WEG Prep Trials

What can I say about the very fast trip to Middleburg to watch the WEG Preparatory Trials?  Wow.  It is always amazing to see our Olympians in person, much less in a smaller environment than those big events, like up at the Great Meadow or down at the Carolina Horse Park.  Adding to my list of reasons why I'm turning into a bigger eventing fan with every passing day, all the show jumpers and dressage queens ship off to Europe to compete from spring-fall, whereas the eventers stay stateside, making it that much easier to see top level competitors in person.  As amazing as it was to see nearly all the same people at the Carolina Horse Park just a few months ago, there is this great buzz now watching them go because everyone wants to see how the horses and riders look as they gear up for the World Equestrian Games in just THIRTEEN days - oh lawdy that's soon.  "Horse Olympics" is quickly approaching and I for one know it is going to sneak up on me.

Anyway, arriving late in M-Burg after getting off of work, we visited with Rachel for a bit, hashed out the plan for the weekend, and then went to bed.  Rachel had to work Saturday morning so Mother and I were solo for the dressage portion of this weekend.  While watching eventing dressage can be rather painful for hours on end, since it was just the people going to WEG, we only had 15 competitors to watch, which made the dressage fun.  Not to mention we had awesome box seats for the weekend, so no people blocking our view, or really anyone around to see the drool hanging out of our mouths.

Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 powering along

Lynn Symansky and Donner

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville

Marilyn Little-Meredith and RF Demeter looking STUNNING 

Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM

After the dressage we hung around for about an hour before going on the coursewalk with the legendary Jimmy Wofford.  While it was super neat having him explain the difficulties and questions of each fence, it was hot as balls, so I was sort of miserable.  After walking around in the heat of the day for a while, we went back, took a quick nap, freshened up, went to the grocery store, and then reconvened with Rachel for the stadium jumping phase of competition.  This is where the trip got a little wild.

Jimmy on the course walk

The three of us all love Veuve champagne, so whenever we get together, there is at least one bottle involved - this time it was two!  All before the competition even started, mind you.  It was really hot still, so it was lovely sitting in the shade, talking and catching up, while drinking our favorite form of bubbles.  When the competition started, we moved to our box to watch, but then Rachel and I got into my self titled "poor girl sangria" which is fruit soaked in vodka for a few days, cheap red wine, and Sprite.  I'm 100% sure it was the sangria that made things get rowdy, although the Veuve certainly got us on our way.  We sat and sort of watched the competition (which is why none of my showjumping photos turned out particularly well), socialized, met Rachel's friends, the owners of Stackhouse saddles came over at one point and were very prim and proper Brits that just didn't know what to do with us. Since there were only 15 competing, the jumper rounds only lasted about an hour before they started a bareback puissance (high jump for you non horse people).  While puissances are fun enough by their own right, unbeknownst to us, in a bareback puissance if you have a rail or your horse stops, you can take off your shirt for another try! We weren't the only people who didn't know about that rule, so the entire crowd cheered when someone knocked a rail because that only added to the atmosphere.  All in all the show probably lasted from 7-9, but by 9 the sangria was gone.  After the competition, they had dancing planned in the VIP tent which I was not too keen on, partially because I'm not a big dancer, and also because I know how crazy horse people can get from my time at the Blocking Rock Gala.  Well one of Rachel's friends inevitably dragged me over to the dancing at the goading of my mother and Rachel.   It was fun for about 5 minutes until I started stressing about how I was going to ditch the friend, because obviously I could not stay there all night.  At that point a very drunken Karen O'Connor danced by and I realized I definitely was not in Kansas anymore.  Recounting my mother's side of things, while I was dancing away, she and Rachel packed up the leftover food and then came to find me.  Rachel dived right in and Mother walked the entire perimeter at least twice with no sign of me until I followed Rachel out of the crowd.  Luckily she found me, we danced a little bit, and then peaced out to get Mother.  I also non-stop said "I'm so glad you found me I thought I'd never be able to get out of there!"  It was quite the rowdy bunch of middle aged horse people.  Once outside we saw Rachel's friend Prem, and his wife Donna.  Prem was a couple drinks deep as well, and he followed Donna to the other side of the tent before he and Rachel started dancing together in a most hilarious manner (aka griding) by themselves, in the middle of this giant tent, while Donna, Mother, and I laughed at them.  It was just so funny because it was so uncharacteristic of Prem.  Somehow we made it home alive, but oh lawdy what a night!  While Middleburg is always fun, that evening is going to be hard to top.

Boyd and Shammie

Marilyn and Demeter - gorgeous as ever (loving the Salamander jump!)

Bareback Puissance

The one picture of us from this weekend, and I really think it sums up Saturday night

Sunday had another early start, as we wanted to help Rachel with her barn chores so then we could all go watch the cross country phase that started at 9:00! It was a lovely morning, all the riders rode supremely well, and it was great seeing how they all tackled specific obstacles after hearing Jimmy Wofford's analysis of the questions each fence posed.  Everyone got around clear, and P-Dutty "won" the trial with Mighty Nice, which seems so fitting because of Bruce Duchossois recent passing.  There was a great atmosphere on this day in particular because it had everyone excited for WEG because the American team looks so strong and they have such a talented pool of horses and riders going across the pond.  We are under the 2 week mark now (since I'm just finishing this 2 weeks after our trip)! 

Phillip and Trading Aces, booking it

Phillip and Trading Aces again - BOING!

Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless

Favorite picture of the weekend - Boyd and Shammie again

Boyd and Phillip talking

Lynn Symansky and Donner

Sinead and Tate (who attacked this fence!)

Marilyn and Demeter, over the polo ball and stick

L-R: Sinead, Lynn, Hannah Sue, and Kim, just chillin

Zooom! Phillip and Mighty Nice

I was incredibly sad to leave Middleburg this time (its always hard to leave horse heaven though), but am so excited to be back in France, at the biggest equestrian event in the world, in just under 2 week's time!