Individual Competition

September 30th - Even off days have been very busy. Still 2 days behind in writing my blog so I think I shall write about the general administration and activities in a separate blog.

Everyone was excited and ready for the spectacle we saw in the Alltech Indoor Arena. The competition started at 1 pm but people were marching to take their seats in the arena a good hour before the start. The order of go is in the reverse order of the individual finish from the team competition and the top 5 riders from the second qualifier on Tuesday 28th. Great Britain did well in the second qualifier putting forward Doug Allen and Lee Rutter to the final.

The arena seats 7,000 and it was a packed house to see the total of 21 horses competing in the individual finals made up of 15 from the team competition and the top 5, including ties, from the second qualifier. Doug Allen riding Don Julio Whiz was draw 4 and set the standard of 218. Shawna Sapergia on This Chics on Top was draw 8 and as she ran into the arena to start pattern 10 everyone knew she could take the lead.

"Dolly's" slide was long and correct. The back up straight and fast. This time the spins were fast correct with a perfect shut off in both directions. The noise from the fans was deafening as Shawna and Dolly started their large fast circles. They slowed instantly at the centre and the lead change to the next small slow circle was right on. One small error in the roll back cost the pair but they still ended with a score of 218.5 giving them the lead.

This score stood for four runs, then they started getting higher. Draw 16 was Duane Latimer and Dun Playing Tag. How "Jake" manages to keep his feet on those long slides that he practically sits down in, I don't know. He is such a big, strong, gelding. Duane knew what he had to do. He knew riders would be following him in the ring that had already gotten higher scores. He had to lay down a perfect pattern using all his skill and the gelding's strength.

Wow! Just how exciting could this competition get. Jake spun like a top. Swift and smooth with perfect shut offs. The circles were great with the transitions very noticeable and right on the mark with smooth perfect lead changes. The noise in the arena got louder and louder. However Duane managed to get Jake to hear his "whoa" I shall never know but he did and again performed the long slides he is capable of.

The arena fell silent. What would the score be? Yes. The arena erupted the highest score so far. Canadian flags waved and whoops and hollers were deafening.

The score did not hold for long. The next horse in Mister Montana Nic ridden by Craig Schmersal got half a point more. The Tom McCutcheon on Gunners Special Nite who was bought by Turnabout Farm strictly for the World Equestrian Games ran a 228. Duane was now is third place with Shawn Flarida still to show.

Yellow Jersey riden by Stefano Massignan had some troubles and scored a 213. Duane was still third.

Shawn Flarida and RC Fancy Step entered the ring at a full gallop culminating in a long sliding stop. All Canadians held their breath. If he continues at this rate, Duane would not make the top three and US would sweep the medals. Shawn's circles were fast and the slow down was instant but..... What did Shawn do? What happened? Everyone looked from one to the other. Duane and Vern looked at each other then at me. A 5 point penalty from each judge for holding the saddle. Nobody dare believe it. Whatever made Shawn do such a thing? The run was finished in typical Shawn Flarida fashion and the score confirmed there was a serious problem - 207.5. Shawn was picking up pieces of equipment.

Duane and Jake had made the podium. A bronze medal for Canada. Shawna finished 8th.

Team Competition - Part 2

September 26th - Shawna leaves early for the barn to prepare for the class. The rest of us arrive in plenty of time to see the start of the competition and wish Shawna well. It was a 7.30 am start to accommodate the TV network covering the games. Shawna was further down in the draw.

Shawna Sapergia riding This Chics On Top walked confidently into the arena to the centre to start pattern 6. The spins were fast and correct but a little underspin in both directions resulted in a 1/2 point penalty for each. The rest if the run went well and resulted in a 218.

The final section started at 11 am and all Canadians anxiously awaited Duane Latimer on Dun Playing Tag to enter the arena. Duane's run went very well. Fast spins with correct shut off; great changes in speed in the circles; big powerful stops, and no penalties for a score of 223.

With no drop score, Canada had a team total of 652.50 good enough for 5th place. Without the penalties we would have made 3rd place. Team gold went to the United States with 674.50. Belgium won silver with 659.00, and Italy was bronze with 655.50.

The individual placings in the team competition are important as the top 15 move directly to the Individual Finals. 15th through to 35th go to the second qualifier where the top 5 finishers move on to the Individual Finals. Vern is unfortunately not in the grouping. Shawna finishes in 14th and Duane 6th. Canada has two riders in the Finals on Thursday September 30th

Ready Steady Go....

September 24th - After the jog we had 90 minutes to get the order of go into the Secretariat. Easy when we had 4 riders but now we were down to 3 so how to plan who shows where. Questions - can we put a rider in whatever section we wish? Are we sure to get Duane in the final section? Is each section complete with a rider from each team? How does the draw work?

The draw is made up of individual riders and teams. Numbers equivalent to the individual riders are drawn first then a number for an order of go placing so individuals are placed into the list first. Then the countries are drawn together with a number giving the placing of the team in each rotation. The first name on the order of go for each team is slotted into the first rotation, the second in the second rotation and so on. A team of 3 goes into the first three rotations.

The Chef d'Equippes, Chief Steward, and the Ground Jury attend the draw. We are told a concession has been granted by the Jury to allow each team of 3 riders to choose which rotation they wish to miss. Good. The draw goes as the team planned Vern shows in section 2, Shawna section 3, and Duane in the final section with only 4 to show after him. Section 4 is to be shown on TV. Training is scheduled for the evening.

