperment -horse that enjoys the work, and loves being at shows as much as I do!

8. Where will you be in 5, 10 years?
Hopefully running a successful acupuncture practice (I finish my degree next year), riding as much as possible, and loving life!

9. What are 3 things you are most likely to find in your refrigerator?
Peanut butter, jelly, bread...apparently a key staple in my diet!

10. What is one thing you always take with you to horse shows/on the road?
Lots of coffee.

11. What is the coolest place in the world horseback riding has taken you?
USET headquarters at Gladstone for Festival of Champions...simply amazing to ride in the same arena as so many of my "equestrian idols"!

12. Given the chance, what horse other than your own would you like to ride/compete on?
Leslie Morse's Tip Top - LOVE watching that horse go!

13. What is your favorite horse show?
Favorite venue is Devonwood Equestrian Center in Oregon

14. What is the best/worst part about riding and showing?
The best part of showing is how much fun it is - it's like a big fancy-dress party where everyone gets a chance to show off the results of all their hard work! The worst part is the expense involved - I sometimes wonder if this prevents people from enjoying the experience. Riding is a joyful activity for me, even on my worst rides.

15. What have horses and showing taught you?
Riding and showing have given me back a freedom and grace that I thought I had lost for good when my disability onset - it has taught me to see myself as something other than my diagnosis.

16. What have been the biggest rewards of your career?
I think my career is just getting underway - but I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people already, that's definitely the highlight.

17. What are you most likely to be doing if/when you’re not riding?
Sleeping, studying, or fundraising

18. How do you unwind after a long day in the saddle?
Hit the books!

19. How do you juggle your riding career with your life as a mom/dad?
N/A

20. What excites you most about the 2010 Games in Kentucky?
I am so excited that Para Equestrian is being included, and that it is going to take place here in the US - so many people are going to have a chance to see the world's best competitors, and learn about new disciplines, such an incredible opportunity.

21. Have you ever ridden any other disciplines?
I rode hunters until my disability onset.

22. What music are you currently listening to?
Any and all - I like things I can sing along to, or imagine riding a freestyle to!

23. What do you think when you think about possibly riding in next year’s WEG?
It would be both an amazing and humbling experience, to be sharing the stage with the worlds best. I try not to think about it too much, as I need to stay focused on getting there first!

24. What are you doing to try to get there?
Training, training, training. And fundraising. I am working hard to ensure my horse will be ready for our big year ahead, and hopeful that I will have sponsors & funding in place to help it all come together!

25. What impact do you think having WEG in the US will have on horse sports in this country?
I think it will have a huge impact - people will have the opportunity to see the highest caliber equestrian athletes in so many disciplines, and that can only generate more interest in US Equestrian sport, as well as inspire our future equestrian athletes to aim high, and train hard.

2009-10-04T20:57:00.000-04:00

Violet Forbes is an employee of Classis Communications, a consulting firm working with the World Games 2010 Foundation. With decades of experience in managing media centers at international competitions, Violet has seen it all--and isn't afraid to share! See below for her thoughts from Kentucky Cup Driving...

Sunday Night
As I sit in my hotel room and contemplate my last day here and the last installation of this blog, I am contemplating quite a few things.

To anyone preparing to come to the Games, or to the Horse Park in general, forget the pretty shoes. Invest in a pair that is comfortable, weatherproof, and in my case, can be thrown out after the event (packing shoes covered in mud and smelling like wet dog make for a very unpleasant experience when you eventually open your suitcase). All the walking and standing that I do mandates these kind of shoes, which are never the most beautiful. Something that pains me – I love pretty shoes, but the ones that I love are only practical if I can sit down all day, which is not in my job description. So I wear the ugly comfy ones, and still have a back ache and swollen feet at the end of the day. Thank god for Magna Paste, which my horses have to share with me.

I am always a little depressed on the last day as we tear down the Press Center. I really do enjoy my work (no matter how I complain) and I have a lot of fun with the people I work with and for, so leaving makes me sad. This trip I am really sad to leave my Tower. It was such a nice location with all the necessities of life at hand.

