Ok, so I must admit....after being home from WEG for a week and having a chance to really reflect on the amazing experiences I had – I am glad that I wasn't the Purina Blog-o-Spondent. Because I had WAY more fun that those two silly girls...LOL!!
The facility was incredible, the Competition was amazing, the People were truly entertaining and the American Blunders were few and far between.
Yes. It is true...the food was WAY too freakin' expensive and the vendor area was far too hoity toity for 90% of people that came through the gate. At one point I was interested in trying on a few different riding helmets, to ensure I ordered the one that fit me the best. I had no trouble finding Charles Owen, Tipperary and GPA...But when I asked for and IRH helmet, the sales woman said they didn't bring any of those. I joking said “y'all only brought the expensive stuff huh?” She replied, with a very serious expression “yeah, how else can we pay for the booth fee?”. Hmmmmmmm. Needless to say, I visited a few local Lexington tack stores to make my major purchases (and found a heck of a deal on helmets too!)
So anyway, back to the wonderful side of WEG....
I can honestly say it was THE most incredible competition that I have ever seen in my life.
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| A bit of the course |
The show jumping provided a thrilling experience! While I didn't follow the team competition much, which proved to be a good thing since the US came in tenth, the individual competition was amazing. Susan and I had tickets for the final individual round. This is where to top 30 riders came back to compete for the top 4 slots. Only one American rider made it this far...but I was very very glad to see it was my fav. Show jumper, McLain Ward. Way way back in the day, when I was a junior rider, I was usually lucky enough to show and one or two A-Circuit shows a year. When I would compete in the medal classes, McLain was usually part of my competition. He, of course, would place much higher than me and I was in awe of his equitation and ability (I was a high school girl, what can I say??) As McLain moved up in the work of show jumping, it was fun to follow his success. “I knew McLain Ward way back in the day...” Not that I have ever actually spoken to him or anything......
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| McLain Ward and Sapphire |
So anyway, Show Jumping.....gasps and cheers filled the main stadium as riders came in for tone of he most important rides of their lives. Some pulled through to move up through the ranks, while others had to endure to groans from crowd as rails feel. McLain did well – He put in clean rounds! Moving him up from 21st to 9th place – In the WORLD! Not bad huh?? But the top four riders had done well all week and truly deserved to have earned a place in the final four. A rider from UAE, Brazil, Canada and Belgium would be making their final WEG performance the following evening by, get this, switching horses!!!! What?? for real? I knew that was something I didn't want to miss.
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| The scoreboad - Le Jenune, Lamaze, Pessoa and Al Sharbatly were the lucky and talented riders that made it to the final four!! Poor Rolf dropped a rail... |
So, the following evening – although our sore and tired feet were screaming at us to stop – Susan and I trekked back down to the KHP to be a part of this insane competition! In all my years on the equitation circuit, I have only been asked to switch horses once. I remember how worried I was, how I had hoped this horse would trust me...Imagine how Rodrigo felt has he climbed aboard each strange mount. I mean sure, he rides bunches of horses everyday – but not for the opportunity to take home the WEG gold medal.
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| The final four course |
Each rider rode the course on his own horse first and then had a few moments to school each of his new mounts (remember, they all had to rides everyone's horse). A schooling area was set up inside of the stadium to allow every moment to be caught on camera. Each competitor rode very well and no, there were no thrills and spills. Lots and lots of cheering and excitement tho. I am gonna make you work this one....
Check out the WEG website for the final standings and further information.
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