Day 1...full of FUN!!

What? You mean I have only been here ONE day?? I seems like I have already been here for a week....LOL.
So this morning the three of us headed over the uniform center to pick up our volunteer goodies and get our badges. I am really glad that I sent in a good pic of myself, because that thing is slapped right there on the front of the badge that you are meant to wear ALL the time. No driver's license picture this time...ha ha.
Ariat is one of the major sponsors for the games and provided the volunteers with all of our gear. We got two nice, light athletic polo shirts, a windbreaker jacket, a baseball hat and a little backpack thing....not bad! They are all a nice Wedgwood blue color and I am very excited about them...so official :) The check in process was very easy and the uniform volunteers were very friendly. Yay, that can be ticked off the list.

On the bus ride home

Next up...we HAD to head over to the park to check everything out. We decided to take the bus over from the downtown station...talk about a GREAT idea...really, I'm serious on this one. We walked down to the station, got directly on the bus and headed over to the park. The drop off spot is feet from the entry gate and it all only costs $2 roundtrip! Transportation is one thing they have figured out for sure. Way to go Lextran!  Even the trip home was quick and pleasant.

Phillip Dutton won Rolex in this saddle!

When we arrived at the horsepark I hardly recognized it....and, as most of you will recall, I was JUST there in April for Rolex. There are tents EVERYWHERE!! The vendor area is in the front half of the parking lot and there are vendors galore! Alas, the rumors are true and there really aren't very many killer deals, but still....so much stuff to look at, so many cool things to learn about and I did get the occasional sweet free goodie!! Since I am 'in the market' for a jumping saddle, I am taking the opportunity to sit in a bunch of different saddles and talk to as many people as possible about them.  At the Devacoux tent we made some friends with the salesmen......I guess they are auctioning off Phillip Dutton's blue Devacoux saddle!! That is fun. They had it sitting out on display :) Well, you know us....in a matter of moments we had talked the salesmen into letting us sit in it!!! Ha Ha...awesome! Our butts sat where Mr. Duttons butt was...and there are pictures to prove it!! LOL
We spent the majority of the day walking around the trade fair, visiting the WEG 2014 Normandy tent and watching the Eventing Dressage on the plasma screens.  Boyd rode well with Neville as did Buck and Ballynoe Castle...I almost didn't recognize Buck, his legs looked too long - and no read socks! LOL
They both earned scores in the upper 40s, but it isn't enough to put them to put them in the lead. The Germans are doing well at the moment...in first and second. I got to watch Ingird Klimke ride, which was a total treat The rest of the competitors will ride !! I really enjoy her training books :) The rest of the team riders and indiv. competitors ride tomm. afternoon --- so, once again, anything can happen. 

Downtown Lexington

After the sun had beat down on us for the majority of the day, we decided to check out the international equestrian festival!! super awesome!!! If any of you are headed up here, make SURE to check it out. It is at the convention center in downtown Lexington. TONS of vendors and some great demos and seminars.  We attended a sports psychology seminar with Daniel Stewart! He was wonderful...funny, entertaining and totally thought provoking....I gotta start getting my list of C words put together and figure out my song. Check him out at  www.riderightnow.com

After a nice light dinner and a refreshing glass of Bourbon Barrel Beer....I am off to bed. We MUST get up early tomm and hit up the Smartpak tent for our backpak - this is VERY serious business you know.

Tomm. evening the the dressage freestyle!!! I can't wait...the best of the best and going to be laid out before me and I am ready to eat it right up! More vendors, the Alltech experience and who knows what else is also in store....so much to see and do - my head is spinning! I am off to bed......



The Main Stadium