This was one of the easiest events to work because of the drivers. I have never had a group of people be that kind, cooperative and genuinely nice about letting me intrude on their time. The drivers that I dealt with, Chester Weber, Tucker Johnson and Boyd Exell, were three of the nicest gentlemen, in the fullest sense of the word, that I have had the pleasure to chase down in quite a while. All three of them surprised me (and that is very hard to do – at least in a good surprise kind of way) on Saturday when they showed up in the Press Room of their own volition after the Marathon phase. Normally my big fear, the one that wakes me bolt upright in bed at 3 am, is that I won’t be able to get the riders that I need to come for a Press Conference. That – I gave a party and nobody came nightmare. I actually slept through the night on Saturday, confident that these three would not let me down. So not only are they the top drivers in their sport, but they are kind, sincere, funny and articulate people. They have earned my everlasting support and respect. Right now, I hope that they are the top three next year as well, because I really do need to sleep through the night.

So as I sit here slowly gaining the feeling back in my feet, I can honestly say that I am really looking forward to next year even with all the challenges that an undertaking of this magnitude will bring. I hope that it will be as fun as my time with these drivers has been.

2009-10-03T18:25:00.000-04:00

Violet Forbes is an employee of Classis Communications, a consulting firm working with the World Games 2010 Foundation. With decades of experience in managing media centers at international competitions, Violet has seen it all--and isn't afraid to share! See below for her thoughts from Thursday and Friday... and follow her through the rest of Kentucky Cup Driving this weekend!

Day 4: There are hundreds of people running around the Horse Park in bright green shirts. These are the volunteers that have come out to help with the test events in preparation for next year. They are standing in the rain and the wind, driving golf carts filled with spectators, directing traffic and in the case of my media center volunteers, stapling and copying their day away. They do all these things out of a love of the sport and in return get nothing more than a thank you and a free lunch. They deserve so much more because without them no event would ever take place. So to all the volunteers who make my job a bit easier, and when you actually take it all the way down, allow me to have a job – THANK YOU!!! And to everyone now and in the future – no matter how stressed, pressed for time and cranky we might be – remember that these people give their time to help – it is not their fault if something is not as we would like it. Smile and thank them, because without them – our sport would come to a grinding halt.

Now that I have said all this, I will tell you why this popped into my head. I broke one of my own commandments this morning when I drove into the Horse Park without ANY credentials whatsoever. I was stopped by the parking volunteers (and they should have stopped me), and at least they were very nice when I discovered that I could produce NOTHING that said I belonged. Totally my own fault – I must have had a huge brain cramp this morning when I got ready. I managed to talk my way into the park and into the Media Parking and then into the Media Center – but I have been telling people for over a decade – Do Not Lose Your Credentials - because you will not be allowed in. Thankfully other people are nicer than I am!

I spent the afternoon getting interviews from some of the Four-In-Hand drivers as they crossed the finish of Marathon. The last time I was hands on at a driving event was a long time ago at the Festival of Champions in Gladstone. My initial impression of drivers was reinforced today. What a great bunch of people!!! They were so kind and accommodating – everyone I asked went out of their way to give me what I needed. A big thanks to all of them who love their sport so much. They were kind and funny and willing to spend time with a video crew who is trying to promote the sport. They make my job a joy – worth the sore back and aching feet.

Violet Forbes
Press Operations

Media Center Mis-Adventures from KY Cup Driving by Violet Forbes

2009-10-02T14:58:00.000-04:00

I arrived back in Kentucky to act as the press officer for the Kentucky Cup, the driving test event for the WEG 2010 Games.

For those if you who are familiar with me, you know I can never go anyplace without a saga or an opinion. For those of you who don’t know me but are reading this – be forewarned!
Well, here is the latest.

After a very rocky flight, I arrived in Lexington, and even though I did end up grabbing the little white bag out of the seat pocket - thankfully I did not have to use it, but it was touch and go for a while. I did keep my dignity and nothing went anywhere.

I got my first view of the Horse Park since Rolex in April and my how things are a’changin. . The new indoor arena is done and done well. I had snuck into it in April while it was still under construction and really liked it then – now that it is finished I think that it is spectacular. Wearing my Media Person hat, there was always one thing I really hated about indoor coliseums – I am always being parked at the tippy top. Not a great place for a semi blind person with a fear of heights, but also not great for anyone who likes to breathe. Not so in this new arena. The ventilation is well thought out (almost as if they consulted me) and the vendors, media, etc., are all on the main level.

