Team USA won Reining gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy August 26, 2014. Belgium took silver, followed by Austria with an historic bronze. (photo: Dirk Caremans/FEI)
WEG 2014
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 began August 23 and continue through September 7 in Caen, Normandy, France. A parade of athletes from the 74 participating nations, an incredible musical and hi-tech lightshow extravaganza featuring over 100 horses, the Garde Républicaine and giant Mexican waves entertained a sellout crowd of 21,000 at the Opening Ceremony. While many of the events will occur after publication of this issue, here are a few highlights of the results so far.
US Reining Team Wins Gold
The United States won their fourth consecutive FEI World Equestrian Games Reining gold medal, followed by Belgium in silver and Austria in bronze, at the end of a second thrilling competition at the Parc des Expositions in Caen August 26, 2014.
After Mandy McCutcheon rode Yellow Jersey (Wimpys Little Step x Ms Clara Melody), owned by her father, Tim McQuay, to a score of 224, the USA confirmed their supremacy in the team event. On Monday the first competition day, team members Andrea Fappani on Custom Cash Advance obtained the top score (224) and Jordan Larson, riding HF Mobster, earned the third best score (221).
The last rider representing the USA was Shawn Flarida. Riding Michel Kimball’s Spooks Gotta Whiz (Spooks Gotta Gun x Prettywhizprettydoes), Flarida performed an outstanding FEI pattern number six and as he concluded his run, the mark of 229.5 appeared on the scoreboard, bringing Team USA’s total to 677.5. The score remained unbeaten through the end of the competition.
Dressage: The horse with a heart of gold wins Grand Prix Special for Britain’s Dujardin
By Louise Parkes
Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro claimed Dressage Grand Prix Special gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France August 27. Even though it wasn’t a flawless performance, with mistakes that Dujardin afterwards described as “silly,” such was the quality of the rest of the work she produced with her extraordinary gelding that she still headed silver medalist Helen Langehanenberg with Damon Hill NRW, whose German team-mate, Kristina Sprehe, earned bronze with Desperados FRH. Dujardin now holds the Grand Prix Special title at Olympic, European and World Championship level.
Eventing: William Fox-Pitt in the lead after day 1 of Dressage
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) gave the British team a massive morale boost after the first day of the Eventing competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014, where the Dressage phase is taking place below the chateau at Haras du Pin deep in the Normandy countryside.
Fox-Pitt and the biddable stallion Chilli Morning scored the only sub-40 mark, 37.5, to head defending champion Michael Jung and the mare FischerRocana FST by 3.2 penalties.
The New Zealand team was currently second, ahead of Great Britain and the USA, with one penalty covering the three nations.
WEG 2014
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 began August 23 and continue through September 7 in Caen, Normandy, France. A parade of athletes from the 74 participating nations, an incredible musical and hi-tech lightshow extravaganza featuring over 100 horses, the Garde Républicaine and giant Mexican waves entertained a sellout crowd of 21,000 at the Opening Ceremony. While many of the events will occur after publication of this issue, here are a few highlights of the results so far.
US Reining Team Wins Gold
The United States won their fourth consecutive FEI World Equestrian Games Reining gold medal, followed by Belgium in silver and Austria in bronze, at the end of a second thrilling competition at the Parc des Expositions in Caen August 26, 2014.
After Mandy McCutcheon rode Yellow Jersey (Wimpys Little Step x Ms Clara Melody), owned by her father, Tim McQuay, to a score of 224, the USA confirmed their supremacy in the team event. On Monday the first competition day, team members Andrea Fappani on Custom Cash Advance obtained the top score (224) and Jordan Larson, riding HF Mobster, earned the third best score (221).
The last rider representing the USA was Shawn Flarida. Riding Michel Kimball’s Spooks Gotta Whiz (Spooks Gotta Gun x Prettywhizprettydoes), Flarida performed an outstanding FEI pattern number six and as he concluded his run, the mark of 229.5 appeared on the scoreboard, bringing Team USA’s total to 677.5. The score remained unbeaten through the end of the competition.
Dressage: The horse with a heart of gold wins Grand Prix Special for Britain’s Dujardin
By Louise Parkes
Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro claimed Dressage Grand Prix Special gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France August 27. Even though it wasn’t a flawless performance, with mistakes that Dujardin afterwards described as “silly,” such was the quality of the rest of the work she produced with her extraordinary gelding that she still headed silver medalist Helen Langehanenberg with Damon Hill NRW, whose German team-mate, Kristina Sprehe, earned bronze with Desperados FRH. Dujardin now holds the Grand Prix Special title at Olympic, European and World Championship level.
Eventing: William Fox-Pitt in the lead after day 1 of Dressage
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) gave the British team a massive morale boost after the first day of the Eventing competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014, where the Dressage phase is taking place below the chateau at Haras du Pin deep in the Normandy countryside.
Fox-Pitt and the biddable stallion Chilli Morning scored the only sub-40 mark, 37.5, to head defending champion Michael Jung and the mare FischerRocana FST by 3.2 penalties.
The New Zealand team was currently second, ahead of Great Britain and the USA, with one penalty covering the three nations.
