Canadian Reiner, Lisa Coulter

Its only February and I already have WEG fever! Actually that fever began and has been ever present since I competed at the test event for WEG last July in Kentucky. I was excited and proud to represent Canada at the test event and really was naïve about the path I was about to embark on. I had 2 great runs on Hollywood Aces and ended up silver in the team and individual events. Standing on the podium after the individual final was a thrill I won’t soon forget. It also accelerated my ambition to make the Canadian Team and be at WEG in 2010.
(Pictured: Lisa Coulter and her 9 year old daughter, Clancy)

The path to an event like WEG is a long one filled with triumphs and hurtles. I have been collecting the best group of aged horses I can find to qualify at CRIs and compete at events such as the Masters. That is a tough chore as our reining horses start their careers as 3 year olds and usually have most of their best runs by the time they reach 6. So finding 6 year old horses that are sound and still fresh to show is challenging. I have a group of about 6 horses that I can compete at the CRIs on. I rotate them to keep them sound, happy and ready for big runs when I need them.

Hollywood Aces has become a standout that crept up on us. He was purchased for me to compete on as a 5 year old and only had a few runs before me and that was due to an injury as a 3 year old. Without the FEI events this horse would have been left standing in a field or had a very limited show career. Instead he has proved he loves to show and has the charisma to wow a crowd. What he lacks in big maneuver skills he makes up for in likeability. He is a pudgy buckskin gelding with a big kind eye and a prettiness that is hard to beat. The confidence I have on Ace will put him in my top two horses to compete on in the finals we face in July to determine our team for WEG.

My very best horse is still new to me. Bob Thompson, who owns all the horses I ride,
purchased him from Sammy Ely via Shawn Flarida right after the test event in July. Shawn had done tremendously well with the horse and so had Sammy in the Non Pro events. Shawn knew the horse would fit me and also knew the horse was still up for some big runs. I won back to back CRIs in Mexico aboard him and have started to gain confidence with him. We are going to keep to schooling for the next few months to get to know each other better. We aptly named him Weg, he lacked a barn name and Western Whiz was a mouthful, he is proving to be my best contender to make the team and live up to his name.

The two horses are very different. I have a bond and confidence with Ace that you strive for with a horse you’re competing on. Weg can out maneuver him but he and I have not fallen in to step as well as Ace and I have. That takes time but I can feel it coming. The goal right now is to keep both horses sound and competitive. I will attend many schooling shows over the next few months to keep them quiet and responsive in the show pen. I will have one or two more hard runs on Weg, including the CRI at the NRBC, to keep gaining trust. However I am saving Ace for the final team selection. I just ran Ace hard at the Masters in December and he was solid. I know the skills we need to work on and know how he must be prepared. Weg will be another story.
(Pictured: World Games 2010 Foundation Staff with Lisa Coulter at the Kentucky Cup Reining Test Event. Photo Courtesy of Equisport Photos).

Reining is generally new to the FEI curriculum and with that comes a lot of changes and new concepts we must embrace. I have totally refocused my career to join the FEI events and am excited to be a part of it all. I have been gearing up for WEG since 09, but have been competing at the FEI events since 2005, including 3 Masters Finals. I have given up futurity horses and only hit a few derbies. I am actually saving my good young horses in hopes they will make strong FEI horses. As it is increasingly harder to find 6 year old horses I have turned our efforts to saving the young ones and gearing them for events such as WEG and the Masters.

I have qualified as far as I need to for Team Canada and now it is a matter of preparing for the final team selection in July in Chilliwack B.C. I have had some good success the past years but that has been not without defeat. The only other time I tried to make the team was 4 years ago and did not do so well. That was super tough to go through but I learned what I needed to do differently. This time I think not only do I have stronger horses but I have taken myself to another level of competition. Like the thrill of winning comes the absolute agony of losing and without that we would not be the competitors we aspire to be.

