Nobby
Ciel Oriental
RBF Super Sport
Syrocco Harmony
Dancing Queen
Click on Live Scoring and Results to see all the stats.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
WEG videos
Here are a couple of videos from the start. With 100 horses, it takes several minutes for them to all cross the starting line!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snjmOsvwCc8 Watch for Bob, Elroy and Gail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfMFbpGtDqU Watch for Yvette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69t7NItubX8 Watch for Ruth
More of trot outs to come, but it is a clear bright fall day and I am going riding!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snjmOsvwCc8 Watch for Bob, Elroy and Gail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfMFbpGtDqU Watch for Yvette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69t7NItubX8 Watch for Ruth
More of trot outs to come, but it is a clear bright fall day and I am going riding!!!!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
To finish is to win
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2010WEC/
Wow. WEG. What a ride.
Canada completed 3 out of our 4 team riders - Bob on Galaxy, Gail on Sassy and Ruth on Sport. So we officially get 7th place in the team standings. Italy got the turtle team award, finishing 8th. I believe that a total of 22 countries entered teams.
Elroy and Apache were pulled after the 2nd vet gate and Yvette and Teese at the 5th gate, both for lameness. Tough trail. 100 starters and 55 finished.
Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton of Spain won the individual gold medal on her Arabian gelding, Nobby. She and Nobby also won the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia in 2008. The difference this time is that she gave birth to a baby girl 7 weeks ago. I wonder if she is nursing and needed to express milk during the vet holds?
I was amazed at how many spectators there were, considering there was no access to the course other than at the Kentucky Horse Park where the horses came for vetting. There were cameras everywhere. Jumbo trons showed video from out on course and the announcer kept explaining what was happening as horses came in to be cooled and vetted after each loop. After the frontrunners completed the race, there was a huge stream of vehicles leaving the parking lot.
I had the chance to help crew the Canadian horses, both as they came in to the vet gates and also at the designated crewing spots on trail. Here is a video of crewing out on trail:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da7A6VHyHDE&feature=email
We cleaned up the private land owned by billionaires. The UAE team likes to cool their horses with bottled water. They just cut the top off and leave the lids and the sharp plastic behind.
A nice fellow from New Zealand who was crewing for the Japanese helped Sport get his gut sounds back at away crew spot on loop 4 with some gentle belly massage. He then demonstrated the same technique on me (!) and offered his services as a mounting block to Ruth!
Getting the horses pulse down quickly is a key part of the race. The sooner the horse's heart rate reaches 64 or lower, the sooner the mandatory hold starts and the sooner you get back out on trail. Nobby was reaching parameter in a minute or two at each vet gate. Some countries used a "bucket brigade" - move the horse slowly towards the vetting area, continually pouring cold water on the horse. We mainly used the pour water on, scrape water off method. Our recoveries started off in the 2 minute range, but got progressively longer with each loop. There were some interesting crew box set ups - our neighbours from Bahrain had an assembly line - tripods that held three small buckets and a saddle rack for each horse. All their gear was along one wall of the crew tent, leaving most of the tent clear for the horses.
I also took some video of the trot outs for the vets, but will post these later. I got home at midnight last night, had a looooong hot shower, slept until 6:30 am, got up to make a lunch for Charlotte and put her on the bus, and then went back to sleep until noon!! Wonder how the horses and riders are feeling today?
Wow. WEG. What a ride.
Canada completed 3 out of our 4 team riders - Bob on Galaxy, Gail on Sassy and Ruth on Sport. So we officially get 7th place in the team standings. Italy got the turtle team award, finishing 8th. I believe that a total of 22 countries entered teams.
Elroy and Apache were pulled after the 2nd vet gate and Yvette and Teese at the 5th gate, both for lameness. Tough trail. 100 starters and 55 finished.
Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton of Spain won the individual gold medal on her Arabian gelding, Nobby. She and Nobby also won the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia in 2008. The difference this time is that she gave birth to a baby girl 7 weeks ago. I wonder if she is nursing and needed to express milk during the vet holds?
I was amazed at how many spectators there were, considering there was no access to the course other than at the Kentucky Horse Park where the horses came for vetting. There were cameras everywhere. Jumbo trons showed video from out on course and the announcer kept explaining what was happening as horses came in to be cooled and vetted after each loop. After the frontrunners completed the race, there was a huge stream of vehicles leaving the parking lot.
I had the chance to help crew the Canadian horses, both as they came in to the vet gates and also at the designated crewing spots on trail. Here is a video of crewing out on trail:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da7A6VHyHDE&feature=email
We cleaned up the private land owned by billionaires. The UAE team likes to cool their horses with bottled water. They just cut the top off and leave the lids and the sharp plastic behind.
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| cut the tops off the water bottles to cool horses at out crew spots! |
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| then leave the sharp plastic on the ground near the water troughs! |
A nice fellow from New Zealand who was crewing for the Japanese helped Sport get his gut sounds back at away crew spot on loop 4 with some gentle belly massage. He then demonstrated the same technique on me (!) and offered his services as a mounting block to Ruth!
