The Horse Magazine’s World Equestrian Games – Souvenir Edition – is our November issue. Filled with 128 pages of insightful commentary from Chris Hector and great photos…

There is also a very beautiful tribute to Emma Flavell’s mare, Northern Meara

and Shannan Makauskas’  profile of the bushie turned showjumper, Clem Smith.

In the fresh air of Bluegrass Country, the Horse Magazine tour group was treated to a beautiful lunch and the company of several notable celebrities. No we didn’t see Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan but we did get up close and personal with Awad, a 1993 Secretariat Stakes and 1995 Arlington Million winner.

Awad earned more than $3.2 million in prize money throughout his career. Now he spends his days getting doted upon by the four hundred or so tourists who come to visit Old Friends, a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds, each week.

Michael Blowen, a former movie critic for the Boston Globe, is the founder of Old Friends: “My wife was a columnist and I was a critic and we lived in Boston and people were like, ‘How did you end up in Kentucky?’ I don’t know, I still don’t know.”

References from his time as a movie critic often pop into conversation and keep us all entertained: “It was a bit like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole. When I was in Boston I had some horses that were running and I saw at the end of the day, when they were broken down, the slaughter trucks would just show up and off they’d go to the slaughter house. It was brutal.”

Michael said progress for the racehorse refuge was slow in the beginning but when news broke of the Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, being killed in a Japanese slaughterhouse, people wanted to help.
Old Friends in Kentucky is now home to more than 100 retired racehorses given the chance to enjoy their last years: “I think this is so much fun. People say you’re going to go to heaven for doing all this stuff and I say, ‘Well I’m already there. It’s not going to get better than this.’”

One of the stars we were able to meet didn’t have a hugely successful racing career but he was a film star: “His name is Popcorn Deelites he was one of the eight horses to play Seabiscuit in the movie.”

“The day they were going to do the racing scene he wasn’t scheduled to perform because they had seven other Seabiscuit horses to do that. But what happened on the day of the big race is the war admiral horse that was supposed to lose the race kept winning. They were saying, ‘Darn it these things can’t even win a fixed race!’”

“So they went down and they finally got our horse Popcorn Deelites and brought him up because he was the only who wasn’t tired and he finally won the race.”

When you visit Old Friends you won’t pay any admissions, they won’t even usher you into the gift shop. Michael says they don’t ask people for money, they leave it up to them.

It costs around half a million dollars a year to operate the facility, with a cost of $100 a day for the upkeep of each retiree. It keeps turning purely on the generosity of horse supporters around the world.

They sell $100 shares in horses, calendars, hand sketched portraits by various artists as well as various Kentucky wares and produce. There are many ways you can help if you choose to.

Whether making a gesture as grand as donating a retired superstar, helping transport one to their facility, or funding a new paddock. To making a small donation or even shopping on their ebay store. Visit their website for further details http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/

Watch Belgium’s Philippe Le Jeune finally win the Gold medal after nine rounds of show jumping over five days. Philippe rode four clear rounds in the horse-swap final. In this video he rides his final round on Eric Lamaze’s Hickstead, who was crowned Champion horse after producing all clear rounds in the Rolex Top Four Final. Silver medallist was Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Sharbatly who produced 8 faults, Bronze went to Canada’s Eric Lamaze who finished on 9 faults.

ABDULLAH AL SHARBATLY

A 27-year-old from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia he rides Seldana di Campalto, an 11-year-old mare by Emilion x Alme Star owned by Saudi Equestrian. Abdullah is a three time World Cup finalist and represented his country at the World Equestrian Games in 2006.

ERIC LAMAZE

A 42-year-old from Canada who rides the 14-year-old Stallion, Hickstead by Hamlet x Ekstein, owned by Eric’s Torrey Pines Stable and Ashland Stables. Eric has represented Canada at four consecutive World Equestrian Games and Three Pan American Games. Over the years he has accumulated a team bronze, an individual bronze and a team silver. In his Olympic debut at Beijing in 2008 he was the individual Gold medallist riding Hickstead and team Silver medallist – Canada’s most successful Equestrian result in Olympic history. In his early days as a rider he was a working student for George Morris as well as Roger Deslauriers, Jay Hayes and Hugh Graham.

On his website he shares with his fans the perfect week he had in July this year when he took the top spot on the all-time money list at Spruce Meadows with a total of $2,730,502: “Moving to number one on the all-time money list at Spruce Meadows capped off a fantastic week in the Olympic Champion’s career. On Thursday, July 8, he went to number one in the world in the Rolex Rider Rankings. The same day, he and his Olympic partner, Hickstead, won the $35,000 D-Line Construction Cup. On Friday, Lamaze guided Artisan Farms, LLC’s Take Off to victory in the $31,000 Pepsi Challenge. Saturday saw Lamaze and Hickstead, the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood breeding stallion owned by Ashland Stables and Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable, claim the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Having also won the $200,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix during the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament in June, Lamaze earned a $50,000 bonus.”