I am looking forward to blogging once or twice a month about my horses and our progress on our road to WEG. I will be competing all over North America as well as Europe over the coming months and will be keeping my troop of 6 FEI horses geared up and ready to show. My other 4 horses are nothing to sneeze at and it may be that one sneaks up just like Ace did and becomes the next WEG hopeful. I have learned in my life that anything is possible and starting in small town Princeton, BC big dreams and big determination are what takes a small town girl to Lexington, Kentucky.

Olympic Gold Medalist, Beezie Madden (USA)

Welcome to my first blog entry for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Web site. I’m so excited the WEG will be in my home country for the first time, and this blog is a way to share my journey in preparation for the selection trials and then hopefully onto the WEG itself. I plan to post a couple times a month and more often during key times.

My husband and partner John and I recently arrived in Wellington, Florida from our home in Central New York. It’s nice and warm here, but for us, Florida means getting down to business and gearing up for a busy winter circuit and the all-important selection trials. These trials will determine a short list of 15 possible horse/rider combinations who will later go on to Europe to earn their spot on the team that will represent the U.S. at the World Equestrian Games. After a week of acclimating and some schooling of the horses, we began competing. I’m coming off the longest layoff of my career; I had shoulder surgery in mid-September to correct a chronic condition and haven’t competed since Spruce Meadows in early September. The shoulder is feeling good, so it is good to be back in the swing of things. The horses have also had a nice long break, which I think has been good for them. Unfortunately, Authentic, who earned medals in the last two Olympics and at the last WEG, suffered an injury in September, and it’s quite unlikely he’ll be ready for this WEG.

Thankfully, I have other less experienced (it’s hard to be more experienced than Authentic) but talented horses to try to make the team with. Both horses are owned Abigail Wexner. The first is Danny Boy who is 10 this year. John and I have had him since he was 5, bringing him along all the while with the idea that he’d be ready for the 2010 WEG. He was Best Young Horse at Aachen in 2008, was 12th at the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, won the CN Performance Grand Prix on the Spruce Meadows Summer Circuit and had a solid first-time nations cup Superleague tour last summer (his worst score was 4 faults). He’s a little bit of a heavier type than Authentic, but he’s sensitive to ride and scopey and careful. Rideability can be an issue with him, but he’s getting better and better all the time. He’s started out here in Florida much more mature and grown up, and it’s always a relief to see a horse come off a long rest well. We started showing him early here so that he could get more experience under the lights and were happy to find that he wasn’t affected by them at all because last year showing under the lights seemed to make him a little nervous.

John and I are also excited about Mrs. Wexner’s newest purchase which happened just days ago, a mare named Mademoiselle. With a lot of luck, she might be a real contender in the WEG Trials, but time is against us. With only a few weeks until the trials, I will be working to get to know Mademoiselle as best I can. She was ridden very competently by Katherine Bardis last year on a developing riding tour with the U.S. team and in some World Cup Qualifying classes, but at 13 is still untested at the championship level. She’s a thoroughbred type, which is good for me, and seems very nice to ride. The big question is whether she has the scope to compete at the very top, but we tested her well when we tried her, and feel like she has what it takes. It’s always an unknown purchasing any horse, and whether she will be ready to impress in time for the Trials is something we just don’t know.

It’s a long road to the WEG and for me Florida marks the beginning of the home stretch. Some people who know me understand that I’ve been aiming toward this goal since just about when I stepped off the medal stand at the WEG in Aachen four years ago. In reality it’s been at least that long that things have been in the works with this goal in mind. You have to think long-term when you’re bringing horses along. It would be almost impossible to top what Authentic and I were able to accomplish at the last WEG, so what I am hoping for is to do well in the selection trials and be a strong contributor to a gold medal winning U.S. team in Kentucky this October.

Volunteer Update

Thank you for your willingness to be a Volunteer for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Many of you have already registered. But now what? Here’s a look at the status of our Volunteer Program for the 2010 Games.

I registered years ago and I still haven’t heard anything. Why?