I was heartsick to discover that the location of my lovely Media Center for Rolex, which has been my home for many a year, is now a construction site. I wonder what is going there – but then when I looked at where we will be in the future - just on the other side of the Steeplechase barn - I realize just how nice our media home will be for Rolex and the 2010 Games – flatter, higher and not right at the intersection of the main roads – I am excited. No more will we worry about where to put the lockers or televisions so that will no longer be the general turn around for all those lost souls who got their map of the Horse Park turned upside down. The WEG coming to the Horse Park will certainly make my life easier in the future.

For this driving test event I am in heaven – we are in the Tower of the main arena. I might not ever leave – I really like the Tower idea. I like it so much I might have to build one at home. I have the most incredible view of the Park with the arena and the fields all in view. To make life truly spectacular in the Tower, there are little brass disks in the floor at various spots which (brace yourself for it) have power and internet connections. This pleases the Queen of power strips and extension cords more than you can imagine.

In keeping with the theme of my life – the Tower also boasts real bathrooms with hot water and a flush mechanism as well as a little room with a fridge and microwave. As I said – I may never leave the Tower.

Getting around the Horse Park still requires quite a hike, but that is a minor trade-off for the amount of space that there is. I still go back to the miles long hike from the barns to the ring in Dublin. I would never have thought that I could walk so much to get to a relatively close arena in a few city blocks, so I will not complain about the peaceful and idyllic stroll through the Horse Park.

Day 2:
The morning dawned dark and chilly in Lexington. I have been to Lexington many times and I can honestly say that I have never packed correctly. This trip is proving to be much too chilly for the clothing that I brought. It may necessitate a quick trip to the local Walmart for a turtleneck or another fleece jacket. At least I can use those when I return to the North for the winter.

The jog for the Kentucky Cup was this afternoon and all went smoothly. By next year, there will be a new and improved area for all the jogs. This will leave me, and I am sure many others, looking for a way to explain how to get to the jog. For years we have directed people to the Grill On The Hill. Now that it is going to be moved – what landmark will I have to describe the location? I should have enough time before the Games begin to figure it out.

One thing I definitely have to figure out before next September is what to do with foreign keyboards. I had a very nice gentleman from Germany check in today and it turned into quite a circus when I tried to help him connect to our wireless network. Being the know-it-all that I am, I sat down in front of his computer and began to click and type away. I had at least a paragraph of pure gibberish on the screen before it dawned on me that his keyboard was totally different. What was the letter A doing way over to the right. My solution to the problem was to call pitifully for the IT guy and while we were waiting for help to arrive, I sent his files from my computer. While that was a quick fix, it is not going to work for next year. This is why we have test events!

Day 3:
I have always been awed by driving. Of course this is coming from a person who barely passed her driving road test (of course that was a million years ago and I have gotten a little better over the years – unfortunately I have also gotten blinder over the years so it evens out and I am still a bad driver).

The first thing that amazes me is that there are four horses. Every other discipline has one. The time and devotion required to get one horse to the top level of competition is bad enough. I can’t imagine having to prepare four and possibly five horses for international competition – having them at the peak of fitness both physically and mentally, having them all in tune to turn in a winning performance over three days.

Most international caliber riders, and admittedly I deal with mostly the show jumpers, have a big horse and one that they either hope to bring on or is the back up. The heir and the spare theory. Four is beyond my comprehension even given the fact that they are often worked as one unit.

After watching some of the dressage, my absolute admiration goes to these grooms. These horses were immaculate as was the tack and the carriage. All the grooms come to the ring turned out as well as their horses. The horses were not the spiffy (and much easier) show horse syle – with the hair shaved down to skin –there was elbow grease and time into this and it shows style. The tack is a wonder unto itself. This is not the kind of equipment that you can take a damp sponge to – this has to be clean and polished. These grooms are amazing – either that or they have figured out how to add hours to their day!

Even though the dressage was gorgeous – I am still waiting for Saturday and the Marathon, which is probably the most exciting thing I have seen.

Violet Forbes

Press Operations

20 Questions for Chester Weber

2009-09-30T09:05:00.000-04:00

Check out our featured athlete of the week, Kentucky Cup Driving contestant, Chester Weber. Watch Chester and other World Equestrian Games veterans at the official driving test event of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Kentucky Cup Driving, this weekend (October 1-4) at the Kentucky Horse Park.