September 25th - Show day! start time is 8 am. Everyone is eager to be underway. We have nobody in section 1 but everyone wants to see Anky Van Grunsven the Olympic Dressage gold medallist make her Team Netherlands reining debut. Papers the world over have been abuzz with Anky's switch to our western discipline. She proves what a great horsewoman she is with a solid score to start the team on the right road.

Vern goes in the afternoon session. He has a decent run. The horse - Its Wimpys Turn - is a big strong palomino mare. She has good spins, powerful stops, but has a late lead change from left to right. Score 211.5.

Another Chef's meeting for me and off to the opening ceremonies followed by schooling sessions for Shawna and Duane.

The opening ceremonies start at 7 pm in the main stadium. The athletes are asked to gather at 6 pm in another stadium close by with pizza and beer being served. It seems like an eternity waiting for the signal to march forward behind our country placard especially as Shawna and Duane have a time limitation due to evening schooling session. Lauren Berwick several times a medallist in ParaDressage is our flag bearer. The worst part about the opening ceremonies except for the wait is the athletes get to see none of the presenters and the spectacle. Finally we are on the move and march into and around the arena out another exit and while everyone else goes to their seats we head back to the Alltech Arena for the schooling session.

WEG 2010 - Monday September 27th

FINALLY I have found a few minutes to sit down at the computer to write. Since leaving work last Tuesday (21st) life has been a hive of activity with little or no free time, a few hours sleep and start all over again. I still had not packed so while Brian was busy loading the car I quickly put together my suitcase, my mind a whirl trying to remember everything. Luckily I had received the Canadian Equestrian Team outfits which were already packed in the back pack we also received.

Remember the dog, dog food, and leash. Boots, cowboy hat, and black jeans. Passports and WEG paperwork. Everything is packed and we are on the road. Later I found out belts and runners were left behind - good we can go shopping!!

We were worried about leaving Gizmo our Jack Russell Terrier with our nephew Dave. Hmm he was so happy to be there he didn't even notice we were leaving without him. By this time it was midnight so we stayed in a hotel in London for a few hours sleep before heading off again at 5.30 am. Now refreshed enough to be excited and making good time, we got to the border and our excitement plummeted.

September 22nd - A very rude guard fired questions at us left, right, and centre. I was going down to work in the US. My Equine Canada letter said nothing about being a volunteer. I had clothing I was going to sell. Our laptop computer in an aluminium briefcase was suspicious. We had to go to the detainment centre, leaving our cell phones and everything but our wallets behind in the car.

I don't know how long we sat there but it seemed like eternity. I was getting upset. We were going to jail, being deported, or at the very best being sent on to Kentucky without the team clothes. None of the above - we beat it down I 75 putting as much distance as possible between us and US customs, everything intact. Brian told me never to cry again in a similar situation as only the guilty cry. What kind of sympathy is that !!

Arriving at the Kentucky Horse Park 3 hours later than expected, we found the horses had safely arrived and settled into their stalls without any issues. Shawna Sapergia and Dr. Wayne Burwash miraculously had arrived after flight cancellations and delays, to meet the horses at the park with two passports for Shawna's horses.

Check into the hotel, find Kerri, unpack, get organized, make sure shuttles were arranged for riders arriving at the airport. Paperwork, passes, van key, golf cart key, more paperwork and information from Kerri and finally Duane Latimer, Lisa Coulter, Vernon Sapergia, and JP Forget arrive. After they have dinner, a quick meeting is held to update the team on the latest information received from a very organized Kerri McGregor and a reminder of a few other important items.

September 23rd - Everyone is anxious to get to the grounds. Brian answered a phone call around 3.30 this morning; Wayne needed the key for the van as a horse was colicing. I barely remembered it but apparently awoke enough to tell Brian where the van key was. The mare seemed fine but every precaution is taken to make sure it remains that way.

As I walk through the barn door there stands an old friend from Ontario I have not seen for awhile plus a couple of friends from the Young Rider competition in July. It is like coming home. Walk across to the arena to find the show office and let Brad (discipline manager) know I am here and to find out when schooling and meetings are scheduled. The extra large binder I chose for this competition that seemed incredibly oversized a month ago is all of a sudden just about the right size.

Wayne wanted to jog the horses to make sure there were no issues to be dealt with prior to horse inspection the following day. They all practice jog well and schooling is pretty low key to make sure no damage is done before the official jog (horse inspection) tomorrow morning. I checked with Shawna to see if she had submitted the form to FEI to get approval to take her medication. Of course not. She has stopped taking the medication. Off to the Secretariat to file the form and hope an answer is quick. Hmmm..... Vern's was sent in but did he receive an answer?

September 24th - A quick breakfast at the hotel - the Marriott Griffins Gate - and off to the grounds early to get ready for the horse inspection at 8. The teams go in alphabetical order. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada etc. Then each national teams goes in numerical order. Lisa is first and proceeds to present Weg (Western Whiz) to the Ground Jury. Jog to the shrub, walk around the shrub, jog back. Hold. What? What do you mean he didn't pass? Duane and Jake (Dun Playing Tag) are next up and do their jog while Lisa is in the hold box with the vet palpating the leg and pressure testing the feet. Duane, Vern, and Shawna all pass. Lisa is asked to come forward again to rejog. On the way back Weg stops dead and throws his head up. He does not pass.

We are all shocked, dumbfounded, and any other superlative that would explain our disbelief. This is crazy; he looks ok; what can we do? Wayne pleaded our case anyway he could with anyone but "the Ground Jury decision is final". There is no appeal and no 2nd horse inspection. The whole team is totally devastated. We will now have no dropped score.