PHILIPPE LE JEUNE

A 50-year-old from Belgium who rides the 12-year-old Stallion, Vigo D’Arsouilles by Nabab de Reve x Fleuri du Manoir who is owned by Joris de Brabander. Philippe has represented his country in three World Equestrian Games and was a team Bronze medallist in 2002.

RODRIGO PESSOA

A 37-year-old from Brazil who rides the 10-year-old Stallion, HH Rebozo by Tlaloc La Silla x Ramiro Z who is owned by Double H Farm.  Rodrigo is the son of legendary show jumper, Nelson Pessoa who is a two-time Pan American Games Team show jumping champion. Rodrigo was named Brazil’s Rider of the Year in 1998 and he is the only rider to win the World Cup finals three times in a row with the same horse. He has represented his country in five Olympic games, winning the Gold medal in Athens as well as a Team Bronze in Sydney and Atlanta. He has ridden in four World Equestrian Games, winning the Individual Gold in 1998. Rodrigo has been a World Cup finalist 13 times – winning three Gold medals, two Silver and one Bronze.

Story by Shannan Makauskas

There was a sense of deja vu as we piled into the stands at the World Equestrian Games for the fourth day of show jumping. But as soon as the first horse came out suspense and anticipation replaced monotony, the crowd ooing, ahhing and gasping right on cue. And no wonder – they spooked at the first jump and started the course on 4 faults before they’d even gotten over a fence!

It’s been a big week for the jumpers and it shows. Many of the early riders had to hunt their horses around the corners, chasing the clock, rather than simply allowing them foward as they were on the previous days, back when the horses were still fresh and keen.

The course was relentless with a nightmare of a triple combination. Two steamboat themed solid spreads are spaced two strides apart followed by one stride to a vertical and five strides to another. Right at the end of the course! They were running out of puff and rails were coming down all over the place.

Aussie supporters were out in force and a choir of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi swelled as Edwina Alexander entered the arena on her little pocket, rocket of a horse Cevo Itot du Chateau. What an accomplishment for Australia to have two horses come through all the knock-out rounds, from a field of 121, down to the top 30. Edwina was looking sharp but sadly they picked-up a rail on the first combination for 4 faults.

Chriss Chugg and Vivant have become popular figures on the European circuit since basing overseas and they started brilliantly. Circling the arena before they saluted the classical horseman rode some renvers along the wall and threw in a few transitions, a couple of halt reinbacks. Unfortunately when it came to the water jump they didn’t have enough gas – 4 faults.

When it came to the second round Edwina was determined not to pull a rail in what she knew would be her final appearance. They left the arena on a good note – clean and clear and a magnificent ride to finish. Chris came out looking a little jittery, not his usual composed self. They rode a drifting line to the second jump and off popped the front rail. What’s strange is Rodrigo Pessoa, who was leading the individual standings at that point, came out and did the exact same thing…

Edwina finished 13th in the Individual Standings on 15.38 faults, Chris finished 21st on 22.58 faults. Chris Chugg will be staying on in Europe and competing Vivant in the lead-up to the London Olympics in 2012.

After five rounds over four days we have our top four to compete in the final tomorrow on a clean slate (no faults will be carried through from previous rounds):

1st – Canada’s Eric Lamaze & Hickstead 3.390 faults
2nd – Belgium’s Phillipe Le Jeune & Vigo d´Arsouilles 4.110
3rd – Brazils Rodrgio Pessoa & HH Rebozo 6.800
4th – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Sharbatly & Seldana di Campalto 7.070

Each rider will start on their own horse and then proceed to jump each of the other three horses in the top four. At the end there will be a Champion rider, based on their accumulation of faults over the four rounds, and a Champion horse, based on the horse who accumulates the least faults over the four rounds.

Inside the main stadium, where we will probably see a smaller, shorter course than we have over the last few days, there will also be a small warm-up ring with two jumps – a vertical and an oxer. They are allowed to jump two jumps with a couple of minutes on each horse. There is also a holding pen where the horses will wait to have their saddles changed as each rider jumps from one to the other. All this going on in the ring where the course is, spectators roaring and all! It promises to be a three-ring circus.

What they won’t be changing is the bridle and with Rodrigo’s horse being ridden in a hackamore and Eric’s horse in both a snaffle and a hackamore it will be interesting to see which riders are used to these bits. The event starts at 8pm tomorrow.

The Grade III para dressage freestyle at the WEG  was thrown into chaos when the final competitor revealed the arena was FOUR METRES too long. Meetings are still underway, and it is possible that riders who wish to do so, may have a re-ride, although this requires the agreement of all the chefs!

