Finally...Our competition is up and running! Our seemingly "lax" schedule to date is a bit of a strange paradox to the typical frenzy of usual events. But the days still remain full and the lists never quite blank. I have been here since last Friday so a total of 6 days, with the early days necessary "prep" ones but still...it is time for the show to begin!! Having dinner tonight with the GJ found us all in agreement on that fact!
The dining hall here is really quite impressive. It is located in the North Wing of the new indoor arena. All of the athletes, volunteers and officials receive 3 squares a day, compliments of the WEG. The color of the food voucher you possess does relate to what kind of food choices you have. The athletes and officials get the blue vouchers. I have heard complaints from some of the volunteers about their lack of food selections, but the ones that eat with us have as good a choice as we do. For lunch and dinner, there is always a fairly decent salad bar, deli choices, and a hot food buffet line. Fresh fruit and the standard types of deserts are also available. The lines are never long and the service excellent.
Regretfully Pepsi is the beverage of choice so I dutifully bring my diet Coke with me each morning and "suffer" through the rest of the day - no sympathy, I know! The officials have their own dining area, with tables, lockers and a work space. Not fancy but quite pleasant and convenient.
The Horse Inspection was completed today without incident other than the wireless mike not working at the last minute. But we coped with a suitable Plan B and all was fine. Regretfully one horse was eliminated--the Mexican who was the very last to present; his horse was working on a fresh splint and simply not capable of doing a competition. Also Kim Severson did not present as her horse was fighting a cellulitis supposedly from a nick on the front leg while being clipped. It would appear that the thought to replace her with one of our alternates was not felt necessary, as we missed the chance to do so within the required time allowed prior to the start. I don't know all the details other than her horse was being aggressively treated with hyperbaric sessions off site and there must have been enough optimism of his recovery, but it didn't happen. Karen is now on the team, leaving Becky as the only US individual.
One of the French horses had to have emergency colic surgery yesterday; an Irish horse was not sound enough after an injury and the Ecuadorian simply didn't show up?? So that leaves us 80 starting the dressage phase with the first 40 going tomorrow. David O'Connor is doing the test ride at 8:30!
The Chefs meeting that followed completed the starting order and there were a few other issues that were discussed, but no one had any questions about the course. The Chefs meetings occur daily.
All of that wrapped up around 2. I then had some things to discuss with the scorers and followed that with giving Jean Mitchell from Ireland a Gator tour of the XC before she commentates on Saturday for one of the foreign networks. There are over 1,100 credentialed media reps here! Not sure if there is any news coverage in the local DC or Baltimore papers?? I did email USA TODAY and asked why there was no print on this event?! It probably won't yield anything but never hurts to try!
For twenty minutes late this afternoon, I did get to again see some absolutely fabulous dressage! Steffen won the bronze and the Totalis horse the gold in the Special this afternoon! The "Jury" and I have seats for the Friday night Freestyle competition which is the top tier of the Dressage World competing in the final Dressage event! Did I mention that there are 5 judges for each of the Dressage competitions! Later...
Gretchen
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