CHESTER C. WEBER

AGE: JUNE 3 1975 (33)
DISCIPLINE: DRIVING
COUNTRY: USA

1. When did you start in your discipline?
In 1989

2. How did you get into driving?
I first started to compete with draft horses, specifically with Clydesdales, and when I went off to Boarding school at Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ I was introduced to Combined Driving by Jimmy Fairclough

3. Do you have any lucky driving attire?
Not really, I joke some times that there is magic in my old top hat

4. Do you have any advice for younger riders aspiring within your discipline?
Concentrate on the details and remembers winners train and losers complain

5. Who is your equestrian idol?
Michael Freund

6. If there was one other discipline you could compete in, what would it be?
Jumping

7. What characteristic or quality do you value most in a horse?
Temperament of a winner, without that training is for nothing

8. Where will you be in 5, 10 years?
At Live Oak Stud with my wife and family

9. What are 3 things you are most likely to find in your refrigerator?
St. Pellegrino water, limes and fresh fish

10. What is one thing you always take with you to horse shows/on the road?
Movies for amusement

11. What is the coolest place in the world driving has taken you?
Aachen during the CHIO

12. Given the chance, what horse(s) other than your own would you like to compete with?
Chardon’s team from 1998

13. What is your favorite horse show?
CHIO Aachen

14. What is the best/worst part about driving and competing?
Best, the travels. Worst, packing

15. What have horses and competing taught you?
“Winners train losers complain” all good horsemen and women can cull ruthlessly, and with horses you need humility

16. What have been the biggest rewards of your career?
Getting to work with fabulous horses

17. What are you most likely to be doing if/when you’re not driving?
Skiing on the snow or in the water or playing tennis

18. How do you unwind after a long day?
Glass of French Burgundy

19. How do you juggle your driving career with your life as a mom/dad?
I am neither mom nor dad that I know of

20. What excites you most about the 2010 Games in Kentucky?
Competing in my backyard aginst the world’s best

21. Have you ever ridden any other disciplines?
Not really

22. What music are you currently listening to?
Country

23. What do you think when you think about possibly riding in next year’s WEG?
The challenges of tomorrow’s training

24. What are you doing to try to get there?
Training and keeping focused

25. What impact do you think having WEG in the US will have on horse sports in this country?
It will have a great impact on bringing our sport to the masses of horse lovers in the US.

Get Your Games Face On

2009-09-28T16:39:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a weekend! In case you missed it tickets went on sale Friday (if you did check out Ticketmaster.com and get yours today!) There were many, many long days spent prepping for ticket sales to begin, but our team survived and we were so relieved to see everything go smoothly for ticketbuyers Friday.

Some fans may not have purchased this weekend thinking, “I’ll still get to see everything I want.” Well, if you’re a fan of dressage, eventing, jumping, reining, or opening ceremonies, you might want to “pony” up before they’re gone!

With dressage, eventing, and jumping being Olympic disciplines they have a strong following and so we anticipated those events going fast, what we didn’t expect was how fast. They’re not sold out, but they may be gone before you realize.

That is by not means to miss out on driving, endurance, para-dressage or vaulting. Tickets have been sold for every one of the 49 sessions of ticketed events available. We’ve sold tickets in all 50 states and over 25 countries. This first week of sales has by far exceeded our expectations, and we can't wait to see all of you in Kentucky.

The support has been great and we’ll continue to work hard to make your experience next fall great! Over the past few weeks you may have noticed our recent partnership with the National Reining Horse Association. This agreement led to the NRHA putting on a Reining Freestyle Exhibition. With the Games being in the U.S. for the first time and reining being such a western sport, the fit seemed natural. The Reining Freestyle Exhibition on September 30, 2010 at 6 p.m. will be a special event whether you’re a diehard fan or experiencing reining for the first time.

In addition to ticket sales we also launched information regarding accommodations, parking, daily hospitality passes and World Games Radio. If you want to add to your experience at the 2010 Games any and all of these options will certainly help. As more information becomes available please be sure to check our website. There are two phases of the site and we’re currently in the first and planning towards the second. As the Games near we’ll make changes and add information to make the Games a once-in-a-lifetime-experience.

In the meantime, did you see our latest video?

Matt Reiter
Marketing and Sales

Reese Koffler-Stanfield Gets Ready for WEG

2009-09-23T19:11:00.001-04:00

Wow - I'm so excited to be selected as the Kentucky Athlete Representative at the One Year Away Celebration for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. I want to introduce myself and my horse Goubergh's Kasper.