Thousands of people have registered their interest in volunteering over the past two years. Many of those same enthusiastic volunteers changed email addresses since then.

In September, we reached out to our entire list and asked people to reconfirm their interest and get ready to select volunteer positions. If you did not hear from us, you may need to update your information on your volunteer profile. We still need volunteers! It is not too late to re-confirm your interest. We can help you re-activate your account if you are not sure what email address is currently listed for you. Feel free to call our VOLUNTEER HOTLINE at 859-244-2996 or email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org.

I confirmed my interest, selected a position, and got an itinerary. Does that mean I am definitely a volunteer?

Your confirmation email displays the itinerary and dates you selected, but it is not your official letter of assignment. It only confirms that your request was processed.

We currently have a multi-step selection process in place that includes a back ground check. Official WEG volunteers will be confirmed at the end of that process, which will take place over the next couple of months.

Competition volunteers are being hand-selected by each Discipline Manager and will be notified soon.

How do I sign up to volunteer for more than one position?

We are working on improving our registration process to allow you to sign up for more opportunities. We will notify everyone when those additional opportunities become available.

Will there be volunteer opportunities/accommodations available for those with disabilities?

Yes, there are many opportunities well suited to volunteers with disabilities. Go ahead and register, and then if you have any concerns, please feel free to call us at 859-244-2996.

I need to plan my housing options now. What should I do?

We are working to provide a range of affordable housing options for volunteers. However, each volunteer is required to pay for and complete their own hotel/housing arrangements. We have sent a list of preliminary options to our registered volunteers. For your reference, that list (“Housing Options”) is posted on the volunteer website.

What if I am waiting to buy tickets?

We hope that everyone has an opportunity to experience these Games as a spectator and enjoy this world-class competition. To make the most of your spectator experience, we encourage you to go ahead and purchase tickets to those events that you most want to see. We hope that your time as a volunteer will be spent focusing on the important job you will have—and we want you to relax and enjoy the events you most want to see as a spectator!

Do you still need volunteers?

YES! We still need to fill thousands of general volunteer positions—and every one of them is important! If you are already registered, please let others know about this opportunity.

How long will you take volunteer registrations?

We will be taking registrations until early spring. However, due to abundant interest, we encourage everyone to sign up as soon as possible. You can sign up at www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer

I am a member of a group that wants to volunteer. Can we do that?

YES! Groups are a vital part of our volunteer program. Young Professionals, Corporate Groups, and Community Organizations are all needed to make our Games a success. Email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org for more information.

What if I still have questions?

Feel free to call us at 859-244-2996 or email us at volunteers@feigames2010.org, for General Volunteer Questions, and competitionsupport@feigames2010.org, for Competition Volunteer Questions. We will personally respond to your questions; please allow 48 hours to receive a reply.

Cyber Monday got you thinking about Holiday Shopping?

With Thanksgiving now behind us, the rush for everyone to do their holiday shopping has begun. And while there are those few people who plan ahead, many of us, myself included, are now facing the dreaded task of determining what to buy all of their family, friends, and loved ones for the holidays.

What do you buy the mother that has every perfume ever carried by Macy’s? Or the father who has everything short of his own personal Ty Pennington in his tool shed? What about the niece that already owns hundreds of Breyer Horses, or the nephew who wants to be a cowboy, but you already got him those really cool chaps…you know, the kind with the fringe?

Enter shameless plug here: Buy them tickets to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, of course!

But seriously, tickets to the 2010 Games make for a once-in-a-lifetime gift. With prices ranging from as low as $25 to no more than $150, there is something for everyone. Ticketholders will be able to browse the extensive international trade show (note: Mom may end up trying on beautiful Derby hats at the Hats by Katie booth), or tour a replica of Mammoth Cave in the Kentucky Experience (note again: here you might find that Dad has wandered to the local bourbon tasting section…), or wander the Equine Village where kids can see Molly the Pony or watch the exciting California Cowgirls drill team.

