WEG Kentucky 2010

I have just returned home from WEG and am currently recovering from a little op. I had to put off until after the big event!



WEG was excellent, it took a bit of doing to get everything ready and to get out there and back but the silver medal made it all worthwhile! Just after having been at the Nationals with 9 horses I had 2 days to get the lorry unpacked, the gear cleaned and re-pack for WEG. I travelled with Ed (Two Sox) to Liege where the horses were due to fly from, we stopped 1 night at Nadine Cappellmans so the horses had a chance to have a leg stretch and rest before the flight. There were 80 horses who were flying from Liege so as you can imagine the airport was rather busy- we had to be super organized and have everything ready separately for what was going to be needed for the flight, quarantine and the venue itself. Once we had seen them off I came back home to England to do a quick pack of my things before having to depart from Heathrow the next morning. Although I couldn’t travel with Ed we had Jenny Hall, our vet, and Carole Levitt, Laura Bechtolsheimer’s groom, travel with them and then John McEwen, our team vet, was to join them in quarantine so they were to be well looked after!


It was a long journey for us, we caught the plane from Heathrow at 8am and at Chicago we had to do a transfer to Lexington-there was also a 5 hour time difference! Outside of the airport there was so much space and acres of grassland all fenced in white post and rail, takeaway venues everywhere! We arrived mid afternoon so enough time to get to the stables and meet our neddies for a quick leg stretch. Unfortunately Ed wasn’t looking his usual self when I arrived at the stables he had had a slight temperature in quarantine. I just walked him for a few days until his temperature and bloods were back to normal, and with having arrived with a week before the competition was due to start I had just enough time to get him into gear. With having to take it easy for the first few days I had plenty of time to explore the showground which was massive. It was a 15 minute walk to get to the stables from the shuttle stop, another 15 minutes to get to the catering from the stables, 20 minutes to get from the stables to the main arena and 40 minutes to get from the main arena to the grooms accommodation. We also had a group visit to the Keenlands racing stables and venue followed by a quick tour around Sheik Mohammed’s stables before the competition got under way which was a new experience. At the time they were having their annual sales, selling hundreds of youngsters a day!


It was quite tricky to work Ed enough that he was submissive and well behaved but not to exhaust him and put his body under strain with having been travel sick. John did a great job with monitoring him and Vicky Spalding the team physio worked on him as well so that I didn’t have to do that much and that when I rode him I took lots of breaks. He did a very good consistent Grand Prix, I was really pleased. The rest of the team did really good tests as well and with Laura s mega score we ended up in Silver position not far away from the Dutch! We had got bronze in our sights but thought that the Germans were looking fairly strong again this year. Of course we had to celebrate but not too much as we had all qualified for the Special and with it being drawn in reverse order of results from the Grand Prix I was due to go fairly early, actually it was nice as the weather was turning hot again (it had been a sweltering 98F when we arrived, which suddenly plummeted to 56F for a few days and raining before turning hot again but this time pleasantly in the seventies. With the team result having been decided we could all up the risk factor a little bit more. Ed was great once again with no mistakes and I thought that he was altogether looser and fresher-the following day when I thought he would have been tired he was the freshest he had been all week, not tired one little bit which was great seeing as he had not been up to full strength when he arrived. It also was good from the point of view that the return journey was coming up and I wanted him to be fighting fit before having to have to travel home. The last few combinations in the Special and Freestyle were amazing, so much so that you felt that there should have been 5 medals made available.


Before returning back to the UK I did a quick dash around the trade stands to get myself a cowboy hat and a bling belt, a must if you go to the States! The journey home was overnight and I am still trying to recover from the jet lag, I didn’t think I would get it on the way home but it has hit me good and proper! Ed travelled home really well-the horses had quite a long trek back again but had plenty of stops to break the journey up and have opportunity to eat, drink and rest. I think he is tired but no travel sickness which was a relief and he is happy and well having a well deserved break. A short break for me as I am unable to ride for a moment but loads to do on the admin side- and some planning necessary as to what happens next!

Maria x

Nationals and WEG

So, I have managed to get through the last few weeks (Regional and National Champs) and am now having to get everything ready for WEG-Ed (Two Sox) leaves tomorrow, no panic! He is definitely up for it and after having gone to the National Champs to do a 'demo' slot he is keen and ready to go! It was actually invaluable as it gave me a feel on what I need to work on for Kentucky-it is very easy to get a false reading at home!



We had 9 horses at the Nationals altogether which I think was more than enough, we had also done a demo at Burghley the previous week as well as the Regional Champs before that, it has been non stop! The Addington Regionals went well although we got absolutely drenched and Burghley was great fun and a perfect outing for the horses, the conditions were super! We were very lucky that the weather continued to hold for the Nationals which was just as well as everyone was rushed of their feet but it was worth it, the horses did us proud! We came back with several good placings and Mike won the Young Horse Supreme Championship with Ruchie (Farouche) which was definitely the highlight of the show. Woodlander Wawavoom was also excellent, the 4 year old stallion which I rode. I was amazed at how well behaved all of the young horses were, with so much space available it would have been very easy for them to take advantage!


U Rockstar improved from the Medium to do a very pleasing Adv Medium-he can be a little bit spooky but having nursed him around the Medium the previous day I felt he had grown in confidence and was willing to trust me. Woodlander Rockstar was excellent, definitely the best Adv Medium he has done to date- I think it helped to have prepared him for the Prix St Georges on the Thurs, the Adv Medium felt easy! Unfortunately his last halt wasn't his usual and because he had stood still I didn't want to correct him which would have meant losing the immobility, there were about 4 of us all on 70%, we could have easily been 2nd instead of 4th, every mark counts!


Mike had good consistent performances from Torino, he was a little tired for the Intermediare 1 Freestyle, bless him he has done a lot this season. Woodlander Dornroschen wasn't on quite her usual form, we suspect she was in season and a little uncomfortable but she is such a trier she keeps going regardless.

Marakov produced the goods for Mike in the Grand Prix, unfortunately Monet didn't compete. The Grand Prix Freestyle went well and was Mike's first showing of his new music based on the Transformers theme, very powerful! Marco coped extremely well and it was obvious how much trust he had in Mike!


So now Mike will hold the fort at home while I go off to WEG- I promise to take some photos! When I return I am in need of a much needed break, as well as every other member of the Eilberg household! I am going to have to go in for another small op on my tummy which will put me out of action for a little while but the best time to do it. Mike might do some more Internationals with Marco and Monty over the winter, we will have to see, it seems to be that I am constantly planning!

WEG!

Hi there, just to let you know have been selected for WEG, very happy :-) Two Sox was great at Hickstead and pulled out all the stops. Selectors have announced Laura Carl and myself as being on the team, they have yet to decide on the the fourth combination. It was a busy show with Mike riding as well, he did very well and was very close to being in team contention himself! We arrived back late Sun and had the Regionals at Somerford Mon, all horses qualified, we have more Regionals next week!


Will be in touch to let you know how they go, we could have 10 horses qualified for the National Champs!


Best wishes,


Maria