I am a true Kentucky girl born and raised right here in Lexington. I attended Sayre High School and the University of Kentucky. I graduated from UK with a B.S. in Agriculture Economics and a M.A. from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. My first experience on a horse was during my second birthday party which was held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Since that moment I've been passionate about riding.

For years I have dreamed of the possibility of representing my country in the sport of Dressage. That dream now holds extra special meaning for me as my hometown of Lexington, KY, has been chosen as the site of the World Equestrian Games in 2010. The World Games are considered the highest honor for any rider. I am currently a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist, a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level, and the principle Trainer at Maplecrest Farm of Lexington. My husband Travis Stanfield, my parents Bruce and Margee Koffler, my uncle Dr. Michael Koffler, and all of my students and the staff of Maplecrest farm make up the most loving and supportive team that any rider could ever hope to have.

Kasper (aka “Kaspie” or “Goober”) is truly an amazing partner. His kind and witty personality never ceases to put a smile on my face each day. Kasper is a 16.2 hand Chestnut Gelding with a lengthy and prestigious resume. My parents and uncle purchased Kasper in 2008 and we became instant friends. Our goal for 2009 was to qualify for the United States Equestrian Federation Festival of Champions at the Grand Prix level. To achieve this goal Kasper and I began training with internationally known “S” judge, trainer, mentor, and friend Kathy Connelly, in Wellington Florida. Kathy and I have worked together for the past seven year with the goal of competing at the international level. This year Kasper and I competed in several international shows.... we made a huge splash! We won the Grand Prix Special at the Wellington Classic CDI ***, we were the leading Americans in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W at the Wellington Equestrian Festival, and won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at the Lamplight CDI *** in May. We were thrilled when we received our invitation to compete in the United States Equestrian Federation Grand Prix Dressage Festival of Champions held at USET Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. Kasper and I finished 4th overall!!! Our goal now is to again qualify for the USEF Festival of Champions which will also serve as the final selection trial for the WEG!

Kasper and I are working hard to prepare for the upcoming qualifying shows. We will be working very hard to secure a place on the 2010 WEG team which would truly be a dream come true. I am often asked what steps I am taking to prepare for the WEG. I have certainly modified my daily routine and am working to improve my strength and physical fitness with the same veracity that Kasper approaches his training each day. I visit my personal trainer, Matt Veigel of Body Structure, at least 4 days a week. After Kasper has had his breakfast and enjoyed a few hours of turnout on our beautiful Kentucky bluegrass, we get to work. After our daily workouts and a bit of lunch, Kasper settles in for a nice long nap (of which I am jealous). Then in the afternoon he goes for a walk and has a massage from Jennifer Oliver of Central Kentucky Equine Massage Therapy, before dinner. Kasper's favorite treat is bananas. He will beg ALL day for one. I spend the rest of my day working with several horses that I am currently training, and having lessons with my many wonderful students. All of my students are hardworking and unique individuals so helping them reach their goals is definitely a priority.

Here We Go!

2009-09-21T17:05:00.000-04:00

Today has been a very busy day at the WEG office. In between radio interviews and planning for a huge celebration this Friday, our staff also met to walk through the DMAS, or detailed activities schedule, for our next two test events.

One Year to Go. Ticket Sales Launch. Kentucky Cup Driving and Kentucky Cup Endurance. There's just so much going on!

Jamie Link (our CEO) and I are visiting TV stations througout the region this week, inviting everyone to downtown Lexington on Friday, September 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as we celebrate "One Year to Go" with a festival at Lexington's Courthouse Plaza. And for those of you who cannot join us in Kentucky, I hope you'll celebrate with us through a live Web stream of the festivities on the city government Web site.

Our next two test events are also coming together very nicely. Kentucky Cup Driving will feature the largest gathering of Four-in-Hand drivers ever in America, and Kentucky Cup Endurance will include competitors from 22 countries. We have several international media outlets coming to Kentucky for these test events, and it's a great opportunity to showcase everything that makes the Kentucky Horse Park a premier facility for top equestrian competition.

It is always fun to hear and see the excitement growing, and the immense support that so many people have for this event.

Don't forget--we're giving YOU a chance to ask us questions about the Games. What staff do you want to hear from? What athletes do you want to see featured? Let us know who you want to hear from and your questions--just reply to Louise's blog from September 17th and we'll get the answers.

See you in downtown Lexington--or on the Web--on September 25th.

Amy Walker
Public Relations