Getting the horses pulse down quickly is a key part of the race. The sooner the horse's heart rate reaches 64 or lower, the sooner the mandatory hold starts and the sooner you get back out on trail. Nobby was reaching parameter in a minute or two at each vet gate. Some countries used a "bucket brigade" - move the horse slowly towards the vetting area, continually pouring cold water on the horse. We mainly used the pour water on, scrape water off method. Our recoveries started off in the 2 minute range, but got progressively longer with each loop. There were some interesting crew box set ups - our neighbours from Bahrain had an assembly line - tripods that held three small buckets and a saddle rack for each horse. All their gear was along one wall of the crew tent, leaving most of the tent clear for the horses.
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| efficient crew tent with tripod and three buckets |
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| all other gear stored on the wall |
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| I decided to get crazy with personalized graffiti |
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| The Canadian buckets in cooling area |
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| teach your horse to stand still in a garbage can or bucket full of ice water to cool his feet and legs |
Saturday, September 25, 2010
It's showtime!
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| Arriving at Kentucky Horse park |
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| Denise and Lee - hoofing it in |
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| amenities |
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| tight security |
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| Sport in the portable stalls |
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| Terre and Yvette being interviewed by NBC TV |
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| Japanese rider with his quarterhorse cross! |
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| emergency vehicles |
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| the first inspection - all Canadian horses vetted through |
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| Bob weighing in - 75 kg minimum |
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| Yvette and Terre on the steeplechase course - endurance training loop |
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| Canadian table at the athlete's dining hall |
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| Kim and Hi Ho Silver |
Bob Gielen and Galaxy
Ruth Sturley and Sport
Elroy Karius and Apache
Gail Jewell and Sassy
Yvette Vinton and Tees will ride as individuals.
It has cooled off and we got some rain last night.
Carol is being released from the hospital and we hope she can come to watch the race tomorrow.
Heading back for opening ceremonies tonight. The race starts at 7:30 am Sunday!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
the calm before the storm
The horses move to the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) tomorrow. So today is the calm before the storm. We started out day as usual at the pond with yoga. We had final inspection trot outs this morning and Scott Hie gave everyone some pointers on yoga for horses.
All the crew people are here now. Ruth's whole crew is here - Ken, Scott, Mike and me. Making a list and checking it twice. We got all the crew boxes packed and labeled and worked out our jobs for race day. Denise and I went to check her in at the KHP Campground, got race day groceries and now everyone is having a bit of down time in the pool before our team meeting and pot luck supper.
We leave for KHP at 8:30 tomorrow morning and then the real fun begins! The hot weather is supposed to break - forecasting mid 70s and possibility of showers on Sunday.
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| Denise, Gail and Kate enjoying the pool |
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| Dr. Art King |
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| the yoga pond |
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| Sport wondering if we he could come to yoga too |
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| Surya namaskar - sun salutation |
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hot child in the city
running wild and looking pretty
It is HOT!
Arrived safely without having to check any luggage. The only glitch was that I reserved a rental car in Louisville instead of Lexington, so wasn't able to get a rental at the airport. Luckily, Elmer, Denise and Kim were having dinner in town, so they rescued me at the airport.
Saluted the sun at Kim's morning yoga class at the pond, got a rental car in town and picked up a US cell phone and a subway sandwich. Then it was work work work!
The riders rode around the block a few times and we practised crewing and presenting to vets. I was glad to have a chance to work with Ruth, Sport and Ken. Our other two crew members, Scott and Mike arrive tomorrow.
We are now relaxing with snacks and drinks after a dip in the pool. I'll sleep well tonight!
It is HOT!
Arrived safely without having to check any luggage. The only glitch was that I reserved a rental car in Louisville instead of Lexington, so wasn't able to get a rental at the airport. Luckily, Elmer, Denise and Kim were having dinner in town, so they rescued me at the airport.
Saluted the sun at Kim's morning yoga class at the pond, got a rental car in town and picked up a US cell phone and a subway sandwich. Then it was work work work!
The riders rode around the block a few times and we practised crewing and presenting to vets. I was glad to have a chance to work with Ruth, Sport and Ken. Our other two crew members, Scott and Mike arrive tomorrow.
We are now relaxing with snacks and drinks after a dip in the pool. I'll sleep well tonight!
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| Drew Henderson - team farrier |
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| sleeping during a team meeting! |
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| Ruth and Sport |
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| Glen with his big hose |
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| field at the layover barn |
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| Ruth and Sport riding around the block |
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| Misha being hot! |
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| Coach Kim rides! |
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| Officials - Roxy Bell team vet, Kay Melvin chef d'equipe, Maura Leahy ass't chef |
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sleep? Who can sleep?
Not sure everything will fit in my roll-aboard suitcase and I am way too cheap to pay extra for checked baggage on Delta.
Here is a link to info about the Canadian team.
http://www.equinecanada.ca/cet/images/stories/cet/Bios/endurance_bios_30aug-e.pdf
Here is a link to info about the Canadian team.
http://www.equinecanada.ca/cet/images/stories/cet/Bios/endurance_bios_30aug-e.pdf
Excited to leave tomorrow, but worried about Carol Steiner who came off her horse today. Sending her healing vibes.... Om shree dhanvantre namaha
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Two more sleeps...
Only two more sleeps until I leave on a jet plane for Lexington, Kentucky and the World Equestrian Games.
I am part of the support crew for the Canadian Endurance Team. By the time I arrive on Tuesday evening, the list of definite entries will be declared.
Will do my best to keep updates coming through the week!
NancyZ
I am part of the support crew for the Canadian Endurance Team. By the time I arrive on Tuesday evening, the list of definite entries will be declared.
NancyZ
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