Countdown to WEG 2010

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games have come to a close. As with any major event -- a wedding, a huge project, even the holiday season -- its conclusion brings a mixture of sadness and relief.

Sadness, for the special time never seems to last long enough to savor, after the months or years of planning and hard work. Relief, at seeing the event come off successfully and knowing that the burden is finally off one's shoulders. 

We've been hearing about the WEG for so long that it's almost hard to believe it's over. Like any massive undertaking, the Lexington, Kentucky, event had its share of bumps along the way. Foremost among them had to be the economic downturn that led to budget cuts and lower-than-anticipated ticket sales (although WEG organizers yesterday announced that the total attendance figure for the sixteen days topped half a million). A change in organization management midstream led to challenges. There were complaints about price-gouging on everything from tickets and lodging to concessions and souvenirs. Some vendors at the Kentucky Horse Park site, who had paid princely sums for booth space, felt stung by the change in the economic winds. 

Even so, I think that the 2010 WEG will be regarded as a success. In its role as US ambassador to the world, Kentucky impressed with its friendliness and helpfulness. Visitors both foreign and domestic thrilled to see the Bluegrass, the Thoroughbred farms, and the all-American breeds on display. Reining enthusiasts watched the jumping. Jumpers took in endurance. Endurance riders enjoyed dressage. And everyone embraced the newcomer sport, para-equestrian dressage, the sight of able-bodied athletes schooling alongside those with physical disabilties making for an atmosphere of true inclusiveness. 

That feeling of commonality -- the sense that physical limitations, ethnicity, accents, language barriers, and countries of origin fell away, leaving a global community of horse lovers -- is my strongest WEG memory. 

My last night at the WEG, I attended a social event for media representatives at the magnificent Walnut Hall, next door to the Kentucky Horse Park. On the way over, our golf-cart shuttle passed a four-in-hand out for twilight exercise, brass gleaming in the headlights and the whip and groom waving a cheery greeting. After a few pleasant hours spent chatting with tablemates from all over the Americas, I caught a ride back to the press center, gathered my belongings for the last time, and squeezed aboard the rear-facing seats of yet another golf cart, next to two giggling Japanese journalists who squealed happily every time our driver hugged a turn. We sped past a floodlighted schooling ring, where the jumpers were out in force for a nighttime session. As we left the scene behind, I watched the colorful, beautiful horses and riders, brilliant and winking like fireflies in the light, until they disappeared from view.

On the shuttle back to my hotel, my melancholy quickly evaporated as I found myself in a lively discussion with three journalists from Germany, New Zealand, and Canada. We talked of the party and the horses and the WEG and the 2012 London Olympics, and the conversation was so interesting that the commute time melted away and it was soon time to leave my newfound friends.

That's what the WEG was to me: a magical moment, filled with a sense of camaraderie and a renewed love and respect for the horse and all he does for us. I feel privileged to have attended and to have had the opportunity to share the experience with you. I hope you have enjoyed this year-long blog, which now comes to a close as well. If you were lucky enough to have experienced the WEG in person, I hope that it was as special for you as it was for me. 

Did you miss any of the WEG competition? Watch it on the US Equestrian Federation's online on-demand network.

We begin today's post, on the final day of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, with a photograph:

Now, if that doesn't say it all about sportsmanship, excellence, and the power of the human spirit to overcome the obstacles life throws at you, I don't know what does.

As I've mentioned previously, this WEG is the first time that able-bodied equestrians and those with physical disabilities have competed at the same international championships. Para-equestrians, including America's own Rebecca Hart (who finished fourteenth in yesterday's Grade II Freestyle), have commented on the excitement of riding alongside the likes of jumping individual gold medalist Phillipe Le Jeune of Belgium or dressage individual gold medalist Edward Gal. The experience must be one of empowerment and validation.

Memorable moments

As we prepare for the closing ceremonies, it's time to start looking back at these past sixteen days and recounting what made the WEG special -- or funny or frustrating. Here are a few of my own mental snapshots:

• Journalists may be impartial when they report, but behind the scenes they're rooting for their favorites just like everyone else. Taking a break from trekking the eventing cross-country course last Saturday, I was watching the action on the TV monitors in the press tent surrounded by a trio of Italian TV reporters, who clutched their unlit cigarettes like St. Christopher's medals and shouted "Bellissima!" whenever one of the Italian riders was clear over an obstacle.
• Le Jeune, after dismounting Canadian jumping bronze medalist Eric Lamaze's horse, Hickstead (the final four in the jumping each had to ride a round on one another's horses), rushed over to his own mount, Vigo d'Arsouilles, and hugged the 17.2-hand chestnut stallion's neck fiercely. The spontaneous gesture proved that, in the end, there's not much difference between an international gold medalist and every little kid who hugs a pony.
• The jumper riders shared with one another tips on handling their horses. I'm sure part of it was for their own sakes, but in how many sports do you see competitors giving one another advice?
• The WEG volunteers were unfailingly helpful and cheerful. I don't know if I could have been so friendly and welcoming, standing out in the cold or the rain or late at night, my only job to shepherd a straggly crew of weary journalists onto a shuttle bus.
• The bus drivers themselves were a friendly bunch, although I could have done without the movies blaring at full volume over the mini-screens at all hours.
• I will not miss the dearth of fresh fruit and vegetables in the on-site and local cuisine.  I will also not miss being housed in a town whose idea of good food is a Cracker Barrel and a Waffle House.
• Marring the generally welcoming atmosphere was the  British reporter who, confronted with eventing gold medalist Michael Jung of Germany's decision to use an interpreter at the press conferences, sniffed that these were English-speaking events. I thought that attitude was found only in the good old "This is America; speak English" USA. Guess not. It almost makes me sorry that the 2012 Olympics will be in London. Let Mr. Superior try that attitude in Normandy at the 2014 WEG. I guarantee it won't get him very far.
• Golf carts, golf carts, and more golf carts, shuttling competitors and officials up and down the lanes at an alarming pace. WEG chief veterinary advisor Dr. Kent Allen quipped during the competition that the major health crisis of these Games was more likely to be a golf cart-spectator collision than an equine incident. Having narrowly avoided several golf carts and a free-range bicycle myself, I quite agree with him.
• US dressage rider and individual bronze medalist Steffen Peters wore a helmet for the awards ceremony after the Grand Prix Freestyle. He said afterward that it was in honor of  2008 Olympic teammate Courtney King-Dye, who suffered a severe head injury after a helmetless fall in March. No dressage competitor shed the traditional top hat in favor of a helmet in the ring, but Peters' gesture did not go unnoticed.

Photo credit: Kit Houghton/FEI

The silver lining to American event horse Courageous Comet's untimely withdrawal from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games eventing competition is that he stands to recover fully, says Brendan Furlong, MVB, MRCVS, US eventing-team veterinarian and a team vet for the US driving team at the WEG.

"He pulled his left front shoe on course and pulled up lame," Furlong said of the fourteen-year-old gray Thoroughbred gelding, ridden by Becky Holder, 41, of Palmetto, Georgia, and owned by Holder and her husband, Tom.

"There was filling in the right front leg," which indicated some degree of overstress to the compensating opposite foreleg, Furlong said. But "there was no pain on palpation, and he was ultrasounded by Dr. [Jean-Marie] Denoix, who is the world's foremost ultrasound specialist. He could find no damage to any structure -- tendons or ligaments," he said.

The edema was determined to be superficial, and Courageous Comet "should make a complete and full recovery," said Furlong. The gelding is receiving "standard treatment" for this type of minor soft-tissue injury: a course of anti-inflammatory medication plus those old horsemen's standbys of cold-hosing, hand-walking, and limited turnout, Furlong said. The objective is to keep the horse somewhat quiet to allow healing to take place while avoiding further stress to the compromised area.

The timing of the injury was especially wretched: Holder and Courageous Comet were in third place individually after cross-country -- the highest-ranked Americans in the eventing competition -- and stood to contend for an individual medal at the WEG. Alas, it was not to be.

The other case of unfortunate timing was the withdrawal of US rider Kim Severson's horse, Tipperary Liadhnan, from the WEG eventing competition just prior to the first eventing horse inspection. The thirteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Friends of Kim Severson Syndicate, developed a case of cellulitis in his leg before the Games, while "Paddy" was still in Georgia for the 2010 American Eventing Championships in Fairburn, which served as the "mandatory outing" for the WEG short-listed competitors. Veterinarians treated the infection aggressively, with therapies including antibiotics and time in a hyperbaric chamber, according to Furlong. The condition improved steadily but took a turn for the worse at the eleventh hour, forcing Paddy's withdrawal from the US team.

It was another case of rotten luck but an optimistic outlook. Furlong said that Paddy, like Comet, should make a complete recovery and "has another big event left in him." 

Comet will be sixteen in two years, when the 2012 London Olympic Games roll around. Paddy will be fifteen. Several horses in that age range competed at the 2010 WEG, including Belgian rider Karin Donckers' Gazelle de la Brasserie CH (16) and Canadian Selena O'Hanlon's Colombo (16). So it's no pipe dream to hope to see Paddy and Comet in London.

 Photo credit: Peter Nixon/FEI

The on-site veterinary clinic may not be quite as lavish (thanks to budget constraints) as originally hoped for, but it's proving quite up to the task of taking care of the horses at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, according to WEG chief veterinary advisor A. Kent Allen, DVM.

TheHorse.com caught up with Allen at the halfway point of the Games, the day after eventing competition wrapped and as jumping was commencing at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Things at the temporary clinic are going "very well," said Allen. The facility is staffed with two surgeons around the clock and features two ultrasound units and other high-tech equipment, all on standby to diagnose and treat nearly all manner of equine ailments, minor and major. (For a detailed rundown of the veterinary arsenal, click here to read my article, "Keeping the WEG Healthy.")