It has since been decided the riders will not be allowed to re-ride their tests. According to a steward at the championships the first rider, who was visually impaired, came out of the arena and said there was something wrong. Riders who are not able to rely on sight are experts on how many strides they have for each distance, when the rider executed the test to her distances she was cutting corners in the supposedly 20 by 40 metre arena. But rather than check the distance after her complaint they went on with the show. When the final Belgian rider lodged a formal complaint they measured it and realised they had an extra partition.

On the bright side, Australia’s Sharon Jarvis won the Bronze medal for her Individual Freestyle! Her music was a mixture of Walt Disney classics. Walt Disney was an inspirational figure to Sharon and when she was young her Mother promised to take her to Disneyland if she got better. She got to go in a wheelchair but was pushed around all day by Mickey Mouse!

Congratulation to Para-dressage rider Sharon Jarvis, who is taking home Australia’s only medals so far – two individual bronzes from the Grade III Freestyle test and Grade III Individual Championship.

SharonJarvisInterview

Australia’s Grade Bowman placed 4^th in yesterday’s Grade II Individual Championship test and will perform her freestyle, along with Grade I rider Nicole Kullen, tomorrow. Our fourth rider, Kate Doughty, will compete in the Garde IV Freestyle on Sunday.

Story by Shannan Makauskas

The Americans are very good at putting on a show but it was at the expense of Lexington residents according to reports in our local paper in Kentucky – the Lexington Herald Leader.

When you walk the streets of Lexington you’re not inundated with the homeless but apparently this is all part of the visage created for visitors during the Games.

It’s reported between 100 and 130 people regularly sleep on the streets of Lexington with most choosing Phoenix Park as their base. But with a Spotlight on Lexington festival taking place across the road, their presence was deemed a dampener on the festivities. They have conveniently been given temporary housing during the games at a nearby church, sending a very clear message to all concerned.

The general belief is holding an International event of this size will generate big money for its host. But according to stallholders at the Games and event organisers in nearby towns, they aren’t making a cent. The Lexington Herald Leader reported several vendors were threatening to sue due to Games’ organisers not fulfilling their contracts.

Stallholders were told spectators would pass through the Trade Show area when coming in and out of the park but instead they were directed around it. After complaining, road blocks were set-up to redirect the traffic of people through the area on their way out.

I remember the first night of the new set-up, we were trouncing back to the buses after watching an evening of freestyles and starving for some food besides the pre-packaged meals available at the grounds (apparently made in New Orleans two weeks prior to the Games). I’m not sure anyone would’ve been in the mood for a browse…

One vendor, Allesandro Albanese of Turin, Italy, paid $45, 000 for his booth and told the paper: “It is nothing like they said it would be.” Another vendor, Michelle Farmer, paid $15,000 for her 10-foot-square booth and said they were going to get a lawyer to recover part of their booth fees.

Organisers claim to be doing all they can and said they can’t force spectators to buy their products. But there is one stall in particular that’s a roaring success, reporting double their expectations in sales. What is this amazing product? WEG merchandise.

Original advertising for the games claimed, “The world is coming to Lexington” and made estimates of 600,000 visitors. This sparked neighbouring city, Georgetown to get in on the act. An expo featuring a Wild West show each night was organized to run until Sunday but closed early due to low numbers.

Refunds have been given to ticket holders who had planned on seeing the show in the coming week. They expected 4,000 people a day but only drew 400 to 1,000 and only a couple dozen people were coming to the nightly show that cost around $100, 000.

A stallholder paid $1,500 for a food booth at the festival and spent $1,000 on produce. She soon packed up shop after making $27 on the Saturday and $30 the day before, all this after organisers said she should expect 3,000 people daily.

The report states spectator numbers included the hoards of volunteers and school children at the venue and were therefore inaccurate when it came to tourists, who might be interested in coming from the park to the festival in Georgetown.

Hotels and restaurants are reporting an increase in business, just not as big as they had anticipated after the generated hype. So when all the glitz and glamour is gone, the town of Lexington will be left with newly paved streets and bicycle lanes. I’m sure the homeless will be back out to make good use of them.

sonjainterview

Australia’s Ashleigh Drossel Dan starred for Brazil in the Team final at the World Equestrian Games last night where he was ridden by Olympic medalist Alvaro Miranda. Alvaro is the husband of Athina Onassis-Miranda, the heiress of the deceased Greek shipping tycoon, Aristitle Onassis.

Prior to being sold in June this year, Ashleigh Drossel Dan fulfilled a life long dream for his Australian rider, Laurie Lever, representing Australia at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Allowing Laurie to make his Olympic debut at 60 years of age. Laurie’s son Phillip was then given the ride and competed with much success on the International circuit until he was sold.