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.