As expected with the rugged equine triathlon known as eventing, cross-country day produced a few injuries. The good news is that "none of the horses had a life-threatening injury," said Allen, who referred to the lot as "normal wear and tear" incurred when the fittest and keenest of equine athletes meets an ardous 28-fence course over varied terrain. 

"The rest of it," said Allen, referring to the endurance, reining, and dressage competitions that are now in the history books, "has gone very well."

When this article went to press (which is to say, right this minute in the blogosphere), we were trying and failing to obtain an update on US event horse Courageous Comet, who stood third individually with rider Becky Holder after cross-country but who was withdrawn prior to show jumping October 3, the cited reason being a pulled shoe on course and an implied injury of some sort caused by overstress to the opposite foreleg. Allen said he was not yet authorized to release further details. We're as anxious as you to find out how the fourteen-year-old gray Thoroughbred gelding is doing, and we'll update you ASAP.

The story that Allen did want to get out was that Iman du Golfe, the Italian event horse who fell at fence 20 on cross-country and suffered a serious laceration and a small bone chip in the region of his left elbow, was nicely sewn up at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington and is doing well. Iman du Golfe's rider, Juan Carlos Garcia, also is doing well after being treated and released for minor injuries at a nearby hospital.

"The European press had the horse dead and buried," Allen said wryly. "The horse would be surprised to hear that, since he's happily munching hay."

First, Becky Holder withdrew Courageous Comet after the third horse inspection, prior to the show-jumping phase. The fourteen-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, it turned out, had thrown a front shoe early on in his cross-country run on October 2 and had “overcompensated” with the other leg, according to the official statement. As I write this, officials haven’t gotten back to me, so I’m still waiting to find out about the extent of Courageous Comet’s injury. Diagnostic procedures were to have been carried out yesterday at the on-site clinic at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, site of the Games.

Given that Holder and Courageous Comet were in third place individually going into show jumping, their withdrawal was a real blow to the chances of a US medal. But they were competing as individuals, not as part of the four-member team; and so it looked to be up to Boyd Martin on Neville Bardos, Phillip Dutton on Woodburn, Karen O’Connor and Mandiba, and Bruce “Buck” Davidson Jr. on BallyNoe Castle RM to claim the precious metal.

Things looked promising at first: Martin finished on his dressage score of 49.50, putting in a blazing clear round on a chilly, overcast Sunday afternoon with spitting rain. Neville Bardos looked fresh and fit after cross-country, handily negotiating Richard Jeffery’s thirteen-fence, 560-meter course in 87:59, well under the 90-second time limit.

But Davidson had a rail for four faults, and Dutton had a rail and also finished over the time limit, incurring one time fault. The USA’s medal chances slipped away for good when Mandiba ran out at fence 7, the Kentucky Fence Line, an imposing but not overly scary-looking dark-brown gate created to look like those found on many farms in the Bluegrass State. O’Connor stayed on and Mandiba cleared the obstacle at the second presentation, but the damage was done, with the pair incurring four time faults and eight jumping faults.

With the US out of the running, the New Zealand team of Mark Todd on Grass Valley, Andrew Nicholson on Nereo, Caroline Powell on Mac MacDonald, and newcomer Clarke Johnstone on Orient Express stepped up to win the bronze medal with a final team total of 154.80 penalty points. The overjoyed Canadians – who had not won a world-championship eventing medal since 1978 – won the silver medal with 151.50. Team Canada comprised Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch on Port Authority, Selena O’Hanlon on Colombo, Hawley Bennett-Awad on Gin & Juice, and Kyle Carter on Madison Park.

The other team that returned to the podium after a lengthy drought was Great Britain. The eventers’ gold medal was Britain’s first since 1994. Riding for GBR were the veteran Mary King on Imperial Cavalier, the much-decorated William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain, Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz, and Kristina Cook on Miners Frolic.

It is no accident, said the Canadian team members, that they found themselves back on the WEG eventing podium after having been coached by 2000 Sydney Olympics individual gold medalist David O’Connor, who is also the current president of the United States Equestrian Federation.

“Our success has every bit to do with him,” said Carter. “Four years ago at the WEG, our performance was very disappointing. He is asking and expecting much better results.”

Continuing his domination of the individual portion of the competition, Germany’s Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW sewed up the gold with a clean stadium round as the last rider to go. He finished on his dressage score of 33.00, a full nine penalty points lower than the individual silver medalist, William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain on Cool Mountain. Kiwi Andrew Nicholson’s clean trip aboard Nereo clinched him the bronze medal on a final score of 43.50.

Dressage enthusiasts will be interested to know that US dressage Olympian Guenter Seidel bred Jung’s horse, a ten-year-old Baden-Wurttemberg gelding (Stan the Man xx x Heraldik).

Gracious in defeat, Fox-Pitt said of Jung: “Michael Jung won, the rest nowhere.”