So on this Cyber Monday, think about what your family, friends, and loved ones might really enjoy this holiday season. Tickets to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don’t miss your opportunity to get tickets while they are still available! And for those who can’t decide which events they want to see, check out our website (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/content.aspx?id=3292) where you can find descriptions of each event.

Happy shopping!

Louise Bowden
Public Relations

Details, Details...

Let's be honest--normally, it's tough to work hard during a holiday week. Everyone is excited to be going home, seeing family, and relaxing for a few days.

Well... not here!

Short weeks for us mean less time to complete important tasks. And with just 305 days left until the Games, that means we have to move even faster.

This morning, we visited the Kentucky Horse Park to celebrate their green initiatives, which includes a very interesting way to create power from horse manure. Check it out on the Kentucky Horse Park's web site.

This afternoon, our entire staff is once again tackling the DMAS, or "Detailed Master Activities Schedule" for the duration of the Games. With our test events over for the year, we are turning again to this important task. We literally walk through each hour of each day and discuss how the movements of people, horses and events on the park impact every department of our organizing committee. We'll be undergoing this process until early 2010, then we'll take a break from this activity to start planning our last and biggest test event--Kentucky Cup Dressage and Jumping--in conjuction with the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.

We are also very busy recruiting Heroes--that is, volunteers! We still need volunteers, and right now, our focus is particularly on volunteers within the state of Kentucky. Hopefully you will see me on Kentucky's local tv stations and hear me on the radio talking about how to lend your expertise to the Games with a dose of hometown pride and Bluegrass hospitality! More information about volunteering can be found on our web site.

With all this going on, I have NO IDEA when I will manage to get any Christmas shopping finished. I'm usually a better planner around the holidays... but not this year. Shameless plug here: Tickets to the 2010 Games are a gift you can only give once--and you can only give it this year! Reserve your seats before they sell out at www.alltechfeigames.com/tickets.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

Amy Walker
Public Relations

Are You a Fan of Breyer Horses? Check Out the Official Model Horse of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

The world’s finest model horse brand and the world’s most prestigious equestrian competition are joining together, as Breyer Animal Creation is the newest sponsorship of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

As part of the partnership, Breyer has commissioned sculptor Kathleen Moody to create a sculpture to symbolize the spirit of the horses competing in eight different disciplines. Known as “Esprit,” the sculpture will be available in several mediums to commemorate the Games.


Breyer will also create a number of Traditional® Series portrait models of key competitors from various disciplines, play sets for children incorporating the WEG disciplines and other commemorative products.

In addition, Breyer will create an interactive play area for children, incorporating equine-themed activities using Breyer’s realistic model horses and pint-sized jumps for children!

What horse athletes would you like to see as a Breyer Horse?

Week Two at the Royal

This week at the Royal has been fantastic! The Direct Energy Centre is a perfect venue for such a large show. We have had a constant flow of traffic at our booth, which we are sharing with the State of Kentucky and the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A vast majority of people we have talked to have already purchased tickets. The rest were searching for accommodations before purchasing tickets. We have urged everybody to use the Housing Bureau. The LCVB has been great in helping figure out what to do while they attend the Games.

In addition to people coming to the Games, I’ve been amazed by the amount of people who have already been to the Kentucky Horse Park. We have a 2 x 3 ft poster of our venue map in our booth and it gets a TON of attention. Everybody walks by and gets pulled in by the fantastic visual that is the Kentucky Horse Park. They say “Oh, I’ve been there before,” and we encourage them to come back next fall!

We’ve met some wonderful people down here including the Chef D’equipe of the Canadian Endurance team who is “praying for dry weather next year.” The buzz about the Games has been more than we expected and the support of those fans is overwhelming. The show concludes on Sunday, which is far too soon, and we’ll have more for you next week. We’ll also announce who won the Games prize pack from the show. If you’re in Ontario and haven’t had a chance to come by remember we’re in Exhibit A Booth 522.