Day 5 At The WEGs - Our Last Day

Last day in Kentucky for us!  Eagerly anticipating the freestyles.  We spent the afternoon at the WEG grounds checking out the vendors.  Especially popular was the EQ -Equisense Systems booth.  This new ‘equestrian training system’ has EQ enhanced tack that can be put on your horse (at the WEG there was a horse simulator) and can sense your movement - it feeds it wirelessly into a screen where the instructor can analyze your aides.  There is even an iPhone app for the system.  Another intriguing idea -  we wanted to put the EQ tack on Amerika and go for a ride.

We enjoyed visiting the USDF and USEF buildings.  It was wonderful to see the history of dressage in America at USDF building and especially the USDF Hall of Fame.

And finally the big event everyone was waiting for.  It was amazing to see the number of people attending the sold out freestyle event.  We couldn’t believe our good fortune that evening when trying to find a ticket for Susan - whose flight out of KY on Friday afternoon had been cancelled.  It would have been horrible to be stranded in Lexington and not be able to watch the freestyles!    Just as we were on the phone telling her the bad news that we could find NO ticket anywhere, a man passed us by and said “anybody need tickets for tonight?”  We couldn’t believe that this generous man wouldn’t even let us pay him for the tickets.

We weren’t disappointed with fabulous rides from Edward Gal, Lauren Bechtolsheimer and of course the USA’s  Steffen Peters…… go Steffen!!!!!  But I have to share that my secret favorite was Juan Manuel Muñoz Diaz.  He rode a mesmerizing freestyle …. He knows all about riding with precision, performance and passion to his music.  He and his horse were perfectly in time to the music,  his technical quality was wonderful, and he had fun – what a showman.  The crowd yelled so loudly at the end that he practically fell of his horse (not really, but his horse was pretty startled).  Ashley Holzer also put in a wonderful performance.  You could see how well she and her horse knew the music. What a great evening and a great way to end a wonderful week.  It really was an honor to watch such fabulous horses and riders and get to have so many goose bump moments!

In addition to the riding, the volunteers at the WEG were so friendly.   Having been Chair for the PVDA Ride for Life Dancing Horse Challenge, I have an inkling of understanding what a monumental task it can be to put together an event and gather volunteers.  Every day we attended I was amazed at the ‘troop’ of volunteers gathered at their stations.  Everywhere you looked, there was a volunteer - I can’t even imagine how many there were.  Many had taken vacation to come to the event and were from all over the country.  Every single one was so friendly. You will see a photo of a new friend we met during the week.

Our last adventure at the WEG was leaving on Friday night.  The cars were piled high.  It took us 1 ½ hours to get out of the parking lot.  We spent one full hour in a stationary spot.  But we finally made it out and made it back safely to get a couple of hours rest before our drive back home the next day.  It was worth every minute.

And now I am happy to be back home to see all the ‘ponies’  and continue my journey to ride in the WEG myself one day.